Acts 10:10-48

10But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he 1fell into a trance; 11and he saw 2the 3sky opened up, and an 4object 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 5crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the 6air. 13A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, 7kill and eat!” 14But Peter said, “By no means, 8Lord, for 9I have never eaten anything 10unholy and unclean.” 15Again a voice came to him a second time, “11What God has cleansed, no longer consider 12unholy.” 16This happened three times, and immediately the 13object was taken up into the 14sky.

17Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in 15mind as to what 16the vision which he had seen might be, behold, 17the 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 18the vision, 19the Spirit said to him, “Behold, 20three men are looking for you. 20But get up, go downstairs and 21accompany them 22without 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 23God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, 24was divinely directed by a 25holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear 2627a message from you.” 23So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and 28some of 29the brethren from 30Joppa accompanied him. 24On the following day he entered 31Caesarea. 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 3233worshiped him. 26But Peter raised him up, saying, “34Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27As he talked with him, he entered and found 35many people assembled. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know how 36unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet 37God has shown me that I should not call any man 38unholy 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, “39Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during 40the 41ninth hour; and behold, 42a man stood before me in shining garments, 31and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your 43alms have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send to 44Joppa 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 45been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

3446Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that 47God is not one to show partiality, 35but 48in every nation the man who 4950fears Him and 51does what is right is welcome to Him. 36The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, 52preaching 5354peace through Jesus Christ (He is 55Lord of all)-- 37you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 3856You know of 57Jesus of Nazareth, how God 58anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, 5960and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for 61God was with Him. 39We are 62witnesses of all the things He did both in the 63land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also 64put Him to death by hanging Him on a 65cross. 4066God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 4167not to all the people, but to 68witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us 69who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He 70ordered us to 71preach to the people, and solemnly to 72testify that this is the One who has been 73appointed by God as 74Judge of the living and the dead. 43Of Him 75all the prophets bear witness that through 76His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, 77the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the 78message. 4579All the 80circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been 81poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they were hearing them 82speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47“83Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who 84have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he 85ordered them to be baptized 86in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.