Acts 10
10
Cornelius Calls for Peter
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4Cornelius 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 before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three#10:19 One early manuscript two; other manuscripts do not have the number. men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
21Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
22The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, 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.” 23Then 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 from Joppa went along. 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33So 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.”
34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues#10:46 Or other languages and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47“Surely no one can stand in the way of their 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.
Currently Selected:
Acts 10: NIV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.