Acts 10:25-48

25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and 12worshiped him. 26But Peter helped 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 that it is 5forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a 6foreigner; and yet 7God has shown me that I am not to call any person 8unholy 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, “9Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during 10the 11ninth hour; and behold, 12a 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 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 men to you immediately, and you have 14been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything 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 one who 1819fears Him and 20does what is right is acceptable 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 that happened throughout 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 that He did both in the 32country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on 3334a cross. 4035God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He 36be revealed, 4137not to all the people, but to 38witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us 39who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He 40ordered us to 41preach to the people, and to 42testify solemnly that this is the One who has been 43appointed by God as 44Judge of the living and the dead. 4345All the prophets testify of Him, that through 46His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, 47the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the 48message. 4549All the 50Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been 51poured out on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them 52speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, 47“53Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who 54have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he 55ordered them to be baptized 56in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.