Acts 10:24-48

24On the following day he entered 1Caesarea. 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 23worshiped him. 26But Peter helped 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 that it is 6forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a 7foreigner; and yet 8God has shown me that I am not to call any person 9unholy 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, “10Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during 11the 12ninth hour; and behold, 13a 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 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 men to you immediately, and you have 15been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything 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 one who 1920fears Him and 21does what is right is acceptable 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 that happened throughout 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 that He did both in the 33country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on 3435a cross. 4036God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He 37be revealed, 4138not to all the people, but to 39witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us 40who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He 41ordered us to 42preach to the people, and to 43testify solemnly that this is the One who has been 44appointed by God as 45Judge of the living and the dead. 4346All the prophets testify of Him, that through 47His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, 48the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the 49message. 4550All the 51Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been 52poured out on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them 53speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, 47“54Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who 55have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he 56ordered them to be baptized 57in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.