Acts 10:9-28

English Standard Version

Peter's Vision

⁹ The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, ^(A)Peter went up ^(B)on the housetop about ^(C)the sixth hour^[a] to pray. ¹⁰ And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into ^(D)a trance ¹¹ and saw ^(E)the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³ And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; ^(F)for I have never eaten anything that is ^(G)common or ^(H)unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, ^(I)“What God has made clean, do not call common.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

¹⁷ Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what ^(J)the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, ^(K)the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate ¹⁸ and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. ¹⁹ And while Peter was pondering ^(L)the vision, ^(M)the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. ²⁰ Rise and go down and ^(N)accompany them without hesitation,^[b] for I have sent them.” ²¹ And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” ²² And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and ^(O)God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by ^(P)a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and ^(Q)to hear what you have to say.” ²³ So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and ^(R)some of ^(S)the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. ²⁴ And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and ^(T)fell down at his feet and ^(U)worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter lifted him up, saying, ^(V)“Stand up; I too am a man.” ²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. ²⁸ And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew ^(W)to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but ^(X)God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.