Acts 10-12

New King James Version

Cornelius Sends a Delegation

10 There was a certain man in ^(A)Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian ^[a]Regiment, ²^(B)a devout man and one who ^(C)feared God with all his household, who gave ^[b]alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. ³About ^[c]the ninth hour of the day ^(D)he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

⁴And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”

So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. ⁵Now ^(E)send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶He is lodging with ^(F)Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. ^(G)He^[d] will tell you what you must do.” ⁷And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. ⁸So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

⁹The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, ^(H)Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about ^[e]the sixth hour. ¹⁰Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹and ^(I)saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹²In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! ^(J)For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

¹⁵And a voice spoke to him again the second time, ^(K)“What God has ^[f]cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Summoned to Caesarea

¹⁷Now while Peter ^[g]wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹While Peter thought about the vision, ^(L)the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ²⁰^(M)Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

²¹Then Peter went down to the men ^[h]who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

²²And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and ^(N)has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” ²³Then he invited them in and lodged them.

On the next day Peter went away with them, ^(O)and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter Meets Cornelius

²⁴And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶But Peter lifted him up, saying, ^(P)“Stand up; I myself am also a man.” ²⁷And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. ²⁸Then he said to them, “You know how ^(Q)unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But ^(R)God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ²⁹Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

³⁰So Cornelius said, ^[i]“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, ^(S)a man stood before me ^(T)in bright clothing, ³¹and said, ‘Cornelius, ^(U)your prayer has been heard, and ^(V)your ^[j]alms are remembered in the sight of God. ³²Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. ^[k]When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

Preaching to Cornelius’ Household

³⁴Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ^(W)“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵But ^(X)in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is ^(Y)accepted by Him. ³⁶The word which God sent to the ^[l]children of Israel, ^(Z)preaching peace through Jesus Christ—^(AA)He is Lord of all— ³⁷that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and ^(AB)began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸how ^(AC)God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who ^(AD)went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, ^(AE)for God was with Him. ³⁹And we are ^(AF)witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom ^[m]they ^(AG)killed by hanging on a tree. ⁴⁰Him ^(AH)God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, ⁴¹^(AI)not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us ^(AJ)who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. ⁴²And ^(AK)He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify ^(AL)that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge ^(AM)of the living and the dead. ⁴³^(AN)To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, ^(AO)whoever believes in Him will receive ^(AP)remission^[n] of sins.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking these words, ^(AQ)the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵^(AR)And ^[o]those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, ^(AS)because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit ^(AT)just as we have?” ⁴⁸^(AU)And he commanded them to be baptized ^(AV)in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Peter Defends God’s Grace

11 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. ²And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, ^(AW)those of the circumcision contended with him, ³saying, ^(AX)“You went in to uncircumcised men ^(AY)and ate with them!”

⁴But Peter explained it to them ^(AZ)in order from the beginning, saying: ⁵^(BA)“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. ⁶When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ⁷And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ ⁹But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ ¹⁰Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. ¹¹At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. ¹²Then ^(BB)the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover ^(BC)these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³^(BD)And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, ¹⁴who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ ¹⁵And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, ^(BE)as upon us at the beginning. ¹⁶Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ^(BF)‘John indeed baptized with water, but ^(BG)you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷^(BH)If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(BI)who was I that I could withstand God?”

¹⁸When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ^(BJ)“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Barnabas and Saul at Antioch

¹⁹^(BK)Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. ²⁰But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to ^(BL)the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. ²¹And ^(BM)the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and ^(BN)turned to the Lord.

²²Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out ^(BO)Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. ²³When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and ^(BP)encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. ²⁴For he was a good man, ^(BQ)full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. ^(BR)And a great many people were added to the Lord.

²⁵Then Barnabas departed for ^(BS)Tarsus to seek Saul. ²⁶And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Relief to Judea

²⁷And in these days ^(BT)prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸Then one of them, named ^(BU)Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of ^(BV)Claudius Caesar. ²⁹Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send ^(BW)relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. ³⁰^(BX)This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Herod’s Violence to the Church

12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. ²Then he killed James ^(BY)the brother of John with the sword. ³And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during ^(BZ)the Days of Unleavened Bread. ⁴So ^(CA)when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four ^[p]squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

Peter Freed from Prison

⁵Peter was therefore kept in prison, but ^[q]constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. ⁶And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were ^[r]keeping the prison. ⁷Now behold, ^(CB)an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. ⁸Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” ⁹So he went out and followed him, and ^(CC)did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought ^(CD)he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, ^(CE)which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

¹¹And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that ^(CF)the Lord has sent His angel, and ^(CG)has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”

¹²So, when he had considered this, ^(CH)he came to the house of Mary, the mother of ^(CI)John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together ^(CJ)praying. ¹³And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate. ¹⁵But they said to her, “You are beside yourself!” Yet she kept insisting that it was so. So they said, ^(CK)“It is his angel.”

¹⁶Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷But ^(CL)motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren.” And he departed and went to another place.

¹⁸Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small ^[s]stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. ¹⁹But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.

And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.

Herod’s Violent Death

²⁰Now Herod had been very angry with the people of ^(CM)Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus ^[t]the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because ^(CN)their country was ^[u]supplied with food by the king’s country.

²¹So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. ²²And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” ²³Then immediately an angel of the Lord ^(CO)struck him, because ^(CP)he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and ^[v]died.

²⁴But ^(CQ)the word of God grew and multiplied.

Barnabas and Saul Appointed

²⁵And ^(CR)Barnabas and Saul returned ^[w]from Jerusalem when they had ^(CS)fulfilled their ministry, and they also ^(CT)took with them ^(CU)John whose surname was Mark.