Acts of the Apostles 10
10
Peter, Cornelius, and the Gentiles
1There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Company.#10.1 Or cohort(approximately six hundred soldiers) 2He and his whole household were pious, Gentile God-worshippers. He gave generously to those in need among the Jewish people and prayed to God constantly. 3One day at nearly three o’clock in the afternoon, he clearly saw an angel from God in a vision. The angel came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4Startled, he stared at the angel and replied, “What is it, Lord?”
The angel said, “Your prayers and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to God. 5Send messengers to Joppa at once and summon a certain Simon, the one known as Peter. 6He is a guest of Simon the tanner, whose house is near the seacoast.” 7When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius summoned two of his household servants along with a pious soldier from his personal staff. 8He explained everything to them, then sent them to Joppa.
9At noon on the following day, as their journey brought them close to the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted to eat. While others were preparing the meal, he had a visionary experience. 11He saw heaven opened up and something like a large linen sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners. 12Inside the sheet were all kinds of four-legged animals, reptiles, and wild birds.#10.12 Or birds in the sky 13A voice told him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!”
14Peter exclaimed, “Absolutely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15The voice spoke a second time, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.” 16This happened three times, then the object was suddenly pulled back into heaven.
17Peter was bewildered about the meaning of the vision. Just then, the messengers sent by Cornelius discovered the whereabouts of Simon’s house and arrived at the gate. 18Calling out, they inquired whether the Simon known as Peter was a guest there.
19While Peter was brooding over the vision, the Spirit interrupted him, “Look! Three people are looking for you. 20Go downstairs. Don’t ask questions; just go with them because I have sent them.”
21So Peter went downstairs and told them, “I’m the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22They replied, “We’ve come on behalf of Cornelius, a centurion and righteous man, a God-worshipper who is well-respected by all Jewish people. A holy angel directed him to summon you to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23Peter invited them into the house as his guests.
The next day he got up and went with them, together with some of the believers from Joppa. 24They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Anticipating their arrival, Cornelius had gathered his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in order to honor him. 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Get up! Like you, I’m just a human.” 27As they continued to talk, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them, “You all realize that it is forbidden for a Jew to associate or visit with outsiders. However, God has shown me that I should never call a person impure or unclean. 29For this reason, when you sent for me, I came without objection. I want to know, then, why you sent for me.”
30Cornelius answered, “Four days ago at this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me. 31He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to him. 32Therefore, send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is known as Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, located near the seacoast.’ 33I sent for you right away, and you were kind enough to come. Now, here we are, gathered in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has directed you to say.”
34Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. 35Rather, in every nation, whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all! 37You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism John preached. 38You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him. 39We are witnesses of everything he did, both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him up on the third day and allowed him to be seen, 41not by everyone but by us. We are witnesses whom God chose beforehand, who ate and drank with him after God raised him 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, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone who heard the word. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46They heard them speaking in other languages and praising God. Peter asked, 47“These people have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. Surely no one can stop them from being baptized with water, can they?” 48He directed that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited Peter to stay for several days.
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Acts of the Apostles 10: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Acts 10
10
Peter and Cornelius
1#Ac 27:1; 8:40In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, the centurion#Commander with the rank of captain over 100 soldiers. of a band of soldiers called the Italian Detachment, 2#Ac 10:22; 13:16; 13:26a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave many alms to the people and continually prayed to God. 3#Ac 3:1; 5:19About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.”
4#Heb 6:10; Ps 141:2When he looked at him he was afraid, and said, “What is it, Lord?”
He said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up as a memorial before God. 5Now send men to Joppa, and bring back Simon whose surname is Peter. 6#Ac 9:43He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
7When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who continually waited on him. 8When he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9#Ps 55:17; Zep 1:5The next day as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray about the sixth hour. 10#Ac 22:17He became very hungry and desired to eat. But while they prepared a meal, he fell into a trance 11#Jn 1:51and saw heaven opened, and a vessel like a great sheet, tied 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 and wild beasts and reptiles and birds of the air. 13Then a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14#Eze 4:14; Lev 20:25Peter said, “Not at all, Lord. For I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
15#Mt 15:11; 1Co 10:25The voice spoke to him a second time: “What God has cleansed, do not call common.”
16This happened three times. And again the vessel was taken up into heaven.
17Now while Peter wondered what this vision which he had seen might mean, the men who were sent by Cornelius had inquired for Simon’s house and stood at the gate, 18and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging there.
19#Ac 8:29While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Three men are looking for you. 20#Ac 15:7–9So rise and go down, and go with them, doubting nothing. For I have sent them.”
21Then Peter went down to the men who were sent to him by Cornelius and said, “Here I am, the one you are seeking. Why have you come?”
22#Ac 11:14; 10:2They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a man who is righteous and fears God and is of good report throughout the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house to hear your words.” 23#Ac 10:45; 11:12Then he invited them in and gave them lodging.
The next day Peter went with them, and some brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24And the next day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25#Mt 8:2; Da 2:46As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. 26#Rev 19:10But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up. I myself am a man.”
27#Ac 10:24As he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28#Jn 4:9; 18:28He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to visit or approach a foreigner. But God has shown me not to call any man common or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without question. Therefore I ask why you have sent for me.”
30#Ac 10:3; 1:10Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour. At the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and suddenly a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31#Ac 10:4and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered before God. 32Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, 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 immediately I sent for you, and you have done well to come. Now therefore we are all here, present before God, to hear everything the Lord has commanded you.”
Peter Speaks in Cornelius’ House
34#Dt 10:17; 2Ch 19:7Then Peter began to speak, saying, “Truthfully, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. 35#Ac 10:2; 15:9But in every nation he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36#Mt 28:18; Ac 2:36The word which He sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, 37the word, which you know, that was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38#Lk 4:18; Jn 3:2how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
39#Lk 24:48; Ac 10:41“We are witnesses of all that He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40#Ac 2:24But God raised Him on the third day and presented Him publicly, 41#Jn 14:22; Ac 10:39not to all the people, but to witnesses previously chosen by God, to us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42#Ac 17:31; 2Ti 4:1He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43#Ac 15:9; Isa 53:11To Him all the prophets bear witness that whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins through His name.”
Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
44#Ac 11:15; 15:8While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. 45#Ac 10:23; 2:38All the believers of the circumcision who had come with Peter were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46#Ac 2:4; 19:6For they heard them speaking in other tongues and magnifying God.
Then Peter continued, 47#Ac 8:36“Can anyone forbid water for baptizing these, who have received the Holy Spirit as we have?” 48#Ac 2:38; 8:16; 1Co 1:13–17So he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
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