Peter and Cornelius
Ilumi Kids · Stories
In a city called Caesarea, there lived a good man named Cornelius. He was an officer in the Roman army, but he loved God with all his heart. Every day, he prayed and helped poor people with his money.
One day, while he was praying, an angel of God appeared to him! Cornelius was scared, but the angel told him not to be afraid. God had heard his prayers and seen his kindness.
Send some men to the city of Joppa and call for a man named Simon Peter. He will tell you what you must do.
Cornelius, a Roman officer who loved God, was visited by an angel who told him to send for Peter. Meanwhile, Peter had a vision of a sheet full of animals and heard: "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean". Peter went to Cornelius’s house, talked about Jesus, and the Holy Spirit came on everyone there.
Where it is in the Bible: Acts 10
God’s love is for all people, from every nation.
After reading, use these questions to help your child remember and apply the story.
In a city called Caesarea, there lived a good man named Cornelius. He was an officer in the Roman army, but he loved God with all his heart. Every day, he prayed and helped poor people with his money.
One day, while he was praying, an angel of God appeared to him! Cornelius was scared, but the angel told him not to be afraid. God had heard his prayers and seen his kindness.
The Angel: Send some men to the city of Joppa and call for a man named Simon Peter. He will tell you what you must do.
Far away, in the city of Joppa, Peter was praying on the roof of a house. He was very hungry, and suddenly, he had an amazing vision. He saw something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, held by its four corners.
Inside the sheet were all kinds of animals: some that Peter's people could eat, and others that their law said were unclean. A voice told Peter to get up and eat, but he refused, because he had never eaten anything unclean.
The voice spoke to him a second time. 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' — Acts 10:15
Peter kept thinking about the meaning of that strange vision. At that exact moment, the men Cornelius had sent arrived and knocked on the door of the house where he was staying.
The Holy Spirit spoke to Peter and told him to go with those men without doubting anything. Peter understood that God was teaching him something new and very important. He invited the visitors to come in and stay the night.
The next day, Peter and some friends traveled to Cornelius's house. When they arrived, they found a big surprise! Cornelius had gathered all his family and closest friends, all eager to hear God's message.
When Cornelius saw Peter, he bowed down to worship him. But Peter quickly lifted him up, explaining that he was just a man like him. Peter began to understand the vision: God was showing that no person should be considered unclean.
Peter: Now I know that God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. Why did you send for me?
Then Peter began to tell everyone about Jesus. He explained that the good news of God's love was not just for one people, but for all people, everywhere, who believe in Jesus.
While Peter was still speaking, something wonderful happened! The Holy Spirit came down on Cornelius and everyone in the house. They began to praise God in other languages, and Peter and his friends were amazed. That day, everyone understood that God's great love is for the whole world!
I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. — Acts 10:34
