Song: Cornelius and Peter<br />Music, Lyrics, Voices: Ai<br /><br />[Verse1]<br />From his post in Caesarea, a man of Roman birth.<br />A centurion, a soldier of uncommon worth.<br />Not for the strength of Caesar did his loyal heart beat,<br />But for a greater God, whose name he would repeat.<br /><br />His fear of God, a quiet, fervent thing,<br />With generous gifts and constant prayers he’d bring.<br />Though Gentile born, he sought the Jewish way,<br />Seeking the light that brightened up his day.<br /><br />[Verse2]<br />At three o'clock, a vision came to him,<br />An angel spoke, dispelling all things grim.<br />"Your prayers, your alms," the heavenly voice declared,<br />"Are now before the Lord, a memorial spared".<br /><br />"Send now to Joppa," the message came to be,<br />"For Simon Peter, lodging by the sea".<br />Cornelius sent his men without delay,<br />To bring the one who'd show the saving way.<br /><br />[Verse3]<br />While Peter prayed upon a rooftop high,<br />A sheet descended, falling from the sky.<br />Inside were beasts, by Jewish law unclean,<br />But a voice declared, "What God has cleansed is clean".<br /><br />The Spirit then told Peter of the men,<br />Who waited down below, outside the den.<br />And though his heart was filled with ancient rule,<br />He went with them, submitting to God's school.<br /><br />[Verse4]<br />They came to Cornelius, who fell down at his feet,<br />To offer worship, humble and complete.<br />But Peter raised him, saying, "I, too, am a man".<br />"It is forbidden for a Jew to enter here," he then began,<br />"But God has taught not to call a person 'unclean'".<br /><br />And as Peter spoke the word of Christ the Lord,<br />The Holy Spirit fell, a swift reward.<br />On all the Gentiles gathered in that place,<br />They spoke in tongues, by God's amazing grace.<br /><br />[Bridge]<br />The Jewish brothers, with Peter, were amazed,<br />To see this gift on Gentiles so quickly raised.<br />Then Peter asked, "Can anyone deny them water for the rite?"<br />And baptized all, now washed in cleansing light.<br /><br />[Chorus]<br />Thus, the first Gentile converts were received,<br />A new path opened, a prejudice relieved.<br />Cornelius, the centurion, whose open, seeking heart,<br />Had been a vessel for God's holy, larger start.
