UKorneliyu Uthola Umoya Ongcwele

EKhesariya kwakunesikhulu sempi esibalulekile esingumRoma esasibizwa ngokuthi uKorneliyu. Nakuba sasingeyena umJuda, amaJuda ayesihlonipha. Sasivame ukusiza abahluphekile nabaswele. UKorneliyu wayekholelwa kuJehova futhi ethandaza njalo. Ngolunye usuku, ingelosi yafika kuKorneliyu yathi: ‘UNkulunkulu uyizwile imithandazo yakho. Thumela amadoda edolobheni laseJopha, lapho okuhlala khona uPetru, amcele ukuba eze kuwe.’ Ngokushesha, uKorneliyu wathumela amadoda amathathu eJopha, eyayiqhele ngamakhilomitha angaba ngu-50 ngaseningizimu.

EJopha, uPetru wabona umbono. Wabona izilwane okwakungafanele amaJuda azidle, wezwa izwi limtshela ukuthi azidle. UPetru wenqaba, wathi: ‘Angikaze ngisidle nhlobo isilwane esingcolile.’ Izwi lathi kuye: ‘Ungasho ukuthi lezi zilwane zingcolile. UNkulunkulu uzihlazile.’ UPetru watshelwa nokuthi: ‘Kunamadoda amathathu akulinde emnyango. Hamba nawo.’ UPetru waya emnyango wawabuza ukuthi afunani. Aphendula athi: ‘Sithunywe uKorneliyu, isikhulu sebutho lamaRoma. Kumelwe uze endlini yakhe eKhesariya.’ UPetru wawacela la madoda ukuba alale endlini yakhe bese behamba ngakusasa. Ngakusasa, wahamba waya eKhesariya, ehamba nabanye abazalwane baseJopha.

Lapho ekugcineni uKorneliyu ebona uPetru, waguqa ngamadolo. Kodwa uPetru wathi: ‘Sukuma! Ngingumuntu njengawe. UNkulunkulu uthe ngize endlini yakho, nakuba amaJuda engangeni emizini yabeZizwe. Ngicela ungitshele ukuthi kungani ungibizile.’

UKorneliyu wathi kuPetru: ‘Ezinsukwini ezine ezidlule bengithandaza kuNkulunkulu, ingelosi yathi ngikubize. Sicela usifundise ngoJehova.’ UPetru wathi: ‘Sengifundile ukuthi uNkulunkulu akakhethi. Wamukela noma ubani ofuna ukumkhonza.’ UPetru wabafundisa izinto eziningi ngoJesu. Umoya ongcwele wehlela kuKorneliyu nakulabo ayenabo futhi bonke babhapathizwa.