‘And he, fastening his eyes on him, and being afraid, said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your charitable giving have gone up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter, he lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side.” '
In spite of being a centurion he was afraid (or ‘filled with awe'). Such visitations were not in his line, and he must have wondered what it might mean. He was probably not a man given to visions. And looking at the angel he said, “What is it, Lord?' This may signify that he saw the angel as the ‘Angel of God' described in the Old Testament who was regularly God revealing Himself in physical form, or he may have been using ‘lord' as a title of homage and respect, although certainly with a deeper significance than ‘sir'.
The Angel then replied to him and explained that God knew about his life, and about his genuineness in praying and his charitable behaviour, and was keeping them within His mind. They were like a ‘memorial', a pleasing odour rising to God. Cornelius was in favour with God. Therefore he must send to the house of Simon the tanner for a man called Peter, so that Simon might be fetched to him. We can compare here Acts 9:11. When men pray sincerely God meets with them.