Acts 10

Cornelius's Vision

1 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian tcohort,2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many talms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.3 About the tninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!"4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and talms have ascended as a memorial before God.5 Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea."7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants,8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the tsixth hour to pray.10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;11 and he *saw the sky opened up, and an tobject like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and tcrawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!"14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean."15 Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy."16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon's house, appeared at the gate;18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you.20 But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself."21 Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?"22 They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you."

23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.
And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter at Caesarea

24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man."27 As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled.28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.29 That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me."

30 Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the tninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments,31 and he *said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.32 Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.'33 So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."

Gentiles Hear Good News

34 Opening his mouth, Peter said:
"I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)-37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed.38  You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.39 We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross.40 God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible,41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.42 And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on 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.