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.

Acts 10

Peter Visits Cornelius

1 Now there was a man in Caesareass named Cornelius, a centurions of what was known as the Italian Cohort.s2 Het was a devout, God-fearing man,s as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the peoplet and prayed to God regularly.3 About three o’clock one afternoont he saw clearly in a vision an angel of Godt who came int and said to him, “Cornelius.”4 Staring at him and becoming greatly afraid, Corneliust replied,t “What is it, Lord?” The angelt said to him, “Your prayers and your acts of charityt have gone up as a memorials before God.5 Nowt send men to Joppas and summon a man named Simon,t who is called Peter.6 This man is staying as a guest with a man named Simon, a tanner,t whose house is by the sea.”7 When the angel who had spoken to him departed, Corneliust called two of his personal servantst and a devout soldier from among those who served him,t

8 and when he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 About noont the next day, while they were on their way and approachingt the city, Peter went up on the roofs to pray.10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing the meal, a trance came over him.t11 Het saw heavent openedt and an object something like a large sheett descending,t being let down to eartht by its four corners.12 In itt were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptilest of the earth and wild birds.t13 Thent a voice saidt to him, “Get up, Peter; slaughtert and eat!”14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord, for I have never eaten anything defiled and ritually unclean!”ts15 The voicet spoke to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not considert ritually unclean!”s

16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into heaven.t
17 Now while Peter was puzzling overt what the vision he had seen could signify, the men sent by Cornelius had learned where Simon’s house wast and approachedts the gate.18 Theyt called out to ask if Simon, known as Peter,t was staying there as a guest.19 While Peter was still thinking seriously aboutt the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look! Three men are looking for you.20 But get up,t go down, and accompany them without hesitation,t because I have sent them.”21 So Peter went downt to the men and said, “Here I am,t the person you’re looking for. Why have you come?”22 They said, “Cornelius the centurion,s a righteoust and God-fearing man, well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation,ts was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a messaget from you.”

23 So Peterts invited them in and entertained them as guests.
On the next day he got up and set outt with them, and some of the brothers from Joppas accompanied him.24 The following dayt he entered Caesarea.ss Now Cornelius was waiting anxiouslyt for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.25 So whent Peter came in, Cornelius mett him, fellt at his feet, and worshipeds him.26 But Peter helped him up,t saying, “Stand up. I too am a mere mortal.”t27 Petert continued talking with him as he went in, and he found many people gathered together.t28 He said to them, “You know thatt it is unlawfult for a Jewt to associate with or visit a Gentile,t yet God has shown me that I should call no persont defiled or ritually unclean.ts29 Therefore when you sent for me,t I came without any objection. Now may I ask whyt you sent for me?”30 Corneliust replied,t “Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock in the afternoon,t I was praying in my house, and suddenlyt a man in shining clothing stood before me31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your acts of charityt have been remembered before God.s32 Therefore send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. This man is staying as a guest in the house of Simon the tanner,t by the sea.’

33 Therefore I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come.t So now we are all here in the presence of Godt to listent to everything the Lord has commanded you to say to us.”t
34 Then Peter started speaking:t “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people,t35 but in every nations the person who fears himt and does what is rightts is welcomed before him.36 You knowt the messaget he sent to the peoplet of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peaces throught Jesus Christt (he is Lords of all) –37 you know what happened throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John announced:t38 with respect to Jesus from Nazareth,s thatt God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. Het went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,ts because God was with him.s39 Wet are witnesses of all the things he did both in Judeat and in Jerusalem.s Theyt killed him by hanging him on a tree,t40 butt God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen,t41 not by all the people, but by us, the witnesses God had already chosen,t who ate and dranks with him after he rose from the dead.42 Het commanded us to preach to the people and to warnt themt that he is the onet appointedt by God as judges of the living and the dead.

43 About him all the prophets testify,t that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sinss through his name.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell ont all those who heard the message.t45 Thet circumcised believerst who had accompanied Peter were greatly astonisheds thatt the gift of the Holy Spiritt had been poured outs even on the Gentiles,46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and praisingt God. Then Peter said,47 “No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did,t can he?”t

48 So he gave orders to have them baptizedt in the name of Jesus Christ.t Then they asked him to stay for several days.