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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Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. 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.
The Acts 10
10
1But a certain man in Caesarea, — by name Cornelius, a centurion of the band called Italic, 2pious, and fearing God with all his house, both giving much alms to the people, and supplicating God continually, 3— saw plainly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius. 4But he, having fixed his eyes upon him, and become full of fear, said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thine alms have gone up for a memorial before God. 5And now send men to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter. 6He lodges with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. 7And when the angel who was speaking to him had departed, having called two of his household and a pious soldier of those who were constantly with him, 8and related all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9And on the morrow, as these were journeying and drawing near to the city, Peter went up on the house to pray, about the sixth hour. 10And he became hungry and desired to eat. But as they were making ready an ecstasy came upon him: 11and he beholds the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as a great sheet, bound by the four corners and let down to the earth; 12in which were all the quadrupeds and creeping things of the earth, and the fowls of the heaven. 13And there was a voice to him, Rise, Peter, slay and eat. 14And Peter said, In no wise, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common or unclean. 15And there was a voice again the second time to him, What God has cleansed, do not thou make common. 16And this took place thrice, and the vessel was straightway taken up into heaven. 17And as Peter doubted in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold also the men who were sent by Cornelius, having sought out the house of Simon, stood at the gate, 18and having called some one, they inquired if Simon who was surnamed Peter was lodged there.
19But as Peter continued pondering over the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek thee; 20but rise up, go down, and go with them, nothing doubting, because I have sent them. 21And Peter going down to the men said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause for which ye come? 22And they said, Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man, and fearing God, and borne witness to by the whole nation of the Jews, has been divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for thee to his house, and hear words from thee. 23Having therefore invited them in, he lodged them. And on the morrow, rising up he went away with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa went with him. 24And on the morrow they came to Caesarea. But Cornelius was looking for them, having called together his kinsmen and his intimate friends. 25And when Peter was now coming in, Cornelius met him, and falling down did him homage. 26But Peter made him rise, saying, Rise up: I myself also am a man. 27And he went in, talking with him, and found many gathered together. 28And he said to them, Ye know how it is unlawful for a Jew to be joined or come to one of a strange race, and to me God has shewn to call no man common or unclean. 29Wherefore also, having been sent for, I came without saying anything against it. I inquire therefore for what reason ye have sent for me. 30And Cornelius said, Four days ago I had been fasting unto this hour, and the ninth I was praying in my house, and lo, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31and said, Cornelius, thy prayer has been heard, and thy alms have come in remembrance before God. 32Send therefore to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea who when he is come will speak to thee. 33Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast well done in coming. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34And Peter opening his mouth said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, 35but in every nation he that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. 36The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, (he is Lord of all things,) 37ye know; the testimony which has spread through the whole of Judaea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached — 38Jesus who was of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power; who went through all quarters doing good, and healing all that were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39We also are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also slew, having hanged him on a cross. 40This man God raised up the third day and gave him to be openly seen, 41not of all the people, but of witnesses who were chosen before of God, us who have eaten and drunk with him after he arose from among the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he it is who was determinately appointed of God to be judge of living and dead. 43To him all the prophets bear witness that every one that believes on him will receive through his name remission of sins.
44While Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were hearing the word. 45And the faithful of the circumcision were astonished, as many as came with Peter, that upon the nations also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out: 46for they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 47Can any one forbid water that these should not be baptised, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did? 48And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay some days.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.