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
1There was a certain man in Caesare´a called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. 3He 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. 4And 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. 5And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7And 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; 8and when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9On 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: 10and he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, 18and called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23Then called he them in, and lodged them.
And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24And the morrow after they entered into Caesare´a. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31and said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
Peter's Address in Cornelius' House
34 #
Deut 10.17. Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37that word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; 41not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Ghost
44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
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King James Version 1611, spelling, punctuation and text formatting modernized by ABS in 1962; typesetting © 2010 American Bible Society.