Acts 10
1 There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band],
In Caesarea lived a man named Cornelius who was a Roman centurion of the Italian battalion.
2 [A] devout [man], and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
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 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto 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 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come 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 And now send men to Joppa, and call for [one] Simon, whose surname is Peter:
“Now send some men to Joppa, and fetch Simon, also called Peter,
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
who is staying at Simon the tanner's house down by the sea-shore.”
7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that 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 And when he had declared all [these] things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
After he'd explained to them all that had happened he sent them to Joppa.
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
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 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, 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 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to 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 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
Inside were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds.
13 And there came a voice 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 any thing that is common or unclean.
But Peter replied, “Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything that is impure and unclean.”
15 And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common.
He heard the voice speak again, “Don't you call unclean what God has made clean!”
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
This happened three times, and then the sheet was quickly taken back into heaven.
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and 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, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
They called out, asking whether Simon, also called Peter, was staying there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
While Peter was still wondering about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, there are three men looking for you.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee 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 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what [is] the cause wherefore ye are come?
So Peter went downstairs to meet the men. “I'm the one you're looking for,” he said. “Why are you here?”
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
“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 Then called he them in, and lodged [them]. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren 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 And the morrow after they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and 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 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped [him].
When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
But Peter pulled him back up, telling him, “Stand up! I'm only a man!”
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
Peter spoke with Cornelius, and then went on in where he found many other people waiting for him.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common 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 came I [unto you] without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent 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 And 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, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance 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 call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of [one] Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
Send someone to Joppa for Simon Peter. He's staying at Simon the tanner's house, down by the sea-shore.’
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of 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 Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Peter replied, “I'm totally convinced that God has no favorites.
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
In every nation God accepts those who respect him, and do what is good and right.
36 The word which [God] sent unto the children of Israel, preaching 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 That word, [I say], ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began 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 Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of 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 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged 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 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
But God raised him back to life on the third day, and had him appear,
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink 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 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and 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 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall 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 yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all of them who were listening to the message.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
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 speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
They heard them speaking in tongues, glorifying God.
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
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 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain 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.
