Acts 10:24-48

24On the following day he entered 1Caesarea. 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 23worshiped him. 26But Peter raised him up, saying, “4Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27As he talked with him, he entered and found 5many people assembled. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know how 6unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet 7God has shown me that I should not call any man 8unholy 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, “9Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during 10the 11ninth hour; and behold, 12a man stood before me in shining garments, 31and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your 13alms have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send to 14Joppa 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 15been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

3416Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that 17God is not one to show partiality, 35but 18in every nation the man who 1920fears Him and 21does what is right is welcome to Him. 36The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, 22preaching 2324peace through Jesus Christ (He is 25Lord of all)-- 37you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 3826You know of 27Jesus of Nazareth, how God 28anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, 2930and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for 31God was with Him. 39We are 32witnesses of all the things He did both in the 33land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also 34put Him to death by hanging Him on a 35cross. 4036God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 4137not to all the people, but to 38witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us 39who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He 40ordered us to 41preach to the people, and solemnly to 42testify that this is the One who has been 43appointed by God as 44Judge of the living and the dead. 43Of Him 45all the prophets bear witness that through 46His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, 47the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the 48message. 4549All the 50circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been 51poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they were hearing them 52speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47“53Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who 54have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he 55ordered them to be baptized 56in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.