Acts 10

Cornelius’ Vision

1Now there was a man in 1Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was 2called the Italian 3cohort, 2a devout man and 4one who feared God with all his household, and 5made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3About 6the 7ninth hour of the day he clearly saw 8in a vision 9an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4And he 10looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts 11have ascended 12as a memorial offering before God. 5Now dispatch some men to 13Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6he is staying with a tanner named 14Simon, whose house is by the sea.” 7When the angel who spoke to him left, he summoned two of his 15servants and a devout soldier from his personal attendants, 8and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to 16Joppa.

9On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, 17Peter went up on 18the 19housetop about 2021the sixth hour to pray. 10But he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were making preparations, he 22fell into a trance; 11and he saw 23the sky opened up, and an 24object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12and on it were all kinds of four-footed animals and 25crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the sky. 13A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, 26kill and eat!” 14But Peter said, “By no means, 27Lord, for 28I have never eaten anything 29unholy and unclean.” 15Again a voice came to him a second time, “30What God has cleansed, no longer 31consider unholy.” 16This happened three times, and immediately the 32object was taken up into the sky.

17Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in 33mind as to what 34the vision which he had seen might 35mean, behold, 36the men who had been sent by Cornelius had asked directions to Simon’s house, and they 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 37the vision, 38the Spirit said to him, “Behold, 39three men are looking for you. 20But get up, go downstairs and 40accompany them 41without 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 42God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, 43was divinely directed by a 44holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear 4546a message from you.”

Peter in Caesarea

23So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

Now on the next day he got ready and went away with them, and 47some of 48the brothers from 49Joppa accompanied him. 24On the following day he entered 50Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and 5152worshiped him. 26But Peter helped him up, saying, “53Stand up; I, too, am just a man.” 27As he talked with him, he entered and found 54many people assembled. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is 55forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a 56foreigner; and yet 57God has shown me that I am not to call any person 58unholy or unclean. 29That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask, for what reason did you send for me?”

30Cornelius said, “59Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during 60the 61ninth hour; and behold, 62a man stood before me in shining clothing, 31and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send some men to 63Joppa 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 men to you immediately, and you have 64been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear Good News

3465Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that 66God is not one to show partiality, 35but 67in every nation the one who 6869fears Him and 70does what is right is acceptable to Him. 36The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, 71preaching 7273peace through Jesus Christ (He is 74Lord of all)-- 37you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 3875You know of 76Jesus of Nazareth, how God 77anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, 7879and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for 80God was with Him. 39We are 81witnesses of all the things that He did both in the 82country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on 8384a cross. 4085God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He 86be revealed, 4187not to all the people, but to 88witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us 89who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He 90ordered us to 91preach to the people, and to 92testify solemnly that this is the One who has been 93appointed by God as 94Judge of the living and the dead. 4395All the prophets testify of Him, that through 96His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, 97the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the 98message. 4599All the 100Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been 101poured out on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them 102speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, 47“103Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who 104have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he 105ordered them to be baptized 106in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.