10
1 Now
there was a
certain man in
Caesarea, Cornelius
by name, a
centurion of what
was called the
Italian Regiment,
2 a
devout man, and
one who feared
God with all
his house, who
gave gifts for
the needy generously to
the people, and
always prayed to
God.
3 At
about the ninth
hour of the
day,
he clearly saw
in a vision
an angel of God
coming to him
and saying to
him, “Cornelius!”
4 He, fastening
his eyes on him
and being
frightened, said, “What
is it, Lord?”
He said to
him, “Your prayers
and your gifts
to the needy
have gone up for
a memorial before
God.
5 Now
send men to
Joppa, and get
Simon, who is
also called Peter.
6 He
is staying with
a tanner named
Simon, whose house
is by
the seaside.
7 When
the angel who
spoke to him
had departed, Cornelius
called two of
his household
servants and a
devout soldier of
those who waited
on him continually.
8 Having
explained everything to
them, he sent
them to Joppa.
9 Now
on the next
day as they
were on their
journey and got
close to the
city, Peter went
up on the
housetop to pray
at about noon.
10 He
became hungry and
desired to eat,
but while they
were preparing, he
fell into a
trance.
11 He
saw heaven opened
and a certain
container descending
to him, like
a great sheet
let down by
four corners on
the earth,
12 in
which were all
kinds of
four-footed animals
of the earth,
wild animals,
reptiles, and
birds of the
sky.
13 A
voice came to
him,
“Rise, Peter, kill
and eat!”
14 But
Peter said, “Not
so, Lord; for
I have never
eaten anything
that is common
or unclean.”
15 A
voice came to
him again the
second time,
“What God has
cleansed, you
must not call
unclean.”
16 This
was done three
times, and
immediately the
thing was received
up into heaven.
17 Now
while Peter was
very perplexed in
himself what the
vision which he
had seen might
mean, behold, the
men who were sent
by Cornelius, having
made inquiry for
Simon’s house,
stood before the
gate,
18 and
called and asked
whether Simon, who
was also called
Peter, was lodging
there.
19 While
Peter was pondering
the vision, the
Spirit said to
him, “Behold, three
men seek you.
20 But arise,
get down, and
go with them,
doubting nothing;
for I have
sent them.”
21 Peter
went down to
the men, and
said, “Behold, I
am he whom
you seek. Why
have you come?”
22 They
said, “Cornelius,
a centurion, a
righteous man and
one who fears
God, and well
spoken of by
all the nation
of the Jews,
was directed by
a holy angel to invite
you to his
house, and
to listen to what
you say.”
23 So
he called them
in and provided
a place to stay.
On the next
day Peter arose
and went out
with them, and
some of
the brothers from
Joppa accompanied
him.
24 On
the next day
they entered into
Caesarea. Cornelius
was waiting for
them, having
called together
his relatives and
his near friends.
25 When
Peter entered,
Cornelius met him,
fell down at
his feet, and
worshiped him.
26 But
Peter raised him
up, saying, “Stand
up! I myself
am also a man.”
27 As
he talked with
him, he went
in and found
many gathered
together.
28 He
said to them, “You
yourselves know
how it is
an unlawful thing
for a man
who is a
Jew to join
himself or come
to one of
another nation, but
God has shown
me that
I shouldn’t call
any man unholy
or unclean.
29 Therefore
I also came
without complaint
when I was
sent for. I
ask therefore, why
did you send
for me?”
30 Cornelius
said, “Four
days ago, I
was fasting until
this hour; and
at the ninth
hour,
I prayed in
my house, and
behold, a man
stood before me
in bright clothing
31 and
said, ‘Cornelius,
your prayer is
heard, and your
gifts to the needy
are remembered in
the sight of
God.
32 Send
therefore to Joppa
and summon Simon,
who is also
called Peter. He
is staying in
the house of
a tanner named
Simon, by
the seaside. When
he comes, he
will speak to
you.’
33 Therefore
I sent to
you at once,
and it was
good of you
to come. Now
therefore we are
all here present
in the sight
of God to hear
all things that
have been
commanded you by
God.”
34 Peter opened
his mouth and
said, “Truly I
perceive that
God doesn’t
show favoritism;
35 but
in every nation
he who fears
him and works
righteousness is
acceptable to him.
36 The
word which he
sent to the
children of Israel,
preaching good
news of peace
by Jesus Christ—he
is Lord of
all—
37 you
yourselves know
what happened,
which was
proclaimed throughout
all Judea, beginning
from Galilee,
after the baptism
which John
preached;
38 how
God anointed Jesus
of Nazareth with
the Holy Spirit
and with power,
who went about
doing good and
healing all who
were oppressed by
the devil, for
God was with
him.
39 We
are witnesses of
everything he did
both in the
country of the
Jews and in
Jerusalem; whom
they also
killed, hanging him
on a tree.
40 God
raised him up
the third day
and gave him
to be revealed,
41 not
to all the
people, but to
witnesses who were
chosen before by
God, to us,
who ate and
drank with him
after he rose
from the dead.
42 He
commanded us to
preach to the
people and to
testify that this
is he who
is appointed by
God as the
Judge of the
living and the
dead.
43 All
the prophets
testify about him,
that through his
name everyone who
believes in him
will receive remission
of sins.”
44 While
Peter was still
speaking these
words, the Holy
Spirit fell on
all those who heard
the word.
45 They
of the
circumcision who
believed were
amazed, as many
as came with
Peter, because the
gift of the
Holy Spirit was
also poured out
on the Gentiles.
46 For
they heard them
speaking in other
languages and magnifying
God.
Then Peter answered,
47 “Can
anyone forbid
these people from
being baptized with
water? They have
received the Holy
Spirit just like
us.”
48 He
commanded them to
be baptized in the
name of Jesus
Christ. Then they
asked him to
stay some days.