³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism^{(A) 35} but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.^{(B) 36} You know the message^(C) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news^(D) of peace^(E) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.^{(F) 37} You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed^(G) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing^(H) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.^(I)

³⁹ “We are witnesses^(J) of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,^{(K) 40} but God raised him from the dead^(L) on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people,^(M) but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate^(N) and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people^(O) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.^{(P) 43} All the prophets testify about him^(Q) that everyone^(R) who believes^(S) in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”^(T)

⁴ Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision.^(A) I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. ⁶ I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. ⁷ Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

⁸ “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

⁹ “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’^{(B) 10} This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

¹¹ “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea^(C) stopped at the house where I was staying. ¹² The Spirit told^(D) me to have no hesitation about going with them.^(E) These six brothers^(F) also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³ He told us how he had seen an angel^(G) appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. ¹⁴ He will bring you a message^(H) through which you and all your household^(I) will be saved.’

¹⁵ “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on^(J) them as he had come on us at the beginning.^{(K) 16} Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with^[a] water,^(L) but you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit.’^{(M) 17} So if God gave them the same gift^(N) he gave us^(O) who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

¹⁸ When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”^(P)