哥尼流邀請彼得

10 在凱撒利亞有一位隸屬義大利營的百夫長名叫哥尼流。 他和全家都是虔誠敬畏上帝的人,他慷慨賙濟窮人,常常禱告。 一天,大約下午三點,他在異象中清楚地看見一位上帝的天使進來呼喚他:「哥尼流!」

哥尼流驚恐地注視著他,問:「主啊,什麼事?」

天使回答說:「你的禱告和賙濟窮人的善行已經在上帝面前蒙悅納。 如今你要派人去約帕,請一個叫西門·彼得的人來。 他住在一個叫西門的皮革匠家裡,房子在海邊。」

向他說話的天使離開後,哥尼流叫來兩個家僕和自己的一個敬虔侍衛, 把剛才的事告訴他們,然後差他們去約帕。

彼得見異象

第二天中午,他們快要到達約帕時,彼得上屋頂去禱告。 10 他覺得肚子餓了,想吃東西。那家人正在預備午飯的時候,彼得進入異象, 11 看見天開了,有一樣東西好像一大塊布,四角吊著降到地上, 12 裡面有各種天上的飛禽、地上的爬蟲和四足的走獸。 13 然後有聲音對他說:「彼得,起來,宰了吃!」

14 彼得卻說:「主啊!這可不行!我從未吃過任何污穢不潔之物。」

15 那聲音又一次對他說:「上帝已經潔淨的,你不可再稱之為不潔淨。」 16 這樣一連三次之後,那塊布就被收回天上去了。

17 彼得不知所措,正在猜測這異象到底是什麼意思,哥尼流的僕人們剛好找來了, 18 正站在門口大聲問西門·彼得是否住在這裡。

19 彼得還在苦苦思索的時候,聖靈又對他說:「彼得,外面有三個人來找你, 20 快下樓跟他們去,不必多慮,他們是我差來的。」 21 彼得就下去見他們,說:「我就是你們要找的人,有什麼事?」

22 他們說:「哥尼流百夫長是個又正直又敬畏上帝的人,連猶太人都稱讚他。上帝的天使指示他請你到他家裡去,好聽你的指教。」

23 彼得就留他們住了一夜。第二天,彼得和他們以及幾個約帕的弟兄一同出發了。 24 又過了一天,他們到達凱撒利亞。哥尼流已經請來親朋好友,在等候他們。 25 他一看見彼得,就迎上去俯伏在他腳前拜他。 26 彼得連忙把他扶起來,說:「快起來,我只不過是人。」

27 彼得和他邊走邊談,進屋後,見聚集了許多人, 28 就對他們說:「你們都知道,按照猶太人的傳統,我們不可以和外族人來往。但上帝已經指示我不可把任何人視為污穢不潔。 29 所以,我受到邀請後,毫不猶豫地來了。請問你們為什麼請我來?」

30 哥尼流說:「四天前,大約也是下午三點這個時候,我在家裡禱告,忽然有一個身穿明亮衣服的人站在我面前, 31 說,『哥尼流,上帝已經垂聽了你的禱告,也悅納你賙濟窮人的善行。 32 你派人去約帕把那位叫西門·彼得的人請來,他住在海邊一個叫西門的皮革匠家。』 33 於是我立刻派人去請你。你能來,真是榮幸,現在我們都在上帝面前,想聆聽主吩咐你傳給我們的話。」

福音臨到外族人

34 彼得說:「現在我深深地明白,上帝不偏待人。 35 無論哪一個民族,只要敬畏祂,秉公行義,都會蒙祂接納。 36 上帝藉著萬物的主宰——耶穌基督把平安的福音傳給以色列人。 37 你們都知道,自從約翰宣講洗禮以來,從加利利開始,整個猶太地區發生了什麼事。 38 你們也知道,拿撒勒人耶穌是上帝用聖靈和大能膏立的。祂周遊四方,廣行善事,醫好被魔鬼壓制的人,因為上帝與祂同在。 39 我們親眼目睹了耶穌在猶太全境和耶路撒冷所做的一切。可是,世人卻把祂釘死在十字架上。 40 但第三天,上帝使祂從死裡復活,並且向人顯現, 41 不是向所有的人顯現,而是向被上帝預先揀選為祂做見證的人顯現,就是我們這些在祂復活以後與祂一同吃喝過的人。 42 祂命令我們向世人傳道,見證祂就是上帝指派來審判活人和死人的那位。 43 所有先知也都為祂做見證說,『誰信祂,誰的罪就能藉著祂的名得到赦免。』」

44 彼得還在說話的時候,聖靈就降臨在每一個聽道的人身上。 45 跟彼得一起來的那些嚴守割禮的信徒,看見聖靈的恩賜也澆灌到外族人身上,都很驚奇。 46 因為他們聽見這些人又說方言又讚美上帝。於是彼得說: 47 「既然這些人已經和我們一樣領受了聖靈,誰能阻止他們接受洗禮呢?」 48 彼得吩咐他們奉耶穌基督的名受洗。之後,他們又請彼得住了幾天。

Peter Teaches Cornelius

10 At Caesarea [C a coastal city, 25 miles south of Mount Carmel; a center of Roman government for Palestine] there was a man named Cornelius, ·an officer [L a centurion; C an officer in charge of about a hundred soldiers] in the Italian ·group of the Roman army [L cohort; regiment; C a cohort was about six hundred soldiers]. Cornelius was a ·religious [pious; godly] man. He and all ·the other people who lived in his house [his household] ·worshiped the true God [L feared God; C “God-fearers” were Gentiles who worshiped the one true God of Israel]. He gave much of his money to ·the poor [or the Jewish people; L the people] and prayed to God often. ·One afternoon about three o’clock [L About the ninth hour of the day], Cornelius clearly saw a vision. An angel of God came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

Cornelius stared at the angel. He ·became afraid [was terrified] and said, “What do you want, ·Lord [or sir]?”

The angel said, “·God has heard your prayers. He has seen that you give to the poor, and he remembers you [L Your prayers and your alms have gone up to God as a memorial/memorial offering]. Send some men now to Joppa [9:36] to bring back a man named Simon who is also called Peter. He is staying [as a guest] with a man, ·also named Simon, who is a tanner [or named Simon Byrseus; 9:43] and has a house beside the sea.” When the angel who spoke to Cornelius left, Cornelius called two of his ·servants [household slaves/servants] and a soldier, a ·religious [devout; pious; godly] man who ·worked for him [or was on his staff; or was loyal to him]. Cornelius explained everything to them and sent them to Joppa.

About ·noon [L the sixth hour] the next day as they ·came near Joppa [L journeyed and drew near the city], Peter was going up to the roof [C in ancient Israel flat roofs were used as living spaces and for storage] to pray. 10 He was hungry and wanted to eat, but while the food was being prepared, he ·had a vision [or fell into a trance]. 11 He saw heaven opened and ·something [an object] coming down that looked like a big sheet being lowered to earth by its four corners. 12 In it were all kinds of ·animals [L four-footed creatures], reptiles, and birds [L of the air/sky]. 13 Then a voice said to Peter, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”

14 But Peter said, “·No [Absolutely not], Lord! I have never eaten food that is ·unholy [profane; common] or ·unclean [ritually defiled; C the OT food laws differentiated Israelites from Gentiles; Lev. 11; Ezek. 4:13–15].”

15 But the voice said to him again, “God has made these things clean, so don’t call them ·‘unholy’ [‘profane’; ‘common’]!” 16 This happened three times, and at once the ·sheet [L object; thing] was taken back to heaven.

17 While Peter was ·wondering [perplexed about] what this vision meant, [L look; T behold] the men Cornelius sent had found Simon’s house and were standing at the gate. 18 They asked, “Is ·Simon Peter [L Simon who is called Peter] staying [as a guest] here?”

19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “·Listen [L Look; T Behold], three men are looking for you. 20 [So; L But] Get up and go downstairs. Go with them without ·doubting [or hesitation], because I have sent them to you.”

21 So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are ·looking [searching] for. Why did you come here?”

22 They said, “A holy angel spoke to Cornelius, ·an army officer [L a centurion] and a ·good [righteous] man; he ·worships [L fears] God. ·All the people [L The whole Jewish nation] ·respect [speak well of; L testify to] him. The angel told Cornelius to ask you to come to his house so that he can hear what you have to say.” 23 So Peter ·asked [invited] the men to come in and ·spend the night [L entertained them as guests; C an unusual gesture, since Jews would not normally invite Gentiles into their homes].

The next day Peter got ·ready [up] and went with them, and some of the ·followers [Jewish believers; L brothers] from Joppa joined him. 24 On the following day they came to Caesarea [10:1]. Cornelius was ·waiting for [expecting] them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. 26 But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I too am only a ·human [mortal].” 27 As he talked with Cornelius, Peter went inside where he ·saw [L found] many people gathered. 28 He said, “You people understand that it is against our law for Jewish people to associate with or visit anyone who is a ·foreigner [Gentile]. But God has shown me that I should not call any person unholy [profane; common] or unclean [defiled]. 29 That is why I did not ·argue [object] when I was asked to come here. Now, please tell me why you sent for me.”

30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago [10:3], I was praying in my house at this same time—·three o’clock in the afternoon [L at the ninth hour]. Suddenly, there was a man standing before me wearing ·shining [dazzling] clothes. 31 He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and ·has seen that you give to the poor and remembers you [L your alms have been remembered by/before God]. 32 So send some men to Joppa and ask Simon [L who is called] Peter to come. Peter is staying [as a guest] in the house of a man, ·also named Simon, who is a tanner [or named Simon Byrseus; 9:43] and has a house beside the sea [see 10:5–6].’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was ·very good [kind] of you to come. Now we are all here ·before [in the presence of; or available to] God to hear everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34 Peter ·began to speak [L opened his mouth]: “I ·really [truly] understand now that ·to God every person is the same [God does not show favoritism/partiality]. 35 [L But] In every ·country [nation] God accepts anyone who ·worships [L fears] him and ·does what is right [practices righteousness]. 36 You know the ·message [word] that God has sent to the people of Israel ·is the Good News that peace [announcing/proclaiming the Gospel of peace that] has come through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all people [C both Jews and Gentiles]! 37 You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after John [C the Baptist] preached to the people about baptism [Luke 3]. 38 You know about Jesus from Nazareth, that God ·gave him [L anointed him with] the Holy Spirit and power. You know how Jesus went everywhere doing good and healing those who were ·ruled [oppressed] by the devil, because God was with him. 39 We ·saw [witnessed] what Jesus did in [L the region/country of] Judea and in Jerusalem, but ·the Jews in Jerusalem [L they] killed him by hanging him on a ·cross [L tree]. 40 Yet, on the third day, God raised Jesus ·to life [or from the dead] and caused him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but only by the witnesses God had already chosen. And we are those witnesses who ate and drank with him after he was raised from the dead. 42 He ·told [commanded] us to preach to the people and to ·tell them [testify; bear witness] that he is the one whom God ·chose [appointed; determined] to be the judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets ·say it is true [witnessed; testified] that all who believe in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins through Jesus’ name.”

44 While Peter was still saying ·this [L these words], the Holy Spirit ·came down [L fell] on all those who ·were listening [L heard the word/message]. 45 The ·Jewish [L circumcised] believers who came with Peter were ·amazed [astonished] that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been ·given [L poured out] even to the ·nations [Gentiles]. 46 [L For] ·These believers [L They] heard them speaking in different languages [L tongues; C either other languages or ecstatic utterance] and ·praising [magnifying] God. Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we did!” 48 So Peter ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.