Acts 10
Peter and Cornelius
1 In Caesarea there was a man
named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. 2He
was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously
to the people and prayed constantly to God. 3One
afternoon at about three o'clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an
angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius." 4He
stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" He answered, "Your prayers
and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5Now
send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; 6he
is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside." 7When
the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout
soldier from the ranks of those who served him, 8and
after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa.
9 About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and
approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He
became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he
fell into a trance. 11He saw the heaven opened and
something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its
four corners. 12In it were all kinds of four-footed
creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13Then
he heard a voice saying, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat." 14But
Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane
or unclean." 15The voice said to him again, a second
time, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." 16This
happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of
the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They
were asking for Simon's house and were standing by the gate. 18They
called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there. 19While
Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Look, threea
men are searching for you. 20Now get up, go down,
and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them." 21So
Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for; what is
the reason for your coming?" 22They answered,
"Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of
by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come
to his house and to hear what you have to say." 23So
Peterb invited them in and gave them lodging.
The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believersc
from Joppa accompanied him. 24The following day they
came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his
relatives and close friends. 25On Peter's arrival
Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him. 26But
Peter made him get up, saying, "Stand up; I am only a mortal." 27And
as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled; 28and
he said to them, "You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate
with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone
profane or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came
without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?"
30 Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this very hour, at
three o'clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes
stood before me. 31He said, 'Cornelius, your prayer
has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32Send
therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the
home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.' 33Therefore I
sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of
us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded
you to say."
Gentiles Hear the Good News
34 Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47"Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.