## Now there was a certain man  ##

This was a way of introducing a new person to the story. In this case, it was Cornelius.

## Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort ##

"his name was Cornelius. He was an officer in charge of 100 soldiers from the Italian section of the Roman army."

## He was a devout man, one who feared God ##

"He believed in God and sought to honor and worship God in his life"

## with all his household ##

"with all the members of his household". (See [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

## he gave much money to the people ##

"…to poor people". This was one way he demonstrated his fear of God.