Acts 10:17-48

17Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in 1mind as to what 2the vision which he had seen might be, behold, 3the 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 4the vision, 5the Spirit said to him, “Behold, 6three men are looking for you. 20But get up, go downstairs and 7accompany them 8without 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 9God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, 10was divinely directed by a 11holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear 1213a 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 14some of 15the brethren from 16Joppa accompanied him. 24On the following day he entered 17Caesarea. 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 1819worshiped him. 26But Peter raised him up, saying, “20Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27As he talked with him, he entered and found 21many people assembled. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know how 22unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet 23God has shown me that I should not call any man 24unholy 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, “25Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during 26the 27ninth hour; and behold, 28a man stood before me in shining garments, 31and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your 29alms have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send to 30Joppa 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 31been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

3432Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that 33God is not one to show partiality, 35but 34in every nation the man who 3536fears Him and 37does what is right is welcome to Him. 36The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, 38preaching 3940peace through Jesus Christ (He is 41Lord of all)-- 37you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 3842You know of 43Jesus of Nazareth, how God 44anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, 4546and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for 47God was with Him. 39We are 48witnesses of all the things He did both in the 49land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also 50put Him to death by hanging Him on a 51cross. 4052God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 4153not to all the people, but to 54witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us 55who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He 56ordered us to 57preach to the people, and solemnly to 58testify that this is the One who has been 59appointed by God as 60Judge of the living and the dead. 43Of Him 61all the prophets bear witness that through 62His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, 63the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the 64message. 4565All the 66circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been 67poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they were hearing them 68speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47“69Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who 70have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he 71ordered them to be baptized 72in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.