Acts 10
1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in the regiment known as the “Italian Regiment,”
2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always 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 At about three in the afternoon, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming 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 He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, "What is it, Lord?" He said to him, "Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before 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 Now send men to Joppa, and bring one Simon who is surnamed Peter.
And now, send messengers to Joppa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter.
6 He lodges with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside."
He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea.’
7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.
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 Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
9 Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.
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 became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, 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 saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the 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 in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, crawling creatures and birds of the sky.
In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.
13 A voice came to him, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat."
Then he was aware of a voice which said – ‘Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat.’
14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."
‘No, Lord, I cannot,’ answered Peter, ‘for I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.’
15 A voice came to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean."
Again he was aware of a voice which said – ‘What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.’
16 This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.
This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.
17 Now while Peter was very perplexed within himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, look, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before 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 surnamed Peter, was lodging there.
and called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Look, 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 But arise, get down, 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 And Peter went down to the men, and said, "Look, I am the one whom you seek. Why have you come?"
Peter went down to the men and said, ‘I am the person you are looking for. What is your reason for coming?’
22 They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say."
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 called them in and lodged them. On the next day he arose and went 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 On the next day he entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near 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 it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down 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 raised him up, saying, "Stand up. I myself am also a man."
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 many 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 He said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy 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 Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send 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 said, "Four days ago until this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house, and look, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
‘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 gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.
“Cornelius,” he said, “your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner, 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 Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded 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 And Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly I perceive that God does not show favoritism;
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 The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ—he 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 that spoken word you yourselves know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, 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 even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing 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 We are witnesses of everything he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they also killed by hanging 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 the third day, and gave him to be revealed,
This Jesus God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose 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 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is the one who is appointed by God as the judge of the living and 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 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness 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 on all those who heard the word.
Before Peter had finished saying these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
45 They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the non-Jewish people.
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 other tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
for they heard them speaking in different languages and extolling God. At this Peter asked,
47 "Can anyone withhold the water, that these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized?"
‘Can anyone refuse the water for the baptism of these people, now that they have received the Holy Spirit as we did ourselves?’
48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay 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.
