Acts 10

Peter Teaches Cornelius

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, an officer in the Italian group of the Roman army.2 Cornelius was a religious man. He and all the other people who lived in his house worshiped the true God. He gave much of his money to the poor and prayed to God often.

3 One afternoon about three o’clock, Cornelius clearly saw a vision. An angel of God came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4 Cornelius stared at the angel. He became afraid and said, “What do you want, Lord?”
The angel said, “God has heard your prayers. He has seen that you give to the poor, and he remembers you.5 Send some men now to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is also called Peter.6 He is staying with a man, also named Simon, who is a tanner and has a house beside the sea.”7 When the angel who spoke to Cornelius left, Cornelius called two of his servants and a soldier, a religious man who worked for him.

8 Cornelius explained everything to them and sent them to Joppa.
9 About noon the next day as they came near Joppa, Peter was going up to the roof 10 He was hungry and wanted to eat, but while the food was being prepared, he had a vision.11 He saw heaven opened and something coming down that looked like a big sheet being lowered to earth by its four corners.12 In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds.

13 Then a voice said to Peter, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”

14 But Peter said, “No, Lord! I have never eaten food that is unholy or unclean.”
15 But the voice said to him again, “God has made these things clean, so don’t call them unholy!”

16 This happened three times, and at once the sheet was taken back to heaven.
17 While Peter was wondering what this vision meant, the men Cornelius sent had found Simon’s house and were standing at the gate.

18 They asked, “Is Simon Peter staying here?”
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Listen, three men are looking for you.

20 Get up and go downstairs. Go with them without doubting, because I have sent them to you.”

21 So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. Why did you come here?”
22 They said, “A holy angel spoke to Cornelius, an army officer and a good man; he worships God. All the people respect him. The angel told Cornelius to ask you to come to his house so that he can hear what you have to say.”

23 So Peter asked the men to come in and spend the night.
The next day Peter got ready and went with them, and some of the followers from Joppa joined him.24 On the following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.26 But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I too am only a human.”27 As he talked with Cornelius, Peter went inside where he saw many people gathered.28 He said, “You people understand that it is against our law for Jewish people to associate with or visit anyone who is not Jewish. But God has shown me that I should not call any person ‘unholy’ or ‘unclean.’

29 That is why I did not argue when I was asked to come here. Now, please tell me why you sent for me.”
30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was praying in my house at this same time—three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, there was a man standing before me wearing shining clothes.31 He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and has seen that you give to the poor and remembers you.32 So send some men to Joppa and ask Simon Peter to come. Peter is staying in the house of a man, also named Simon, who is a tanner and has a house beside the sea.’

33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was very good of you to come. Now we are all here before God to hear everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34 Peter began to speak: “I really understand now that to God every person is the same.35 In every country God accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right.36 You know the message that God has sent to the people of Israel is the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all people!37 You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after John 38 You know about Jesus from Nazareth, that God gave him the Holy Spirit and power. You know how Jesus went everywhere doing good and healing those who were ruled by the devil, because God was with him.39 We saw what Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem, but the Jews in Jerusalem killed him by hanging him on a cross.40 Yet, on the third day, God raised Jesus to life and caused him to be seen,41 not by all the people, but only by the witnesses God had already chosen. And we are those witnesses who ate and drank with him after he was raised from the dead.42 He told us to preach to the people and to tell them that he is the one whom God chose to be the judge of the living and the dead.

43 All the prophets say it is true that all who believe in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins through Jesus’ name.”
44 While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening.45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been given even to the nations.46 These believers heard them speaking in different languages 47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we did!”48 So Peter ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Acts 10

1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,2 a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.3 He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius.4 And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God.5 And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:6 he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side.7 And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;8 and having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.9 Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour:10 and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance;11 and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth:12 wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.15 And a voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.16 And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven.17 Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate,18 and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, were lodging there.19 And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.20 But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them.21 And Peter went down to the men, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?22 And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned of God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words from thee.23 So he called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.24 And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends.25 And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.26 But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come together:28 and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean:29 wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me.30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel,31 and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.33 Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord.34 And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:35 but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him.36 The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all.) --37 that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;38 even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree.40 Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest,41 not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.42 And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.43 To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word.45 And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,47 Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.