Acts 10
10
Cornelius Has a Vision
1A man named Cornelius lived in the city of Caesarea. He was a Roman army officer in the Italian Regiment. 2He and everyone in his home were devout and respected God. Cornelius gave many gifts to poor Jewish people and always prayed to God.
3One day, about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. He clearly saw an angel from God come to him and say, “Cornelius!”
4He stared at the angel and was terrified. Cornelius asked the angel, “What do you want, sir?”
The angel answered him, “God is aware of your prayers and your gifts to the poor, and he has remembered you. 5Send messengers now to the city of Joppa, and summon a man whose name is Simon Peter. 6He is a guest of Simon, a leatherworker, whose house is by the sea.”
7After saying this, the angel left. Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of those who served him regularly. 8Cornelius explained everything to them and sent them to Joppa.
Peter Has a Vision
9Around noon the next day, while Cornelius’ men were on their way and coming close to Joppa, Peter went on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted to eat. While the food was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw the sky open and something like a large linen sheet being lowered by its four corners to the ground. 12In the sheet were all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds.
13A voice told him, “Get up, Peter! Kill these animals, and eat them.”
14Peter answered, “I can’t do that, Lord! I’ve never eaten anything that is impure or unclean.” #10:14 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.
15A voice spoke to him a second time, “Don’t say that the things which God has made clean #10:15 “Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God. are impure.”
16This happened three times. Then the sheet was quickly taken into the sky.
17While Peter was puzzled by the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and went to the gate. 18They asked if Simon Peter was staying there. 19Peter was still thinking about the vision when the Spirit said to him, “Three men are looking for you. 20Get up, and go downstairs. Don’t hesitate to go with these men. I have sent them.”
21So Peter went to the men. He said, “I’m the man you’re looking for. Why are you here?”
22The men replied, “Cornelius, a Roman army officer, sent us. He’s a man who has God’s approval and who respects God. Also, the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to summon you to his home to hear what you have to say.”
23Peter asked the men to come into the house and had them stay overnight.
Peter Speaks with Cornelius
The next day Peter left with them. Some disciples from Joppa went along. 24The following day they arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends together.
25When Peter was about to enter Cornelius’ house, Cornelius met him, bowed down, and worshiped Peter. 26But Peter made him get up. He told him, “Stand up! I’m only a man.”
27As Peter talked, he entered Cornelius’ house and found that many people had gathered. 28He said to them, “You understand how wrong it is for a Jewish man to associate or visit with anyone of another race. But God has shown me that I should no longer call anyone impure or unclean. 29That is why I didn’t object to coming here when you sent for me. I want to know why you sent for me.”
30Cornelius answered, “Four days ago I was praying at home. It was at this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man dressed in radiant clothes stood in front of me. 31He said to me, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and has remembered your gifts to the poor. 32So send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man whose name is Simon Peter. He’s a guest in the home of Simon, a leatherworker who lives by the sea.’ 33So I sent for you immediately. Thank you for coming. All of us are here now in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has ordered you to say.”
34Then Peter said, “Now I understand that God doesn’t play favorites. 35Rather, whoever respects God and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation. 36God sent his word to the people of Israel and brought them the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is everyone’s Lord. 37You know what happened throughout Judea. Everything began in Galilee after John spread the news about baptism. 38You know that God anointed Jesus from Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went everywhere and did good things, such as healing everyone who was under the devil’s power. Jesus did these things because God was with him. 39We can testify to everything Jesus did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. People hung him on a cross and killed him, 40but God brought him back to life on the third day. God didn’t show him 41to all the people. He showed Jesus to witnesses, apostles he had already chosen. We apostles are those men who ate and drank with Jesus after he came back to life. 42He ordered us to warn the people, ‘God has appointed Jesus to judge the living and the dead.’ 43In addition, all the prophets testify that people who believe in the one named Jesus receive forgiveness for their sins through him.”
44While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came to everyone who heard his message. 45All the believers who were circumcised and who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured on people who were not Jewish. 46They heard these non-Jewish people speaking in other languages and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47“No one can refuse to baptize these people with water. They have received the Holy Spirit in the same way that we did.” 48So Peter ordered that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then they asked Peter to stay with them for several days.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
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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