Acts 10
1 Now there was at Caesarea a man named Cornelius, a captain in the Italian regiment.
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in the regiment known as the “Italian Regiment,”
2 He was a devout man and God-fearing, and so were all his household. He gave many alms to the people, and constantly prayed to God.
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 About three o’clock one afternoon he had a vision, and distinctly saw an angel of God enter his house and say 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 He stared at him in terror, and said, "What is it, Lord?" "Your prayers and your alms have risen for a memorial before God," answered the angel;
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 fetch one Simon, who is called Peter.
And now, send messengers to Joppa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter.
6 "He is staying as a guest with Simon, a tanner, whose house is near the sea."
He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea.’
7 And after the angel who was speaking to him was gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier who was in constant attendance upon him,
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 after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa.
and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
9 The next day, while they were still on their way and were approaching the town, about noon, Peter went up to the housetop to pray.
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 He had become very hungry and longed for food; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance.
He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance,
11 He beheld the sky opened, and a vessel descending like an enormous sail let down to earth by four corners.
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 In it were all kinds of quadrupeds and creeping things of the earth, and wild birds.
In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.
13 A voice came to him, saying, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat."
Then he was aware of a voice which said – ‘Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat.’
14 "Not so, my Lord," answered Peter, "for I have never yet eaten anything common and unclean."
‘No, Lord, I cannot,’ answered Peter, ‘for I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.’
15 And again a second time came to him a voice, saying, "What God has cleansed you must not call common."
Again he was aware of a voice which said – ‘What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.’
16 This happened three times; and immediately the sail was drawn up into the sky.
This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.
17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed to know what the vision which he had been sent by Cornelius, and had made inquiries for the house of Simon, stood at the gate,
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 called and asked whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.
and called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there.
19 So the Spirit said to Peter, who was still pondering over the vision.
Peter was still pondering over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, ‘There are two men looking for you at this moment.
20 "Three men are now looking for you. Rise, go down and go with them, nothing doubting; for it is I who have sent them."
Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.’
21 So Peter went down to the men and said. "I am the man you are looking for. What is the reason of your coming?"
Peter went down to the men and said, ‘I am the person you are looking for. What is your reason for coming?’
22 "Cornelius," they answered, "a captain, a devout man, and God- fearing, of whom the whole, Jewish nation speaks well, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to listen to your message."
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 So he invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he rose, and went off with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied them;
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 the day after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was waiting for them, and had brought together all his relatives and intimate friends.
and the day following he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them, and had invited his relatives and intimate friends to meet them.
25 When Peter entered the house Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him;
So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius met him, and, throwing himself at Peter’s feet, bowed to the ground.
26 but Peter lifted him up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man, myself."
Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so, ‘Stand up, I am only human like yourself.’
27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found a large company assembled.
Talking with him as he went, Peter entered the house, where he found a large gathering of people, to whom he said,
28 To them he said. "You know, yourselves, that it is illegal for a Jew to associate with or to visit one of another nation; but God has taught me that I should not call any man common or unclean. For this reason, when sent for, I came without demur.
‘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 "I ask therefore why you sent for 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 Cornelius answered. "Three days ago, at this very hour, I was praying in my house at three o’clock in the afternoon, when suddenly a man in a shining robe stood by me,
‘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 and said. "‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
“Cornelius,” he said, “your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God.
32 "‘So send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. He is lodging with Simon the tanner, in a house by the seaside.’
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 "So I sent for you without delay, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to listen to what the Lord has commanded you to speak."
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 began to speak. "Of a truth I begin to see quite plainly that God is no respecter of persons;
Then Peter began. ‘I see, beyond all doubt,’ he said, ‘that God does not show partiality,
35 "but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
but that in every nation he who reverences him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
36 "You cannot but know the message which he sent to the descendants of Israel, when he preached the gospel of peace by Jesus Christ who is 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 the message spread throughout all Judea, beginning in 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 "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about everywhere doing good, and curing all who were 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 were witnesses of all that he did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him, 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 "But him God raised 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 witnesses - men previously chosen by God - that is, to us, who ate and drank with him after he had risen 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 "when he charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that this was he whom God ordained 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 bear witness, testifying that through his name every one that believes on him will receive 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, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
Before Peter had finished saying these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
45 And all the Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles also.
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 speak with tongues and magnify God.
for they heard them speaking in different languages and extolling God. At this Peter asked,
47 Then Peter said, "Can any one refuse water for the baptism of these men who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?"
‘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 commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to remain with them for a time.
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.
