June 12
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CORNELIUS CALLS FOR PETER
A poem by ILMA
In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius
He was a captain of the Italian Regiment and was devout
Cornelius was a God-fearing man and so did all his household
They all prayed regularly to God and gave generously to the poor.
One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision
An angel of God came towards him and he was terrified
“What is it, sir?” he asked the angel and he replied with
“Your prayers and gifts to the poor has been received.”
The angel told him to go to Joppa and summon Simon Peter
He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives by the seashore
As soon as the angel left, Cornelius called two of his servants
He told them what has happened and told them to go to Joppa.
The servants told Peter that they have come to bring him to Cornelius
When Peter arrived, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him
Peter pulled him up and said, “I am human, just like you, so get up”
He told him that God instructed him to come to his house.
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MEMORY VERSE
Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you but God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. – Acts 10:28
Read: Acts 10
In those times when the apostles were preaching the Good News, Gentiles and Jews never mix together. Gentiles were considered unclean or impure. The story of Cornelius being shown a vision and asked to summon Simon Peter was a clear change in the perspective of Jewish law.
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REFLECTION
• Why would God break the laws of the Jews? What is it that he is actually changing?