Acts 10:4

"And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for. memorial before God"Being affrighted" Remember Cornelius was. centurion, he would not have frightened easily. The appearance of an angel must be an impressive and awesome sight. "Thy prayers" God had heard the prayers of this unsaved man. Therefore passages such as John 9:31 "We know that God heareth not sinners", must be limited to. certain type of sinner, that is the person who has no serious intentions about changing their life (1 Peter 3:12). Observe what the angel does not say: "The angel does not bring him word that his sins are forgiven. Instead of this, he is told to send for. man who will tell him what he must do to be saved" (Reese p. 380) (See Acts 11:13). This is the second time in this book that prayer where we learn that prayer alone cannot save the sinner (Acts 9:11). In view of these facts we must reject those who contend that to be saved, one simply needs to pray the sinner's prayer.