Acts 10

Cornelius’s Vision

1Now there was a man at 1Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was 2called the Italian 3cohort, 2a devout man and 4one who feared God with all his household, and 5gave many 6alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3About 7the 8ninth hour of the day he clearly saw 9in a vision 10an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4And 11fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and 12alms 13have ascended 14as a memorial before God. 5Now dispatch some men to 15Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6he is staying with a tanner named 16Simon, whose house is by the sea.” 7When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his 17servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 8and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to 18Joppa.

9On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, 19Peter went up on 20the housetop about 21the 22sixth hour to pray. 10But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he 23fell into a trance; 11and he saw 24the 25sky opened up, and an 26object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and 27crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the 28air. 13A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, 29kill and eat!” 14But Peter said, “By no means, 30Lord, for 31I have never eaten anything 32unholy and unclean.” 15Again a voice came to him a second time, “33What God has cleansed, no longer consider 34unholy.” 16This happened three times, and immediately the 35object was taken up into the 36sky.

17Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in 37mind as to what 38the vision which he had seen might be, behold, 39the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19While Peter was reflecting on 40the vision, 41the Spirit said to him, “Behold, 42three men are looking for you. 20But get up, go downstairs and 43accompany them 44without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” 21Peter 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?” 22They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and 45God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, 46was divinely directed by a 47holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear 4849a message from you.”

Peter at Caesarea

23So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and 50some of 51the brethren from 52Joppa accompanied him. 24On the following day he entered 53Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and 5455worshiped him. 26But Peter raised him up, saying, “56Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27As he talked with him, he entered and found 57many people assembled. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know how 58unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet 59God has shown me that I should not call any man 60unholy or unclean. 29That 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.”

30Cornelius said, “61Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during 62the 63ninth hour; and behold, 64a man stood before me in shining garments, 31and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your 65alms have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send to 66Joppa 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.’ 33So I sent for you immediately, and you have 67been 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

3468Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that 69God is not one to show partiality, 35but 70in every nation the man who 7172fears Him and 73does what is right is welcome to Him. 36The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, 74preaching 7576peace through Jesus Christ (He is 77Lord of all)-- 37you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 3878You know of 79Jesus of Nazareth, how God 80anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, 8182and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for 83God was with Him. 39We are 84witnesses of all the things He did both in the 85land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also 86put Him to death by hanging Him on a 87cross. 4088God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 4189not to all the people, but to 90witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us 91who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He 92ordered us to 93preach to the people, and solemnly to 94testify that this is the One who has been 95appointed by God as 96Judge of the living and the dead. 43Of Him 97all the prophets bear witness that through 98His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, 99the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the 100message. 45101All the 102circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been 103poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they were hearing them 104speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47“105Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who 106have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he 107ordered them to be baptized 108in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.