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10 But a certain man in Caesarea,—by name Cornelius, a centurion of the band called Italic,

pious, and fearing God with all his house, [both] giving much alms to the people, and supplicating God continually,

—saw plainly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius.

But he, having fixed his eyes upon him, and become full of fear, said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thine alms have gone up for a memorial before God.

And now send men to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter.

He lodges with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.

And when the angel who was speaking to him had departed, having called two of his household and a pious soldier of those who were constantly with him,

and related all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

And on the morrow, as these were journeying and drawing near to the city, Peter went up on the house to pray, about the sixth hour.

10 And he became hungry and desired to eat. But as they were making ready an ecstasy came upon him:

11 and he beholds the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as a great sheet, [bound] by [the] four corners [and] let down to the earth;

12 in which were all the quadrupeds and creeping things of the earth, and the fowls of the heaven.

13 And there was a voice to him, Rise, Peter, slay and eat.

14 And Peter said, In no wise, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common or unclean.

15 And [there was] a voice again the second time to him, What God has cleansed, do not *thou* make common.

16 And this took place thrice, and the vessel was straightway taken up into heaven.

17 And as Peter doubted in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold also the men who were sent by Cornelius, having sought out the house of Simon, stood at the gate,

18 and having called [some one], they inquired if Simon who was surnamed Peter was lodged there.

19 But as Peter continued pondering over the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek thee;

20 but rise up, go down, and go with them, nothing doubting, because *I* have sent them.

21 And Peter going down to the men said, Behold, *I* am he whom ye seek: what is the cause for which ye come?

22 And they said, Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man, and fearing God, and borne witness to by the whole nation of the Jews, has been divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for thee to his house, and hear words from thee.

23 Having therefore invited them in, he lodged them. And on the morrow, rising up he went away with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa went with him.

24 And on the morrow they came to Caesarea. But Cornelius was looking for them, having called together his kinsmen and [his] intimate friends.

25 And when Peter was now coming in, Cornelius met him, and falling down did [him] homage.

26 But Peter made him rise, saying, Rise up: *I* myself also am a man.

27 And he went in, talking with him, and found many gathered together.

28 And he said to them, *Ye* know how it is unlawful for a Jew to be joined or come to one of a strange race, and to *me* God has shewn to call no man common or unclean.

29 Wherefore also, having been sent for, I came without saying anything against it. I inquire therefore for what reason ye have sent for me.

30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I had been [fasting] unto this hour, and the ninth [I was] praying in my house, and lo, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31 and said, Cornelius, thy prayer has been heard, and thy alms have come in remembrance before God.

32 Send therefore to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea [who when he is come will speak to thee].

33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and *thou* hast well done in coming. Now therefore *we* are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

34 And Peter opening his mouth said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons,

35 but in every nation he that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

36 The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, (*he* is Lord of all things,)

37 *ye* know; the testimony which has spread through the whole of Judaea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached—

38 Jesus who [was] of Nazareth: how God anointed him with [the] Holy Spirit and with power; who went through [all quarters] doing good, and healing all that were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 *We* also [are] witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also slew, having hanged him on a cross.

40 This [man] God raised up the third day and gave him to be openly seen,

41 not of all the people, but of witnesses who were chosen before of God, *us* who have eaten and drunk with him after he arose from among [the] dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that *he* it is who was determinately appointed of God [to be] judge of living and dead.

43 To him all the prophets bear witness that every one that believes on him will receive through his name remission of sins.

44 While Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were hearing the word.

45 And the faithful of the circumcision were astonished, as many as came with Peter, that upon the nations also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out:

46 for they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,

47 Can any one forbid water that these should not be baptised, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also [did]?

48 And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay some days.

Cornelius Calls for Peter

10 At Caesarea(A) there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;(B) he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon(C) he had a vision.(D) He distinctly saw an angel(E) of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering(F) before God.(G) Now send men to Joppa(H) to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner,(I) whose house is by the sea.”

When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.(J)

Peter’s Vision(K)

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof(L) to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.(M) 11 He saw heaven opened(N) and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!”(O) Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”(P)

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”(Q)

16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision,(R) the men sent by Cornelius(S) found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision,(T) the Spirit said(U) to him, “Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”(V)

21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man,(W) who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”(X) 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers(Y) from Joppa went along.(Z) 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea.(AA) Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”(AB)

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.(AC) 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.(AD) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.(AE) 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes(AF) stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism(AG) 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.(AH) 36 You know the message(AI) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news(AJ) of peace(AK) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.(AL) 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed(AM) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing(AN) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.(AO)

39 “We are witnesses(AP) of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,(AQ) 40 but God raised him from the dead(AR) on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people,(AS) but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate(AT) and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people(AU) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.(AV) 43 All the prophets testify about him(AW) that everyone(AX) who believes(AY) in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”(AZ)

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on(BA) all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter(BB) were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out(BC) even on Gentiles.(BD) 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b](BE) and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.(BF) They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”(BG) 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.(BH) Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:19 One early manuscript two; other manuscripts do not have the number.
  2. Acts 10:46 Or other languages