Acts 10
1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort which is called Italian,
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in the regiment known as the “Italian Regiment,”
2 a devout man, fearing God with all his house, giving many alms to the people, and praying to God continually.
A religious man and one who reverenced God, with all his household. He was liberal in his charities to the people, and prayed to God constantly.
3 This man saw in a vision clearly, at about the ninth hour of the day, the Angel of God entering to him and saying to him: “Cornelius!”
One afternoon, about three o’clock, he distinctly saw in a vision an angel from God come to him, and call him by name.
4 And he, gazing at him, was seized by fear, and he said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him: “Your prayers and your almsgiving have ascended as a memorial in the sight of God.
Cornelius fixed his eyes on him and, in great alarm, said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ ‘Your prayers and your charities,’ the angel answered, ‘have been an acceptable offering to God.
5 And now, send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon, who is surnamed Peter.
And now, send messengers to Joppa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter.
6 This man is a guest with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is beside the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea.’
7 And when the Angel who was speaking to him had departed, he called, out of those who were subject to him, two of his household servants and a soldier who feared the Lord.
When the angel, who had spoken to him, had gone, Cornelius called two servants and a religious soldier, who was one of his constant attendants,
8 And when he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
9 Then, on the following day, while they were making the journey and approaching the city, Peter ascended to the upper rooms, so that he might pray, at about the sixth hour.
On the next day, while these men were on their way, just as they were nearing the town, Peter went up on the housetop about midday to pray.
10 And since he was hungry, he wanted to enjoy some food. Then, as they were preparing it, an ecstasy of mind fell over him.
He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance,
11 And he saw heaven opened, and a certain container descending, as if a great linen sheet were let down, by its four corners, from heaven to earth,
and saw that the heavens were open, and that something like a great sail was descending, let down by its four corners towards the earth.
12 on which were all four-footed beasts, and the crawling things of the earth and the flying things of the air.
In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.
13 And a voice came to him: “Rise up, Peter! Kill and eat.”
Then he was aware of a voice which said – ‘Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat.’
14 But Peter said: “Far be it from me, lord. For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
‘No, Lord, I cannot,’ answered Peter, ‘for I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.’
15 And the voice, again a second time to him: “What God has purified, you shall not call common.”
Again he was aware of a voice which said – ‘What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.’
16 Now this was done three times. And immediately the container was taken up to heaven.
This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.
17 Now while Peter was still hesitant within himself as to what the vision, which he had seen, might mean, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius stood at the gate, inquiring about Simon’s house.
While Peter was still perplexed as to the meaning of the vision that he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius, having enquired the way to Simon’s house, came up to the gate,
18 And when they had called out, they asked if Simon, who is surnamed Peter, was a guest in that place.
and called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there.
19 Then, as Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you.
Peter was still pondering over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, ‘There are two men looking for you at this moment.
20 And so, rise up, descend, and go with them, doubting nothing. For I have sent them.”
Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.’
21 Then Peter, descending to the men, said: “Behold, I am the one whom you seek. What is the reason for which you have arrived?”
Peter went down to the men and said, ‘I am the person you are looking for. What is your reason for coming?’
22 And they said: “Cornelius, a centurion, a just and God-fearing man, who has good testimony from the entire nation of the Jews, received a message from a holy Angel to summon you to his house and to listen to words from you.”
The men replied, ‘Our centurion, Cornelius, a pious man who reverences God and is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, has been instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house, and to listen to what you have to say.’
23 Therefore, leading them in, he received them as guests. Then, on following the day, rising up, he set out with them. And some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
So Peter invited them in and entertained them. The next day he lost no time in setting out with them, accompanied by some of the Lord’s followers from Joppa;
24 And on the next day, he entered Caesarea. And truly, Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his family and closest friends.
and the day following he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them, and had invited his relatives and intimate friends to meet them.
25 And it happened that, when Peter had entered, Cornelius went to meet him. And falling before his feet, he reverenced.
So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius met him, and, throwing himself at Peter’s feet, bowed to the ground.
26 Yet truly, Peter, lifting him up, said: “Rise up, for I also am only a man.”
Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so, ‘Stand up, I am only human like yourself.’
27 And speaking with him, he entered, and he found many who had gathered together.
Talking with him as he went, Peter entered the house, where he found a large gathering of people, to whom he said,
28 And he said to them: “You know how abominable it would be for a Jewish man to be joined with, or to be added to, a foreign people. But God has revealed to me to call no man common or unclean.
‘You are doubtless aware that it is forbidden for a Jew to be intimate with a foreigner, or even to enter his house; and yet God has shown me that I ought not to call anyone defiled or unclean.
29 Because of this and without doubt, I came when summoned. Therefore, I ask you, for what reason have you summoned me?”
That was why I came, when I was sent for, without raising any objection. And now I ask your reason for sending for me.’
30 And Cornelius said: “It is now the fourth day, to this very hour, since I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in a white vestment, and he said:
‘Just three days ago this very hour,’ Cornelius said, ‘I was in my house, saying the Afternoon Prayers, when a man in dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me.
31 ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving has been remembered in the sight of God.
“Cornelius,” he said, “your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God.
32 Therefore, send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. This man is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, near the sea.’
Therefore send to Joppa, and invite the Simon, who is also known as Peter, to come here. He is lodging in the house of Simon the tanner, near the sea.”
33 And so, I promptly sent for you. And you have done well in coming here. Therefore, all of us are now present in your sight to hear all the things that were taught to you by the Lord.”
Accordingly I sent to you at once, and you have been so good as to come. And now we are all here in the presence of God, to listen to all that you have been instructed by the Lord to say.’
34 Then, Peter, opening his mouth, said: “I have concluded in truth that God is not a respecter of persons.
Then Peter began. ‘I see, beyond all doubt,’ he said, ‘that God does not show partiality,
35 But within every nation, whoever fears him and works justice is acceptable to him.
but that in every nation he who reverences him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
36 God sent the Word to the sons of Israel, announcing the peace through Jesus Christ, for he is the Lord of all.
God has sent his message to the Israelites and told them, through Jesus Christ, the good news of peace – and Jesus is Lord of all!
37 You know that the Word has been made known throughout all Judea. For beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached,
You yourselves know the story which spread through all Judea, how, beginning form Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed –
38 Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, traveled around doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil. For God was with him.
the story, I mean, of Jesus of Nazareth, and how God consecrated him his Christ by enduing him with the Holy Spirit and with power; and how he went about doing good and curing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all that he did in the region of Judea and in Jerusalem, he whom they killed by hanging him on a tree.
We are ourselves, too, witnesses to all that he did in Judea and in Jerusalem; yet they put him to death by hanging him on a cross!
40 God raised him up on the third day and permitted him to be made manifest,
This Jesus God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear,
41 not to all the people, but to the witnesses preordained by God, to those of us who ate and drank with him after he rose again from the dead.
not indeed to everyone, but to witnesses chosen beforehand by God – to us, who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from the dead.
42 And he instructed us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the One who was appointed by God to be the judge of the living and of the dead.
Further, God charged us to proclaim to the people, and solemnly affirm, that it is Jesus who has been appointed by God judge of the living and the dead.
43 To him all the Prophets offer testimony that through his name all who believe in him receive the remission of sins.”
To him it is that all the prophets bear witness, when they say that everyone who believes in him receives through his name forgiveness of sins.’
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell over all of those who were listening to the Word.
Before Peter had finished saying these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
45 And the faithful of the circumcision, who had arrived with Peter, were astonished that the grace of the Holy Spirit was also poured out upon the Gentiles.
Those converts from Judaism, who had come with Peter, were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed even on the Gentiles;
46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God.
for they heard them speaking in different languages and extolling God. At this Peter asked,
47 Then Peter responded, “How could anyone prohibit water, so that those who have received the Holy Spirit would not be baptized, just as we also have been?”
‘Can anyone refuse the water for the baptism of these people, now that they have received the Holy Spirit as we did ourselves?’
48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to remain with them for some days.
And he directed that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; after which they asked him to stay there a few days longer.
