10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

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

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

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10 1 Cornelius 4 at the Angel’s commandment, 5 sendeth for Peter. 11 Who also by a vision, 15, 20 is taught not to despise the Gentiles. 34 He preacheth the Gospel to Cornelius and his household. 45 Who having received the holy Ghost,  47 are baptized.

Furthermore [a]there was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a captain of the band called the Italian band,

A [b]devout man, and one that feared God with [c]all his household, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed God continually.

He saw in a vision evidently (about the ninth hour of the day) an Angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

But when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, [d]What is it, Lord? and he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are [e]come up into [f]remembrance before God.

Now therefore send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.

He lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

And when the Angel which spake unto Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his servants, and a soldier that feared God, one of them that waited on him,

And told them all things, and sent them to Joppa.

On the morrow as they went on their journey, and drew near unto the city, Peter went up upon the house to pray, about the sixth hour.

10 Then waxed he an hungered, and would have eaten: but while they made something ready, he fell into a [g]trance.

11 And he saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel come down unto him, as it had been a great sheet, knit at the [h]four corners, and was let down to the earth.

12 Wherein were [i]all manner of [j]four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts and [k]creeping things, and fowls of the heaven.

13 And there came a voice to him, Arise, Peter: kill, and eat.

14 [l]But Peter said, Not so, Lord: for I have never eaten anything that is polluted, or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, The things that God hath purified, [m]pollute thou not.

16 This was so done thrice: and the vessel was drawn up again into heaven.

17 ¶ Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen, meant, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius, had inquired for Simon’s house, and stood at the gate,

18 And called, and asked, whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19 And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, and doubt nothing: For I have sent them.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:1 Peter consecrateth the firstfruits of the Gentiles to God by the means of two miracles.
  2. Acts 10:2 So that he worshipped one God, and was no idolater, and neither could be void of faith in Christ, because he was a devout man but as yet he knew not that he was come.
  3. Acts 10:2 This is a great commendation to this man, that he labored to have all his household and familiar friends and acquaintances to be religious and godly.
  4. Acts 10:4 What wilt thou with me, Lord? for he settleth himself to hear.
  5. Acts 10:4 This is a borrowed kind of speech, which the Hebrews use very much, taken from sacrifices, and applied to prayers: for it is said of whole burnt sacrifices, that the smoke and savor of them goeth up into God’s nostrils: so do our prayers as a sweet-smelling sacrifice which the Lord taketh great pleasure in.
  6. Acts 10:4 That is, insomuch that they will not suffer God as it were, to forget thee: for so doth the Scripture use oftentimes to prattle with us as nurses do with little children, when they frame their tongues to speak.
  7. Acts 10:10 For though Peter stand not amazed as one that is tongue tied, but talketh with God, and is instructed in his mysteries, yet his mind was far otherwise than it was wont to be, but shortly returned to the old bent.
  8. Acts 10:11 So that it seemed to be a foursquare sheet.
  9. Acts 10:12 Here is this word (All) which is general, plainly put for an indefinite and uncertain, that is to say, for some of all sorts, not for all of every sort.
  10. Acts 10:12 That is, such as were meet for men’s use.
  11. Acts 10:12 What is meant by the creeping things, see Lev. 11.
  12. Acts 10:14 Peter profiteth daily in the knowledge of the benefit of Christ, yea, after that he had received the holy Ghost.
  13. Acts 10:15 Do not thou hold them as unprofitable.