Acts 10
10
Peter and Cornelius
1In the city of Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a Roman army officer in what was called the Italian Unit. 2He was a religious man. He and all the others who lived in his house were worshipers of the true God. He gave much of his money to help the poor people and always prayed to God. 3One afternoon about three o’clock, Cornelius had a vision. He clearly saw an angel from God coming to him and saying, “Cornelius!”
4Staring at the angel and feeling afraid, Cornelius said, “What do you want, sir?”
The angel said to him, “God has heard your prayers and has seen your gifts to the poor. He remembers you and all you have done. 5Send some men now to the city of Joppa to get a man named Simon, who is also called Peter. 6He is staying with someone also named Simon, a leatherworker who has a house beside the sea.” 7The angel who spoke to Cornelius left. Then Cornelius called two of his servants and a soldier. The soldier was a religious man, one of his close helpers. 8Cornelius explained everything to these three men and sent them to Joppa.
9The next day they were coming near Joppa about noon, when Peter was going up to the roof to pray. 10He was hungry and wanted to eat. But while they were preparing the food for Peter to eat, he had a vision. 11He saw something coming down through the open sky. It looked like a big sheet being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill anything here and eat it.”
14But Peter said, “I can’t do that, Lord! I have never eaten anything that is not pure or fit to be used for food.”
15But the voice said to him again, “God has made these things pure. Don’t say they are unfit to eat.” 16This happened three times. Then the whole thing was taken back up into heaven. 17Peter wondered what this vision meant.
The men Cornelius sent had found Simon’s house. They were standing at the door. 18They asked, “Is Simon Peter staying here?”
19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Listen, three men are looking for you. 20Get up and go downstairs. Go with these men without wondering if it’s all right, because I sent them.” 21So Peter went downstairs and said to them, “I think I’m the man you are looking for. Why did you come here?”
22The men said, “A holy angel told Cornelius to invite you to his house. He is an army officer. He is a good man, one who worships God, and all the Jewish people respect him. The angel told him to invite you to his house so that he can listen to what you have to say.” 23Peter asked the men to come in and stay for the night.
The next day Peter got ready and went away with the three men. Some of the believers from Joppa went with him. 24The next day they came to the city of Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them and had already gathered his relatives and close friends at his house.
25When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him. He fell down at Peter’s feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter told him to get up. Peter said, “Stand up! I am only a man like you.” 27Peter continued talking with Cornelius. Then Peter went inside and saw a large group of people gathered there.
28Peter said to the people, “You understand that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit anyone who is not a Jew. But God has shown me that I should not consider anyone unfit or say they are not pure. 29That’s why I didn’t argue when your men asked me 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 someone standing before me wearing bright, shiny clothes. 31He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and has seen your gifts to the poor. He remembers you and all you have done. 32So send some men to the city of Joppa and tell Simon Peter to come. He is staying with another man named Simon, a leatherworker who has a house beside the sea.’ 33So I sent for you immediately. It was very good of you to come here. Now we are all here before God to hear everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
Peter Speaks in the House of Cornelius
34Peter began to speak: “I really understand now that God does not consider some people to be better than others. 35He accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. It is not important what nation they come from. 36God has spoken to the people of Israel. He sent them the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ, the Lord of all people.
37“You know what has happened all over Judea. It began in Galilee after John told the people they needed to be baptized. 38You know about Jesus from Nazareth. God made him the Messiah by giving him the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went everywhere doing good for people. He healed those who were ruled by the devil, showing that God was with him.
39“We saw all that Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem. But he was killed. They put him on a cross made of wood. 40But on the third day after his death, God raised him to life and let him be seen openly. 41He was not seen by everyone, but only by us, the ones God had already chosen to be witnesses. We ate and drank with him after he was raised from death.
42“Jesus told us to go and speak to the people. He told us to tell them that he is the one God chose to be the Judge of all who are living and all who have died. 43Everyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. All the prophets agree that this is true.”
God Shows That He Accepts All People
44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his speech. 45The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the Holy Spirit had been poured out as a gift also to people who were not Jews. 46They heard them speaking different languages and praising God. Then Peter said, 47“How can anyone object to these people being baptized in water? They have received the Holy Spirit the same as we did!” 48So Peter told them to baptize Cornelius and his relatives and friends in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
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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