Cornelius and Peter
10
📚✭There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 📚✭He was a devout man, and one who feared God together with all his household. He gave charitably to poor people, and prayed to God constantly. 3 📚✭About three in the afternoon, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius”.4 📚✭And when he looked at him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your charitable deeds have come up as a memorial in God’s presence. 5 📚And now send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is called Peter. 6 📚He is a guest of Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you should do”.
7 📚And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius had left, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier from among those who were in constant attendance on him. 8 📚And when he had told them all these things, he sent them to Joppa.
God gives Peter a vision
9 📚✭The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near to the city, about twelve noon, Peter went up on the housetop to pray. 10 📚And he became very hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing the food, he fell into a trance, 11 📚and saw heaven opened, and an object like a large sheet bound by its four corners being let down to the earth and descending toward him. 12 📚In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the air. 13 📚✭And a voice came to him: “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat”.
14 📚But Peter said, “Not so, Lord. For I have never eaten anything that is unholy or unclean”.
15 📚✭And the voice spoke to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, do not call unholy”. 16 📚This was done three times✭, and the object was taken up again into heaven.
17 📚✭Now while Peter was wondering what the meaning was of this vision he had seen, the men who were sent by Cornelius asked for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, 18 📚and called, and asked if Simon who was called Peter was staying there.
19 📚✭While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, three men are looking for you. 20 📚✭So get up and go down. Go with them without doubting at all, for I have sent them”.
21 📚Then Peter went down to the men who were sent to him by Cornelius, and said, “See, I am the one whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”
22 📚And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a righteous man who fears God, and who has a good reputation among all the Jewish people, was instructed by God through a holy angel to send for you to his house, and to hear your words”. 23 📚✭Then he invited them in, and showed them hospitality. And the next day Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
Peter in the house of Cornelius
24 📚✭And the next day after that they entered Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, and he had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 📚And as Peter was coming in Cornelius met him, and prostrated himself at his feet, showing reverence. 26 📚But Peter lifted him up✭, saying, “Stand up! I too am just a man”.
27 📚And talking with him, he went in, and found that many had gathered together. 28 📚✭And he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to associate with someone of another race or to visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone unholy or unclean. 29 📚Therefore I came without objecting, as soon as I was sent for. So my question is, what is your reason for sending for me?”
30 📚And Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour. And at three o’clock I was praying in my house, and, lo and behold, a man stood before me in shining clothes, 31 📚and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your charitable deeds are remembered in the presence of God. 32 Send, therefore, to Joppa and call Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak with you.’ 33 📚So immediately I sent for you. And it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear everything that Lord has commanded you to say”.
34 📚Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, “In truth I see that God shows no favoritism✭, 35 📚but in every nation he accepts those who fear him and practice righteousness✭. 36 📚The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace✭ by Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all✭, 37 📚that message, you know. It was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 📚How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39 📚✭“And we are witnesses of everything he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree. 40 📚God raised him up on the third day, and showed him openly, 41 📚not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, that is, to us, who ate✭ and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 📚And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one who was ordained by God to be the Judge✭ of the living and the dead. 43 📚All the prophets testify about him that through his name whoever believes in him will receive the forgiveness of sins✭”.
44 📚✭While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all those who heard the Word. 45 📚And all those believers who came with Peter, who were circumcised✭, were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit✭ was poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 📚For they heard them speak in tongues✭ and praise God.