Order includes:

• high-res image file formatted for print

• high-res image file formatted for web/projection

• A PDF of the Artist's statements & scripture reference for the visual

• A visio divina Bible Study Guide for you to use this image in a group study session that incorporates the ancient Benedictine spiritual practice of "divine seeing."

Credit Info:

When printing and sharing online, please always include the following credits:
Artist's name | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org

From the artist:

“I admit that when I read the first sentence of this chapter, I immediately made assumptions about Cornelius—labeling him an oppressor in the clean-cut categories in my mind. As a Roman Centurion, Cornelius holds significant military power and stature, able to summon the might of six hundred soldiers. But the next few sentences disrupted my quick judgments, for we learn that he instead inspires his entire household to be devoted to God, he gives generously to the people—the Jewish Jesus followers—he is employed to fiercely patrol or even harass, and he prays constantly. Instead of nationalism or the emperor, he worships God. His life reflects his devotion from the inside out.

We don’t know how or when Cornelius was converted to compassion, but we might imagine that his deep spiritual formation prepares him to receive and respond to God’s messenger, and subsequently, to summon Peter into his home. Cornelius breaks the law to welcome Peter. Without questioning or gatekeeping, Cornelius bows before Peter and simply asks him to share everything God has directed him to say.

In that moment, Peter tells the crowd what he, too, has learned—that God is more expansive than he had realized. He tells them what he knows to be true—that the story of Jesus has transformed their reality. The room fills with Pentecost. The Spirit dances upon them, encircling them in an ever-widening bond.

I don’t have answers for where we go from here. But in this story I see clearly a way to take the next step—by allowing compassion to shape me from the inside out, by opening myself to God’s holy imagination. But mostly, by looking into the eyes of one God has named beloved and saying, ‘Tell me: what have you learned, and what do you know to be true?’”

—Lisle Gwynn Garrity