Cornelius the centurion

Acts 10:1-2 - At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

I wonder whether Cornelius became a God-fearing man before or after he became a centurion. Or for that matter, before or after he became a Roman soldier. Either way, it may very well have been very difficult at times to be both God-fearing and a centurion. The point is though that it was possible.