The Acts 10
10
Peter and Cornelius
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius. He was an officer in the Italian group of the Roman army. 2Cornelius was a religious man. He and all the other people who lived in his house worshiped the true God. He gave much of his money to the poor and prayed to God often. 3One afternoon about three o’clock, Cornelius saw a vision clearly. In the vision an angel of God came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4Cornelius stared at the angel. He became afraid and said, “What do you want, Lord?”
The angel said, “God has heard your prayers. He has seen what you give to the poor. And God remembers you. 5Send some men now to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon. Simon is also called Peter. 6Simon is staying with a man, also named Simon, who is a leatherworker. He has a house beside the sea.” 7Then the angel who spoke to Cornelius left. Cornelius called two of his servants and a soldier. The soldier was a religious man who worked for Cornelius. 8Cornelius explained everything to these three men and sent them to Joppa.
9The next day as they came near Joppa, Peter was going up to the roof# In Bible times houses were built with flat roofs. The roof was used for drying things such as flax and fruit. And it was used as an extra room, as a place for worship and as a place to sleep in the summer. to pray. It was about noon. 10Peter was hungry and wanted to eat. But while the food was being prepared, he had a vision. 11He saw heaven opened and something coming down. It looked like a big sheet being lowered to earth by its four corners. 12In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13Then a voice said to Peter, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”
14But Peter said, “No, Lord! I have never eaten food that is unholy or unclean.”
15But the voice said to him again, “God has made these things clean. Don’t call them ‘unholy’!” 16This happened three times. Then the sheet was taken back to heaven.
17While Peter was wondering what this vision meant, the men Cornelius sent had found Simon’s house. They were standing at the gate. 18They asked, “Is Simon Peter staying here?”
19Peter was still thinking about the vision. But the Spirit said to him, “Listen! Three men are looking for you. 20Get up and go downstairs. Go with them and don’t ask questions. I have sent them to you.”
21So Peter went down to the men. He said, “I am the man you are looking for. Why did you come here?”
22They said, “A holy angel spoke to Cornelius, an army officer. He is a good man; he worships God. All the Jewish people respect him. The angel told Cornelius to ask you to his house so that he can hear what you have to say.” 23Peter asked the men to come in and spend the night.
The next day Peter got ready and went with them. Some of the brothers from Joppa joined him. 24On the following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them. He had called together his relatives and close friends. 25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him. He fell at Peter’s feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up! I too am only a man.” 27Peter went on talking with Cornelius as they went inside. There Peter saw many people together. 28He said, “You people understand that it is against our Jewish law for a Jew to associate with or visit anyone who is not a Jew. But God has shown me that I should not call any person ‘unholy’ or ‘unclean.’ 29That is why I did not argue when I was asked to come here. Now, please tell me why you sent for me.”
30Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was praying in my house. It was at this same time—three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, there was a man standing before me wearing shining clothes. 31He said, ‘Cornelius! God has heard your prayer. He has seen what you give to the poor. And God remembers you. 32So send some men to Joppa and ask Simon Peter to come. Peter is staying in the house of a man, also named Simon, who is a leatherworker. His house is beside the sea.’ 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was very good of you to come. Now we are all here before God to hear everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
Peter’s Speech
34Peter began to speak: “I really understand now that to God every person is the same. 35God accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. It is not important what country a person comes from. 36You know that God has sent his message to the people of Israel. That message is the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all people! 37You know what has happened all over Judea. It began in Galilee after John# John the Baptist, who preached to people about Christ’s coming (Matthew 3; Luke 3). preached to the people about baptism. 38You know about Jesus from Nazareth. God made him the Christ by giving him the Holy Spirit and power. You know how Jesus went everywhere doing good. He healed those who were ruled by the devil, for God was with Jesus. 39We saw all the things that Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem. But they killed him by nailing him to a cross. 40Yet, on the third day, God raised Jesus to life and caused him to be seen. 41But he was not seen by all the people. Only the witnesses that God had already chosen saw him, and we are those witnesses. We ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. 42He told us to preach to the people and to tell them that he is the one whom God chose to be the judge of the living and the dead. 43Everyone who believes in Jesus will be forgiven. God will forgive his sins through Jesus. All the prophets say this is true.”
Non-Jews Receive the Holy Spirit
44While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening. 45The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been given even to the non-Jewish people. 46These Jewish believers heard them speaking in different languages and praising God. Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we did!” 48So Peter 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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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Acts 10
10
1But a certain man in Caesarea, — by name Cornelius, a centurion of the band called Italic, 2pious, and fearing God with all his house, both giving much alms to the people, and supplicating God continually, 3— saw plainly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius. 4But 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. 5And now send men to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter. 6He lodges with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. 7And 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, 8and related all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9And 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. 10And he became hungry and desired to eat. But as they were making ready an ecstasy came upon him: 11and 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; 12in which were all the quadrupeds and creeping things of the earth, and the fowls of the heaven. 13And there was a voice to him, Rise, Peter, slay and eat. 14And Peter said, In no wise, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common or unclean. 15And there was a voice again the second time to him, What God has cleansed, do not thou make common. 16And this took place thrice, and the vessel was straightway taken up into heaven. 17And 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, 18and having called some one, they inquired if Simon who was surnamed Peter was lodged there.
19But as Peter continued pondering over the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek thee; 20but rise up, go down, and go with them, nothing doubting, because I have sent them. 21And Peter going down to the men said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause for which ye come? 22And 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. 23Having 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. 24And on the morrow they came to Caesarea. But Cornelius was looking for them, having called together his kinsmen and his intimate friends. 25And when Peter was now coming in, Cornelius met him, and falling down did him homage. 26But Peter made him rise, saying, Rise up: I myself also am a man. 27And he went in, talking with him, and found many gathered together. 28And 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. 29Wherefore also, having been sent for, I came without saying anything against it. I inquire therefore for what reason ye have sent for me. 30And 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, 31and said, Cornelius, thy prayer has been heard, and thy alms have come in remembrance before God. 32Send 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. 33Immediately 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.
34And Peter opening his mouth said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, 35but in every nation he that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. 36The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, (he is Lord of all things,) 37ye know; the testimony which has spread through the whole of Judaea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached — 38Jesus 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. 39We 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. 40This man God raised up the third day and gave him to be openly seen, 41not 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. 42And 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. 43To him all the prophets bear witness that every one that believes on him will receive through his name remission of sins.
44While Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were hearing the word. 45And 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: 46for they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 47Can any one forbid water that these should not be baptised, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did? 48And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay some days.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.