Acts 10
1 But a certain man in Caesarea, — by name Cornelius, a centurion of the band called Italic,
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in the regiment known as the “Italian Regiment,”
2 pious, and fearing God with all his house, [both] giving much alms to the people, and supplicating 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 — saw plainly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming unto 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 But he, having fixed his eyes upon him, and become full of fear, said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thine alms 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 And now send men to Joppa and fetch 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 a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.
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, having called two of his household and a pious soldier of those who were constantly with 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 related all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
9 And on the morrow, as these were journeying and drawing near to the city, Peter went up on the house to pray, 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 he became hungry and desired to eat. But as they were making ready an ecstasy came upon him:
He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance,
11 and he beholds the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as a great sheet, [bound] by [the] four corners [and] let down to 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 the quadrupeds and creeping things of the earth, and the fowls of the heaven.
In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.
13 And there was a voice to him, Rise, Peter, slay and eat.
Then he was aware of a voice which said – ‘Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat.’
14 And Peter said, In no wise, 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 [there was] a voice again the second time to him, What God has cleansed, do not thou make common.
Again he was aware of a voice which said – ‘What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.’
16 And this took place thrice, and the vessel was straightway taken up into heaven.
This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.
17 And as Peter doubted in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold also the men who were sent by Cornelius, having sought out 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 having called [some one], they inquired if Simon who was surnamed Peter was lodged there.
and called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there.
19 But as Peter continued pondering over the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek thee;
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 rise up, go down, and go with them, nothing doubting, because I have sent them.
Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.’
21 And Peter going down to the men said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause for which ye come?
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 righteous man, and fearing God, and borne witness to by the whole nation of the Jews, has been divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for thee to his house, and hear words from thee.
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 Having therefore invited them in, he lodged them. And on the morrow, rising up he went away with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa went with 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 morrow they came to Caesarea. But Cornelius was looking for them, having called together his kinsmen and [his] 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 And when Peter was now coming in, Cornelius met him, and falling down did [him] homage.
So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius met him, and, throwing himself at Peter’s feet, bowed to the ground.
26 But Peter made him rise, saying, Rise up: I myself also am a man.
Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so, ‘Stand up, I am only human like yourself.’
27 And he went in, talking with him, 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 And he said to them, Ye know how it is unlawful for a Jew to be joined or come to one of a strange race, and to me God has shewn 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 Wherefore also, having been sent for, I came without saying anything against it. I inquire therefore for what reason ye have 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 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I had been [fasting] unto this hour, and the ninth [I was] praying in my house, and lo, 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, thy prayer has been heard, and thy alms have come in remembrance before God.
“Cornelius,” he said, “your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea [who when he is come will speak to thee].
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 Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast well done in coming. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
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 opening his mouth said, Of a truth I perceive 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 that 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 sons of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, (he is Lord of all things, )
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 ye know; the testimony which has spread through the whole of Judaea, 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 who [was] of Nazareth: how God anointed him with [the] Holy Spirit and with power; who went through [all quarters] doing good, and healing all that were under the power of the devil, because 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 also [are] witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also slew, having hanged him on a cross.
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 This [man] God raised up the third day and gave him to be openly seen,
This Jesus God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear,
41 not of all the people, but of witnesses who were chosen before of God, us who have eaten and drunk with him after he arose from among [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 commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he it is who was determinately appointed of God [to be] judge of living and 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 that every one that believes on him will receive through his name 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 yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were hearing 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 were astonished, as many as came with Peter, that upon the nations also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out:
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 with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
for they heard them speaking in different languages and extolling God. At this Peter asked,
47 Can any one forbid water that these should not be baptised, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also [did]?
‘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 baptised in the name of the Lord. Then they begged 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.
