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24 The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 On Peter’s arrival, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, worshiped him. 26 But Peter made him get up, saying, “Stand up; I am only a mortal.”(A) 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled, 28 and he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is improper for a Jew to associate with or to visit an outsider, but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.(B) 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. 31 He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News

34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality,(C) 35 but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness[a] is acceptable to him.(D) 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.(E) 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.(F) 39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,(G) 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,(H) 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.(I) 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.(J) 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”(K)

Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.(L) 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the gentiles,(M) 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”(N) 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. 10.35 Or acts justly

24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea.(A) 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.”(B)

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.(C) 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.(D) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.(E) 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(F) 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(G) 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.(H) 36 You know the message(I) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news(J) of peace(K) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.(L) 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed(M) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing(N) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.(O)

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

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:46 Or other languages