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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: SOCIAL (04/07/16)
Cornelius had gathered all of his friends and family for a get-together, but would the guest of honor come? After all, he had sent for a Jew. Roman citizens like Cornelius don't often take notice of Jews, but Cornelius had learned about the Jewish God and begun to worship him.

The Jews in Caesarea never accepted Cornelius as one of them, but they at least instructed him. They didn't hate him as they did most Romans, but he couldn't claim much more of a relationship than that. Not a one of them would invite him into their homes or visit his. And enter the synagogue? Unthinkable.

Yet he continued to devote himself to prayer and good works. So did everyone in his family. God, it seemed, accepted him more than the Jews did. Cornelius had come to that conclusion even before the strange events a few days ago.

As Cornelius prayed, an angel had appeared and called him by name. Or it seemed so. Could that have been for real? Or had he just imagined it in a fit of pride? He hoped it was real, because the angel had told him to send men to Joppa and invite Peter into his home.

He knew Peter's reputation as the leader of a new group of Jews who believed that their crucified leader Jesus had been raised from the dead. Jesus, he had heard, commanded his followers to preach to all people. Cornelius didn't count as a Jew, but surely he was included among all people.

So Cornelius had sent some men to Joppa to invite Peter to Caesarea. The angel said Peter was staying at the home of a tanner named Simon. The Jews sure had some strange prejudices, despising people whose work provided vital services. It seemed strange that any good Jew would stay in the home of someone who handled dead animals for a living. This man Peter was staying with the tanner, though. Maybe he would accept the invitation. But Simon was at least Jewish. Cornelius was a despised Gentile in the eyes of Jews. So maybe not.

And now his men had been gone long enough to travel to Joppa, spend the night, and come back. Cornelius could hardly stand any more suspense. When his men returned, would Peter be with them? Or would he have to send his guests away in disappointment?

Footsteps! Voices! He recognized some of the voices as his own men, but not others.

As they came into sight, he saw several strangers. And they all came into Cornelius' courtyard. They all came into the house!

"Is one of you named Peter?"

"I am Peter."

Cornelius bowed low to the ground to worship this famous leader. "Get up off the ground," Peter growled. "I'm a man just like you. What do you want from me?"

But then Peter saw all of Cornelius' guests. A whole room full of Gentiles. It seemed that God wanted him to preach.

"As you know," he started nervously, "it is not lawful for me, a Jew, to come into your house. I had a vision just before these men came to visit. I was hungry, and there appeared to me all manner of unclean animals, and a voice commanded, 'Kill and eat.' I said that I couldn't do that. I had never defiled myself.

"That vision repeated three times. I want to tell you about my friend and Lord Jesus, who was crucified, dead, and buried. But the third day he arose from the dead. One of the last things I did before before he died was deny three times that I even knew him. One of the last things he did before before I saw him ascend into heaven was ask me three times if I loved him.

"And three times, he commanded me to kill and eat food I had never eaten before. It has puzzled me, but I finally understand."

Before Peter could continue, someone started praising God in tongues. Then someone else. Then everyone in the room. Peter had seen and heard many Jews speak in tongues as a sign that the Holy Spirit was present. Gentiles speaking in tongues was new.

Cornelius understood even before Peter did. He had invited friends and family. He had invited Peter. He had not thought to invite God. But God crashed the party with a powerful sign. Nothing would ever be the same for anyone.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Nicki Jeffery
04/14/16
Catchy title and great retelling of a Bible story.
C D Swanson 
04/16/16
This was so well done...I really enjoyed this piece that was spot on topic.

Blessings~
Brenda Rice
04/16/16
Very interesting telling of a familiar story. Well written.

Thanks for sharing.
Larry Whittington
04/18/16
A good Bible story - well told.

I believe many people say, "Not a one..." , but I feel we would write, "Not one... ". What would you think?

There were two sentences with repeated words: before before. Look for them.

I liked the tone of your writing. It seemed humorous to me which was not bad even though we might feel the story as is written in the Bible is more serious.

Keep up the good work.