Acts 10:10-48

10But he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were making preparations, he 1fell into a trance; 11and he saw 2the sky opened up, and an 3object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12and on it were all kinds of four-footed animals and 4crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the sky. 13A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, 5kill and eat!” 14But Peter said, “By no means, 6Lord, for 7I have never eaten anything 8unholy and unclean.” 15Again a voice came to him a second time, “9What God has cleansed, no longer 10consider unholy.” 16This happened three times, and immediately the 11object was taken up into the sky.

17Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in 12mind as to what 13the vision which he had seen might 14mean, behold, 15the 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 16the vision, 17the Spirit said to him, “Behold, 18three men are looking for you. 20But get up, go downstairs and 19accompany them 20without 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 21God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, 22was divinely directed by a 23holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear 2425a message from you.” 23So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

Now on the next day he got ready and went away with them, and 26some of 27the brothers from 28Joppa accompanied him. 24On the following day he entered 29Caesarea. 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 3031worshiped him. 26But Peter helped him up, saying, “32Stand up; I, too, am just a man.” 27As he talked with him, he entered and found 33many people assembled. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is 34forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a 35foreigner; and yet 36God has shown me that I am not to call any person 37unholy 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, “38Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during 39the 40ninth hour; and behold, 41a 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 42Joppa 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 43been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

3444Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that 45God is not one to show partiality, 35but 46in every nation the one who 4748fears Him and 49does what is right is acceptable to Him. 36The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, 50preaching 5152peace through Jesus Christ (He is 53Lord of all)-- 37you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 3854You know of 55Jesus of Nazareth, how God 56anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, 5758and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for 59God was with Him. 39We are 60witnesses of all the things that He did both in the 61country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on 6263a cross. 4064God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He 65be revealed, 4166not to all the people, but to 67witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us 68who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He 69ordered us to 70preach to the people, and to 71testify solemnly that this is the One who has been 72appointed by God as 73Judge of the living and the dead. 4374All the prophets testify of Him, that through 75His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, 76the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the 77message. 4578All the 79Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been 80poured out on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them 81speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, 47“82Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who 83have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he 84ordered them to be baptized 85in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.