Acts 10
10
Peter and Cornelius
1There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, who was a captain in the Roman regiment called “The Italian Regiment”. 2He was a religious man; he and his whole family worshipped God. He also did much to help the Jewish poor people and was constantly praying to God. 3It was about three o'clock one afternoon when he had a vision, in which he clearly saw an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius!”
4He stared at the angel in fear and said, “What is it, sir?”
The angel answered, “God is pleased with your prayers and works of charity, and is ready to answer you. 5And now send some men to Joppa for a certain man whose full name is Simon Peter. 6He is a guest in the home of a tanner of leather named Simon, who lives by the sea.” 7Then the angel went away, and Cornelius called two of his house servants and a soldier, a religious man who was one of his personal attendants. 8He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.
9The next day, as they were on their way and coming near Joppa, Peter went up on the roof of the house about noon in order to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat; while the food was being prepared, he had a vision. 11He saw heaven opened and something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and wild birds. 13A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!”
14But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything ritually unclean or defiled.”
15The voice spoke to him again, “Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.” 16This happened three times, and then the thing was taken back up into heaven.
17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius had learnt where Simon's house was, and they were now standing in front of the gate. 18They called out and asked, “Is there a guest here by the name of Simon Peter?”
19Peter was still trying to understand what the vision meant, when the Spirit said, “Listen! Three#10.19 Three; some manuscripts have Some; one manuscript has Two. men are here looking for you. 20So get ready and go down, and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 21So Peter went down and said to the men, “I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22“Captain Cornelius sent us,” they answered. “He is a good man who worships God and is highly respected by all the Jewish people. An angel of God told him to invite you to his house, so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23Peter invited the men in and persuaded them to spend the night there.
The next day he got ready and went with them; and some of the believers from Joppa went along with him. 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting for him, together with relatives and close friends that he had invited. 25As Peter was about to go in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and bowed down before him. 26But Peter made him rise. “Stand up,” he said; “I myself am only a man.” 27Peter kept on talking to Cornelius as he went into the house, where he found many people gathered. 28He said to them, “You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not allowed by his religion to visit or associate with Gentiles. But God has shown me that I must not consider any person ritually unclean or defiled. 29And so when you sent for me, I came without any objection. I ask you, then, why did you send for me?”
30Cornelius said, “It was about this time three days ago that I was praying#10.30 praying; some manuscripts have fasting and praying. in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man dressed in shining clothes stood in front of me 31and said: ‘Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity. 32Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner of leather, who lives by the sea.’ 33And so I sent for you at once, and you have been good enough to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God, waiting to hear anything that the Lord has instructed you to say.”
Peter's Speech
34 #
Deut 10.17
Peter began to speak: “I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. 35Those who worship him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know of the great event that took place throughout the land of Israel, beginning in Galilee after John preached his message of baptism. 38You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the Devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses of everything that he did in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then they put him to death by nailing him to a cross. 40But God raised him from death three days later and caused him to appear, 41not to everyone, but only to the witnesses that God had already chosen, that is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from death. 42And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets spoke about him, saying that all who believe in him will have their sins forgiven through the power of his name.”
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
44While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his message. 45The Jewish believers who had come from Joppa with Peter were amazed that God had poured out his gift of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles also. 46For they heard them speaking in strange tongues and praising God's greatness. Peter spoke up: 47“These people have received the Holy Spirit, just as we also did. Can anyone, then, stop them from being baptized with water?” 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for a few days.
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Acts 10: GNBDC
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
Acts 10
10
Cornelius Sends a Delegation
1There was a certain man in #Acts 8:40; 23:23Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2#Acts 8:2; 9:22; 22:12a devout man and one who #(Acts 10:22, 35; 13:16, 26)feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3About the ninth hour of the day #Acts 10:30; 11:13he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”
So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5Now #Acts 11:13, 14send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6He is lodging with #Acts 9:43Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. #Acts 11:14He will tell you what you must do.” 7And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
9The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, #Acts10:9–32; 11:5–14Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11and #Ezek. 1:1; Matt. 3:16; Acts 7:56; Rev. 4:1; 19:11saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound 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, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! #Lev. 11:4; 20:25; Deut. 14:3, 7; Ezek. 4:14For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
15And a voice spoke to him again the second time, #(Matt. 15:11; Mark 7:19); Acts 10:28; (Rom. 14:14); 1 Cor. 10:25; (1 Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:15)“What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.
Summoned to Caesarea
17Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. 18And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19While Peter thought about the vision, #Acts 11:12the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. 20#Acts 15:7–9Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
21Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”
22And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and #Acts 22:12has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” 23Then he invited them in and lodged them.
On the next day Peter went away with them, #Acts 10:45; 11:12and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Peter Meets Cornelius
24And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, #Acts 14:14, 15; Rev. 19:10; 22:8“Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28Then he said to them, “You know how #John 4:9; 18:28; Acts 11:3; Gal. 2:12unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But #(Acts 10:14, 35; 15:8, 9)God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”
30So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, #Acts 1:10a man stood before me #Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5in bright clothing, 31and said, ‘Cornelius, #Dan. 10:12your prayer has been heard, and #Heb. 6:10your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, 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 I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
Preaching to Cornelius’ Household
34Then Peter opened his mouth and said: #Deut. 10:17; 2 Chr. 19:7; Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6; Eph. 6:9“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35But #Acts 15:9; (1 Cor. 12; 13; Eph. 2:13)in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is #Ps. 15:1, 2accepted by Him. 36The word which God sent to the children of Israel, #Is. 57:19; Eph. 2:14; (Col. 1:20)preaching peace through Jesus Christ—#Matt. 28:18; Acts 2:36; Rom. 10:12; 1 Cor. 15:27He is Lord of all— 37that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and #Luke 4:14began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38how #Is. 61:1–3; Luke 4:18God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who #Matt. 4:23went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, #John 3:2; 8:29for God was with Him. 39And we are #Acts 1:8witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they #Acts 2:23killed by hanging on a tree. 40Him #Hos. 6:2; Matt. 12:39, 40; 16:4; 20:19; John 2:19–21; Acts 2:24God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41#(John 14:17, 19, 22; 15:27)not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us #Luke 24:30, 41–43who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And #Matt. 28:19He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify #John 5:22, 27; Acts 17:31that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge #Rom. 14:9; 2 Tim. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:5of the living and the dead. 43#(Is. 42:1; 53:11; 61:1); Jer. 31:34; Dan. 9:24; Hos. 6:1–3; Mic. 7:18; Zech. 13:1; Mal. 4:2To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, #(John 3:16, 18; Acts 26:18); Rom. 10:11; Gal. 3:22whoever believes in Him will receive #Acts 13:38, 39remission of sins.”
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
44While Peter was still speaking these words, #Acts 4:31the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45#Acts 10:23And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, #Is. 42:1, 6; 49:6; Luke 2:32; John 11:52; Acts 11:18because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered, 47“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit #Acts 2:4; 10:44; 11:17; 15:8just as we have?” 48#1 Cor. 1:14–17And he commanded them to be baptized #Acts 2:38; 8:16; 19:5in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.