Acts 10
1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
In Caesarea lived a man named Cornelius who was a Roman centurion of the Italian battalion.
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.
He was a religious man who, together with everyone in his household, had great reverence for God. He gave generously to the poor, and prayed regularly to God.
3 At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
At about 3 p.m. one day he had a vision in which he saw very clearly an angel of God who came to him and called to him, “Cornelius!”
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.
Frightened, Cornelius stared at him and asked, “What do you want, Lord?” “God has paid attention to your prayers, and recognized your generosity to the poor,” he told Cornelius.
5 Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter.
“Now send some men to Joppa, and fetch Simon, also called Peter,
6 He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.
who is staying at Simon the tanner's house down by the sea-shore.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius 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 left, Cornelius called in two of his house-servants and a soldier of his personal guard, a religious man.
8 Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
After he'd explained to them all that had happened he 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.
The next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up onto the top of the house to pray. It was about noon,
10 He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.
and he was getting hungry, wanting to eat. But while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance, and
11 He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,
he saw heaven opened. He saw something coming down that looked like a large sheet held by its four corners, being lowered onto the earth.
12 in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.
Inside were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds.
13 A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”
He heard a voice say, “Get up Peter, kill and eat!”
14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
But Peter replied, “Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything that is impure and unclean.”
15 A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”
He heard the voice speak again, “Don't you call unclean what God has made clean!”
16 This was done three times, and immediately the thing was received up into heaven.
This happened three times, and then the sheet was quickly taken back into heaven.
17 Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate,
While Peter was puzzling over what the vision he'd seen really meant, the men sent by Cornelius had found out where Simon's house was and were standing at the gate.
18 and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there.
They called out, asking whether Simon, also called Peter, was staying there.
19 While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you.
While Peter was still wondering about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, there are three men looking for you.
20 But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
Get up, go downstairs, and go with them. Don't worry at all because I'm the one who sent them.”
21 Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”
So Peter went downstairs to meet the men. “I'm the one you're looking for,” he said. “Why are you here?”
22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”
“We come from Cornelius, a good, religious man who has reverence for God and is widely respected among the Jewish people,” they replied. “A holy angel instructed him to send for you to come to his house so he can hear what you have to tell him.”
23 So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
So he invited them in and they stayed there. The next day he got up and left with them. Some of the brothers from Joppa went with them too.
24 On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.
The following day they arrived in Caesarea where Cornelius was waiting for them with his relatives and close friends whom he'd called together.
25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.
When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”
But Peter pulled him back up, telling him, “Stand up! I'm only a man!”
27 As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.
Peter spoke with Cornelius, and then went on in where he found many other people waiting for him.
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 shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.
He said to them, “You certainly know that it's not permitted for a Jew to be associated with or to visit foreigners. But God has shown me that it's not for me to call anyone impure or unclean.
29 Therefore I also came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?”
That's why I came without any argument when I was sent for. So now I want to know the reason why you sent for me.”
30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing
“Four days ago, at about this time—three in the afternoon—I was praying in my house,” Cornelius explained. “Suddenly I saw a man standing in front of me, dressed in clothes that shone brightly.
31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.
He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayers have been heard, and God has recognized your generosity to the poor.
32 Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’
Send someone to Joppa for Simon Peter. He's staying at Simon the tanner's house, down by the sea-shore.’
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 God.”
So immediately I sent for you, and it was good of you to come. That's why we're all here, meeting together before God, ready to hear everything the Lord has told you.”
34 Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;
Peter replied, “I'm totally convinced that God has no favorites.
35 but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
In every nation God accepts those who respect him, and do what is good and right.
36 The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all—
You know the message he sent to Israel, sharing the good news of peace that comes from Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37 you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
You know that this good news spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, following John's call to baptism.
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth 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.
It's about Jesus of Nazareth—how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went around doing good, healing all those who were under the devil's control, for God was with him.
39 We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree.
We can testify to all that he did in Judea and Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross.
40 God raised him up the third day and gave him to be revealed,
But God raised him back to life on the third day, and had him 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 to everyone, but to those witnesses chosen by God—including us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.
He gave us the responsibility of publicly telling this to the people, to testify that he is the one God chose as the Judge of the living and the dead.
43 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
He is the one all the prophets spoke about, that everyone who trusts in him will receive forgiveness through his name.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.
While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all of them 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 Gentiles.
The Jewish believers who had come with Peter were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the foreigners.
46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
They heard them speaking in tongues, glorifying God.
47 “Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.”
Then Peter asked, “Is anybody going to prevent them being baptized in water, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.
He gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they pleaded with him to spend some time with them.
