Acts

Cornelius Sends for Peter

1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.

2He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.

3One day at about the ninth hour,he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.

5Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.

6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.

8He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9The next day at about the sixth hour,as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray.

10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

11He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.

12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.

13Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”

14“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impureor unclean.”

15The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

16This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.

Peter Called to Caesarea

17While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.

18They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.

19As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.

20So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”

21So Peter went down to the menand said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”

22“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”

23So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

Peter Visits Cornelius

24The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.

26But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

27As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.

28He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

29So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”

30Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour.Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me

31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.

32Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’

33So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”

Good News for the Gentiles

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,

35but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.

36He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

37You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed:

38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

39We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,

40God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—

41not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

42And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.

43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message.

45All the circumcised believers who had accompanied 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 exalting God. Then Peter said,

47“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”

48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

1And there was a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of that which is called the Italian band;

2A religious man, and fearing God with all his house, giving much alms to the people, and always praying to God.

3This man saw in a vision manifestly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him: Cornelius.

4And he, beholding him, being seized with fear, said: What is it, Lord? And he said to him: Thy prayers and thy alms are ascended for a memorial in the sight of God.

5And now send men to Joppe, and call hither one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:

6He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. He will tell thee what thou must do.

7And when the angel who spoke to him was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a soldier who feared the Lord, of them that were under him.

8To whom when he had related all, he sent them to Joppe.

9And on the next day, whilst they were going on their journey, and drawing nigh to the city, Peter went up to the higher parts of the house to pray, about the sixth hour.

10And being hungry, he was desirous to taste somewhat. And as they were preparing, there came upon him an ecstasy of mind.

11And he saw the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth:

12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and fowls of the air.

13And there came a voice to him: Arise, Peter; kill and eat.

14But Peter said: Far be it from me; for I never did eat any thing that is common and unclean.

15And the voice spoke to him again the second time: That which God hath cleansed, do not thou call common.

16And this was done thrice; and presently the vessel was taken up into heaven.

17Now, whilst Peter was doubting within himself, what the vision that he had seen should mean, behold the men who were sent from Cornelius, inquiring for Simon’s house, stood at the gate.

18And when they had called, they asked, if Simon, who is surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19And as Peter was thinking of the vision, the Spirit said to him: Behold three men seek thee.

20Arise, therefore, get thee down and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21Then Peter, going down to the men, said: Behold, I am he whom you seek; what is the cause for which you are come?

22Who said: Cornelius, a centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and having good testimony from all the nation of the Jews, received an answer of an holy angel, to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

23Then bringing them in, he lodged them. And the day following he arose, and went with them: and some of the brethren from Joppe accompanied him.

24And the morrow after, he entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, having called together his kinsmen and special friends.

25And it came to pass, that when Peter was come in, Cornelius came to meet him, Cornelius came to meet him, and falling at his feet adored.

26But Peter lifted him up, saying: Arise, I myself also am a man.

27And talking with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

28And he said to them: You know how abominable it is for a man that is a Jew, to keep company or to come unto one of another nation: but God hath shewed to me, to call no man common or unclean.

29For which cause, making no doubt, I came when I was sent for. I ask, therefore, for what cause you have sent for me?

30And Cornelius said: Four days ago, unto this hour, I was praying in my house, at the ninth hour, and behold a man stood before me in white apparel, and said:

31Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thy alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

32Send therefore to Joppe, and call hither Simon, who is surnamed Peter: he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.

33Immediately therefore I sent to thee: and thou hast done well in coming. Now therefore all we are present in thy sight, to hear all things whatsoever are commanded thee by the Lord.

34And Peter opening his mouth, said: In very deed I perceive, that God is not a respecter of persons.

35But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh justice, is acceptable to him.

36God sent the word to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all.)

37You know the word which hath been published through all Judea: for it began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached,

38Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Ghost, and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

39And we are witnesses of all things that he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed, hanging him upon a tree.

40Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest,

41Not to all the people, but to witnesses preordained by God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he arose again from the dead;

42And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he who was appointed by God, to be judge of the living and of the dead.

43To him all the prophets give testimony, that by his name all receive remission of sins, who believe in him.

44While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word.

45And the faithful of the circumcision, who came with Peter, were astonished, for that the grace of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles also.

46For they heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God.

47Then Peter answered: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we?

48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they desired him to tarry with them some days.