Acts 10:25-48

25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and 12worshiped him. 26But Peter raised him up, saying, “3Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27As he talked with him, he entered and found 4many people assembled. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know how 5unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet 6God has shown me that I should not call any man 7unholy 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, “8Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during 9the 10ninth hour; and behold, 11a man stood before me in shining garments, 31and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your 12alms have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send to 13Joppa 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 14been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

3415Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that 16God is not one to show partiality, 35but 17in every nation the man who 1819fears Him and 20does what is right is welcome to Him. 36The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, 21preaching 2223peace through Jesus Christ (He is 24Lord of all)-- 37you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 3825You know of 26Jesus of Nazareth, how God 27anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, 2829and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for 30God was with Him. 39We are 31witnesses of all the things He did both in the 32land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also 33put Him to death by hanging Him on a 34cross. 4035God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 4136not to all the people, but to 37witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us 38who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He 39ordered us to 40preach to the people, and solemnly to 41testify that this is the One who has been 42appointed by God as 43Judge of the living and the dead. 43Of Him 44all the prophets bear witness that through 45His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, 46the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the 47message. 4548All the 49circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been 50poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they were hearing them 51speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47“52Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who 53have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he 54ordered them to be baptized 55in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.