Acts 9:36-10:23

Common English Bible

³⁶ In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas). Her life overflowed with good works and compassionate acts on behalf of those in need. ³⁷ About that time, though, she became so ill that she died. After they washed her body, they laid her in an upstairs room. ³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two people to Peter. They urged, “Please come right away!” ³⁹ Peter went with them. Upon his arrival, he was taken to the upstairs room. All the widows stood beside him, crying as they showed the tunics and other clothing Dorcas made when she was alive.

⁴⁰ Peter sent everyone out of the room, then knelt and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. ⁴¹ He gave her his hand and raised her up. Then he called God’s holy people, including the widows, and presented her alive to them. ⁴² The news spread throughout Joppa, and many put their faith in the Lord. ⁴³ Peter stayed for some time in Joppa with a certain tanner named Simon.

Peter, Cornelius, and the Gentiles

10 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Company.^{[a] 2} He and his whole household were pious, Gentile God-worshippers. He gave generously to those in need among the Jewish people and prayed to God constantly. ³ One day at nearly three o’clock in the afternoon, he clearly saw an angel from God in a vision. The angel came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

⁴ Startled, he stared at the angel and replied, “What is it, Lord?”

The angel said, “Your prayers and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to God. ⁵ Send messengers to Joppa at once and summon a certain Simon, the one known as Peter. ⁶ He is a guest of Simon the tanner, whose house is near the seacoast.” ⁷ When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius summoned two of his household servants along with a pious soldier from his personal staff. ⁸ He explained everything to them, then sent them to Joppa.

⁹ At noon on the following day, as their journey brought them close to the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. ¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted to eat. While others were preparing the meal, he had a visionary experience. ¹¹ He saw heaven opened up and something like a large linen sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners. ¹² Inside the sheet were all kinds of four-legged animals, reptiles, and wild birds.^{[b] 13} A voice told him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!”

¹⁴ Peter exclaimed, “Absolutely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

¹⁵ The voice spoke a second time, “Never consider unclean what God has made pure.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, then the object was suddenly pulled back into heaven.

¹⁷ Peter was bewildered about the meaning of the vision. Just then, the messengers sent by Cornelius discovered the whereabouts of Simon’s house and arrived at the gate. ¹⁸ Calling out, they inquired whether the Simon known as Peter was a guest there.

¹⁹ While Peter was brooding over the vision, the Spirit interrupted him, “Look! Three people are looking for you. ²⁰ Go downstairs. Don’t ask questions; just go with them because I have sent them.”

²¹ So Peter went downstairs and told them, “I’m the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”

²² They replied, “We’ve come on behalf of Cornelius, a centurion and righteous man, a God-worshipper who is well-respected by all Jewish people. A holy angel directed him to summon you to his house and to hear what you have to say.” ²³ Peter invited them into the house as his guests.

The next day he got up and went with them, together with some of the believers from Joppa.