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
The Vision of Cornelius.#10:30–33. 1#The narrative centers on the conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile and a “God-fearer” (see note on Acts 8:26–40). Luke considers the event of great importance, as is evident from his long treatment of it. The incident is again related in Acts 11:1–18 where Peter is forced to justify his actions before the Jerusalem community and alluded to in Acts 15:7–11 where at the Jerusalem “Council” Peter supports Paul’s missionary activity among the Gentiles. The narrative divides itself into a series of distinct episodes, concluding with Peter’s presentation of the Christian kerygma (Acts 10:4–43) and a pentecostal experience undergone by Cornelius’ household preceding their reception of baptism (Acts 10:44–48). Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Cohort called the Italica,#The Cohort called the Italica: this battalion was an auxiliary unit of archers formed originally in Italy but transferred to Syria shortly before A.D. 69. 2devout and God-fearing along with his whole household, who used to give alms generously#Used to give alms generously: like Tabitha (Acts 9:36), Cornelius exemplifies the proper attitude toward wealth (see note on Acts 9:36). to the Jewish people and pray to God constantly. 3One afternoon about three o’clock,#About three o’clock: literally, “about the ninth hour.” See note on Acts 3:1. he saw plainly in a vision an angel of God come in to him and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4He looked intently at him and, seized with fear, said, “What is it, sir?” He said to him, “Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send some men to Joppa and summon one Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with another Simon, a tanner, who has a house by the sea.”#9:43. 7When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier#A devout soldier: by using this adjective, Luke probably intends to classify him as a “God-fearer” (see note on Acts 8:26–40). from his staff, 8explained everything to them, and sent them to Joppa.
The Vision of Peter. 9#The vision is intended to prepare Peter to share the food of Cornelius’ household without qualms of conscience (Acts 10:48). The necessity of such instructions to Peter reveals that at first not even the apostles fully grasped the implications of Jesus’ teaching on the law. In Acts, the initial insight belongs to Stephen. The next day, while they were on their way and nearing the city, Peter went up to the roof terrace to pray at about noontime.#At about noontime: literally, “about the sixth hour.” 10He was hungry and wished to eat, and while they were making preparations he fell into a trance. 11#11:5–12. He saw heaven opened and something resembling a large sheet coming down, lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12In it were all the earth’s four-legged animals and reptiles and the birds of the sky. 13A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.” 14But Peter said, “Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane and unclean.”#Lv 11:1–47; Ez 4:14. 15The voice spoke to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.”#Mk 7:15–19; Gal 2:12. 16This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into the sky.
17#The arrival of the Gentile emissaries with their account of the angelic apparition illuminates Peter’s vision: he is to be prepared to admit Gentiles, who were considered unclean like the animals of his vision, into the Christian community. While Peter was in doubt about the meaning of the vision he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius asked for Simon’s house and arrived at the entrance. 18They called out inquiring whether Simon, who is called Peter, was staying there. 19As Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said [to him], “There are three men here looking for you.#13:2. 20So get up, go downstairs, and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.” 21Then Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your being here?” 22They answered, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, respected by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear what you have to say.”#Lk 7:4–5. 23So he invited them in and showed them hospitality.
The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. 24#So impressed is Cornelius with the apparition that he invites close personal friends to join him in his meeting with Peter. But his understanding of the person he is about to meet is not devoid of superstition, suggested by his falling down before him. For a similar experience of Paul and Barnabas, see Acts 14:11–18. On the following day he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25#14:13–15; Rev 19:10. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. 26Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.” 27While he conversed with him, he went in and found many people gathered together 28#Gal 2:11–16. and said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with, or visit, a Gentile, but God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean.#Peter now fully understands the meaning of his vision; see note on Acts 10:17–23. 29And that is why I came without objection when sent for. May I ask, then, why you summoned me?”
30Cornelius replied, “Four days ago#Four days ago: literally, “from the fourth day up to this hour.” at this hour, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was at prayer in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling robes stood before me and said, 31‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving remembered before God. 32Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to listen to all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Peter’s Speech.#Peter’s speech to the household of Cornelius typifies early Christian preaching to Gentiles. 34Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,#The revelation of God’s choice of Israel to be the people of God did not mean he withheld the divine favor from other people. “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.#Dt 10:17; 2 Chr 19:7; Jb 34:19; Wis 6:7; Rom 2:11; Gal 2:6; Eph 6:9; 1 Pt 1:17. 35Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. 36#These words are more directed to Luke’s Christian readers than to the household of Cornelius, as indicated by the opening words, “You know.” They trace the continuity between the preaching and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth and the proclamation of Jesus by the early community. The emphasis on this divinely ordained continuity (Acts 10:41) is meant to assure Luke’s readers of the fidelity of Christian tradition to the words and deeds of Jesus. You know the word [that] he sent to the Israelites#To the Israelites: Luke, in the words of Peter, speaks of the prominent position occupied by Israel in the history of salvation. as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,#Is 52:7; Na 2:1. 37what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached,#Mt 4:12; Mk 1:14; Lk 4:14. 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth#Jesus of Nazareth: God’s revelation of his plan for the destiny of humanity through Israel culminated in Jesus of Nazareth. Consequently, the ministry of Jesus is an integral part of God’s revelation. This viewpoint explains why the early Christian communities were interested in conserving the historical substance of the ministry of Jesus, a tradition leading to the production of the four gospels. with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.#Is 61:1; Lk 4:18. 39We are witnesses#We are witnesses: the apostolic testimony was not restricted to the resurrection of Jesus but also included his historical ministry. This witness, however, was theological in character; the Twelve, divinely mandated as prophets, were empowered to interpret his sayings and deeds in the light of his redemptive death and resurrection. The meaning of these words and deeds was to be made clear to the developing Christian community as the bearer of the word of salvation (cf. Acts 1:21–26). Hanging him on a tree: see note on Acts 5:30. of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and [in] Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. 40This man God raised [on] the third day and granted that he be visible, 41not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.#Lk 24:41–43. 42He commissioned us#1:8; 3:15; 17:31; Lk 24:48; Rom 14:9; 2 Tm 4:1. to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.#As judge of the living and the dead: the apostolic preaching to the Jews appealed to their messianic hope, while the preaching to Gentiles stressed the coming divine judgment; cf. 1 Thes 1:10. 43To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The Baptism of Cornelius. 44#11:15; 15:8. While Peter was still speaking these things, the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.#Just as the Jewish Christians received the gift of the Spirit, so too do the Gentiles. 45The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, 46for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, 47“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?”#8:36. 48He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 49Then they invited him to stay for a few days.
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