²³ Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers^(A) from Joppa went along.^{(B) 24} The following day he arrived in Caesarea.^(C) Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. ²⁶ But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”^(D)

²⁷ While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.^{(E) 28} He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.^(F) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.^{(G) 29} So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

³⁰ Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes^(H) stood before me ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. ³² Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ ³³ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

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

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

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on^(AC) all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter^(AD) were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out^(AE) even on Gentiles.^{(AF) 46} For they heard them speaking in tongues^[a](AG) and praising God.

Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.^(AH) They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”^{(AI) 48} So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.^(AJ) Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us^(A)

³⁸ “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”^(B)

³⁹ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, ⁴⁰ for whoever is not against us is for us.^{(C) 41} Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.^(D)

Causing to Stumble

⁴² “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble,^(E) it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.^{(F) 43} If your hand causes you to stumble,^(G) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,^(H) where the fire never goes out.^{(I) [44] [a] 45} And if your foot causes you to stumble,^(J) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{(K) [46] [b] 47} And if your eye causes you to stumble,^(L) pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,^{(M) 48} where

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted^(O) with fire.

⁵⁰ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again?^(P) Have salt among yourselves,^(Q) and be at peace with each other.”^(R)