Acts 10

Peter and Cornelius

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.3 About the ninth hour of the dayt he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius."4 And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea."7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter's Vision

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hourt to pray.10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.13 And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."15 And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common."16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you.20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them."21 And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?"22 And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say."

23 So he invited them in to be his guests.
The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man."27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."

30 And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour,t and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.'33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."

Gentiles Hear the Good News

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,47 "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Acts 10

1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.

3 At about the ninth hour of the dayt, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

4 He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?”
He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.5 Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is surnamed Peter.

6 He lodges with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.t”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.8 Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.9 Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.10 He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.11 He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,12 in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.

13 A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”

14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
15 A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”16 This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.17 Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who 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, was lodging there.19 While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, threet men seek you.

20 But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

21 Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”
22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”23 So he called them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.24 On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.25 When it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”27 As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.28 He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.

29 Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?”
30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour,t I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.32 Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’

33 Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”
34 Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;35 but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.36 The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all—37 you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptismwhich 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 who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.39 We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they alsot killed, hanging him on a tree.40 God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed,41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.

43 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.45 They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.

46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God.
Then Peter answered,47 “Can any man forbid the water, that these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized?”

48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.