Acts 10:9-35

9On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, 1Peter went up on 2the housetop about 3the 4sixth hour to pray. 10But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he 5fell into a trance; 11and he saw 6the 7sky opened up, and an 8object 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 9crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the 10air. 13A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, 11kill and eat!” 14But Peter said, “By no means, 12Lord, for 13I have never eaten anything 14unholy and unclean.” 15Again a voice came to him a second time, “15What God has cleansed, no longer consider 16unholy.” 16This happened three times, and immediately the 17object was taken up into the 18sky.

17Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in 19mind as to what 20the vision which he had seen might be, behold, 21the 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 22the vision, 23the Spirit said to him, “Behold, 24three men are looking for you. 20But get up, go downstairs and 25accompany them 26without 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 27God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, 28was divinely directed by a 29holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear 3031a 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 32some of 33the brethren from 34Joppa accompanied him. 24On the following day he entered 35Caesarea. 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 3637worshiped him. 26But Peter raised him up, saying, “38Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27As he talked with him, he entered and found 39many people assembled. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know how 40unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet 41God has shown me that I should not call any man 42unholy 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, “43Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during 44the 45ninth hour; and behold, 46a man stood before me in shining garments, 31and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your 47alms have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send to 48Joppa 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 49been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

3450Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that 51God is not one to show partiality, 35but 52in every nation the man who 5354fears Him and 55does what is right is welcome to Him.