UKorneliyasi Wamukela Ummoya Ocwengileko

EKhesariya bekunendoda ibizo layo kunguKorneliyasi, beyisikhulu samasotja wamaRoma. Nanyana bekangasimJuda kodwana amaJuda bewamhlonipha! Bekasiza abantu abatlhagako. Bekanokukholwa kuJehova athandaza qobe. Ngelinye ilanga, kwabonakala ingilozi kuye yathi: ‘UZimu uyizwile imithandazwakho.’ Yeke thumela amadoda edorobheni leJopha ayokubiza uPitrosi, umtjele bona ubawa ukumbona. Azange asamorosa isikhathi uKorneliyasi wathumela amadoda amathathu eJopha, indawo engaba makhilomitha ama-48 ukutjhinga esewula.

Asahlezi eJopha, uPitrosi waba nombono. Wabona iimbandana amaJuda ebakangakavumeleki ukuzidla. Kwathi kusesenjalo, wezwa ilizwi lithi akadle. Wala, wathi: ‘Solo kwabangimi angikabi ukudla isibandana esisilapheleko.’ Ilizwelo lathi: ‘Ungathomi uthi iimbandanezi zisilaphele. UZimu uzihlambululile.’ Watjelwa nokuthi: ‘Kunamadoda amathathu emnyango. Khamba nawo amadoda lawo.’ UPitrosi waya emnyango wabuza amadoda lawo ukuthi abekwa yini lapho. Amphendula athi: ‘Sithunywe nguKorneliyasi, isikhulu samasotja wamaRoma. Kufanele uyombona emzinakhe eKhesariya.’ UPitrosi wawamema emzinakhe, alala khona. Ekuseni, wakhamba namadoda lawo, waphekelelwa nangabanye abafowethu beJopha kwayiwa eKhesariya.

UKorneliyasi nakabona uPitrosi waguqa ngamadolo. UPitrosi wathi: ‘Sikima! Nami ngimumuntu ozifanela nawe. UZimu uthe ngize emzinakho, ngitjho nanyana amaJuda angangeni emizini yabantu abangasiwo amaJuda. Alo ungibizeleni?’

UKorneliyasi wathi kuye: ‘Emalangeni amane bengithandaza kuZimu, ingilozi yathi ngikubize. Ngibawa usifundise amezwi kaJehova.’ UPitrosi wathi: ‘Sengiyazi ukuthi uZimu akakhethi. Wamukela woke umuntu ofuna ukumlotjha.’ UPitrosi wabafundisa izinto ezinengi ngoJesu. Kusese njalo, umoya ocwengileko wahlala phezu kwakaKorneliyasi nalabo ebebasemzinakhe, boke njalo babhajadiswa.