Acts 10
10
Cornelius Calls for Peter
1A man named Cornelius lived in Caesarea. He was a Roman commander in the Italian Regiment. 2Cornelius and all his family were faithful and worshiped God. He gave freely to people who were in need. He prayed to God regularly. 3One day about three o’clock in the afternoon he had a vision. He saw clearly an angel of God. The angel came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4Cornelius was afraid. He stared at the angel. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to poor people are like an offering to God. So he has remembered you. 5Now send men to Joppa. Have them bring back a man named Simon. He is also called Peter. 6He is staying with another Simon, a man who works with leather. His house is by the sea.”
7The angel who spoke to him left. Then Cornelius called two of his servants. He also called a godly soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened. Then he sent them to Joppa.
Peter Has a Vision
9It was about noon the next day. The men were on their journey and were approaching the city. Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry. He wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared, Peter had a vision. 11He saw heaven open up. There he saw something that looked like a large sheet. It was being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It had all kinds of four-footed animals in it. It also had reptiles and birds in it. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14“No, Lord! I will not!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything that is not pure and ‘clean.’ ”
15The voice spoke to him a second time. It said, “Do not say anything is not pure that God has made ‘clean.’ ”
16This happened three times. Right away the sheet was taken back up to heaven.
17Peter was wondering what the vision meant. At that very moment the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. They stopped at the gate 18and called out. They asked if Simon Peter was staying there.
19Peter was still thinking about the vision. The Holy Spirit spoke to him. “Simon,” he said, “three men are looking for you. 20Get up and go downstairs. Don’t let anything keep you from going with them. I have sent them.”
21Peter went down and spoke to the men. “I’m the one you’re looking for,” he said. “Why have you come?”
22The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius, the Roman commander. He is a good man who worships God. All the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to invite you to his house. Then Cornelius can hear what you have to say.” 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter Goes to the House of Cornelius
The next day Peter went with the three men. Some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them. He had called together his relatives and close friends. 25When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him. As a sign of respect, he fell at Peter’s feet. 26But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said. “I am only a man myself.”
27As he was talking with Cornelius, Peter went inside. There he found a large group of people. 28He said to them, “You know that it is against our law for a Jew to enter a Gentile home. A Jew shouldn’t have any close contact with a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not say anyone is not pure and ‘clean.’ 29So when you sent for me, I came without asking any questions. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30Cornelius answered, “Three days ago at this very hour I was in my house praying. It was three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood in front of me. 31He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer. He has remembered your gifts to poor people. 32Send someone to Joppa to get Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of another Simon, who works with leather. He lives by the sea.’ 33So I sent for you right away. It was good of you to come. Now we are all here. And God is here with us. We are ready to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34Then Peter began to speak. “I now realize how true it is that God treats everyone the same,” he said. 35“He accepts people from every nation. He accepts anyone who has respect for him and does what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel. It is the good news of peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened all through the area of Judea. It started in Galilee after John preached about baptism. 38You know how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went around doing good. He healed all who were under the devil’s power. God was with him.
39“We are witnesses of everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by nailing him to a cross. 40But on the third day God raised him from the dead. God allowed Jesus to be seen. 41But he wasn’t seen by all the people. He was seen only by us. We are witnesses whom God had already chosen. We ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people. He told us to tell people that he is the one appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. 43All the prophets tell about him. They say that all who believe in him have their sins forgiven through his name.”
44While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45Some Jewish believers had come with Peter. They were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46They heard them speaking in languages they had not known before. They also heard them praising God.
Then Peter said, 47“Surely no one can keep these people from being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
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Acts 10: NIrV
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Acts 10
10
Cornelius Sends a Delegation
1There was a certain man in #Acts 8:40; 23:23Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2#Acts 8:2; 9:22; 22:12a devout man and one who #(Acts 10:22, 35; 13:16, 26)feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3About the ninth hour of the day #Acts 10:30; 11:13he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”
So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5Now #Acts 11:13, 14send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6He is lodging with #Acts 9:43Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. #Acts 11:14He will tell you what you must do.” 7And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
9The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, #Acts10:9–32; 11:5–14Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11and #Ezek. 1:1; Matt. 3:16; Acts 7:56; Rev. 4:1; 19:11saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! #Lev. 11:4; 20:25; Deut. 14:3, 7; Ezek. 4:14For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
15And a voice spoke to him again the second time, #(Matt. 15:11; Mark 7:19); Acts 10:28; (Rom. 14:14); 1 Cor. 10:25; (1 Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:15)“What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
Summoned to Caesarea
17Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. 18And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19While Peter thought about the vision, #Acts 11:12the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. 20#Acts 15:7–9Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
21Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”
22And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and #Acts 22:12has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” 23Then he invited them in and lodged them.
On the next day Peter went away with them, #Acts 10:45; 11:12and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Peter Meets Cornelius
24And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, #Acts 14:14, 15; Rev. 19:10; 22:8“Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28Then he said to them, “You know how #John 4:9; 18:28; Acts 11:3; Gal. 2:12unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But #(Acts 10:14, 35; 15:8, 9)God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”
30So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, #Acts 1:10a man stood before me #Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5in bright clothing, 31and said, ‘Cornelius, #Dan. 10:12your prayer has been heard, and #Heb. 6:10your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
Preaching to Cornelius’ Household
34Then Peter opened his mouth and said: #Deut. 10:17; 2 Chr. 19:7; Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6; Eph. 6:9“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35But #Acts 15:9; (1 Cor. 12; 13; Eph. 2:13)in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is #Ps. 15:1, 2accepted by Him. 36The word which God sent to the children of Israel, #Is. 57:19; Eph. 2:14; (Col. 1:20)preaching peace through Jesus Christ—#Matt. 28:18; Acts 2:36; Rom. 10:12; 1 Cor. 15:27He is Lord of all— 37that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and #Luke 4:14began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38how #Is. 61:1–3; Luke 4:18God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who #Matt. 4:23went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, #John 3:2; 8:29for God was with Him. 39And we are #Acts 1:8witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they #Acts 2:23killed by hanging on a tree. 40Him #Hos. 6:2; Matt. 12:39, 40; 16:4; 20:19; John 2:19–21; Acts 2:24God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41#(John 14:17, 19, 22; 15:27)not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us #Luke 24:30, 41–43who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And #Matt. 28:19He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify #John 5:22, 27; Acts 17:31that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge #Rom. 14:9; 2 Tim. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:5of the living and the dead. 43#(Is. 42:1; 53:11; 61:1); Jer. 31:34; Dan. 9:24; Hos. 6:1–3; Mic. 7:18; Zech. 13:1; Mal. 4:2To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, #(John 3:16, 18; Acts 26:18); Rom. 10:11; Gal. 3:22whoever believes in Him will receive #Acts 13:38, 39remission of sins.”
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
44While Peter was still speaking these words, #Acts 4:31the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45#Acts 10:23And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, #Is. 42:1, 6; 49:6; Luke 2:32; John 11:52; Acts 11:18because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered, 47“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit #Acts 2:4; 10:44; 11:17; 15:8just as we have?” 48#1 Cor. 1:14–17And he commanded them to be baptized #Acts 2:38; 8:16; 19:5in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.