Acts 10:9-48

9On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, 1Peter went up on 2the 3housetop about 45the sixth hour to pray. 10But he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were making preparations, he 6fell into a trance; 11and he saw 7the sky opened up, and an 8object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12and on it were all kinds of four-footed animals and 9crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the sky. 13A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, 10kill and eat!” 14But Peter said, “By no means, 11Lord, for 12I have never eaten anything 13unholy and unclean.” 15Again a voice came to him a second time, “14What God has cleansed, no longer 15consider unholy.” 16This happened three times, and immediately the 16object was taken up into the sky.

17Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in 17mind as to what 18the vision which he had seen might 19mean, behold, 20the 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 21the vision, 22the Spirit said to him, “Behold, 23three men are looking for you. 20But get up, go downstairs and 24accompany them 25without 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 26God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, 27was divinely directed by a 28holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear 2930a 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 31some of 32the brothers from 33Joppa accompanied him. 24On the following day he entered 34Caesarea. 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 3536worshiped him. 26But Peter helped him up, saying, “37Stand up; I, too, am just a man.” 27As he talked with him, he entered and found 38many people assembled. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is 39forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a 40foreigner; and yet 41God has shown me that I am not to call any person 42unholy 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, “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 clothing, 31and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send some men to 47Joppa 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 48been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

3449Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that 50God is not one to show partiality, 35but 51in every nation the one who 5253fears Him and 54does what is right is acceptable to Him. 36The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, 55preaching 5657peace through Jesus Christ (He is 58Lord of all)-- 37you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 3859You know of 60Jesus of Nazareth, how God 61anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, 6263and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for 64God was with Him. 39We are 65witnesses of all the things that He did both in the 66country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on 6768a cross. 4069God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He 70be revealed, 4171not to all the people, but to 72witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us 73who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He 74ordered us to 75preach to the people, and to 76testify solemnly that this is the One who has been 77appointed by God as 78Judge of the living and the dead. 4379All the prophets testify of Him, that through 80His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, 81the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the 82message. 4583All the 84Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been 85poured out on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them 86speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, 47“87Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who 88have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he 89ordered them to be baptized 90in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.