使 徒 行 傳 10
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
彼得与哥尼流
10 该撒利亚有一个叫哥尼流的人。他是罗马军队里“意大利营”的一名军官。 2 他是个虔敬的人，一家老小都敬畏上帝。他经常慷慨地帮助穷人，并且一直向上帝祷告。 3 一天下午大约三点钟左右，他看见了异象，清楚地看到上帝的一位天使进来，对他说∶“哥尼流！”
4 哥尼流恐惧地注视着他问∶“先生，什么事呢？”
天使对他说∶“上帝听到了你的祷告，并看到你对穷人的周济，所以，上帝记得你。 5 你现在派人去约帕，请一位名叫西门也称彼得的人来。 6 他在硝皮匠西门的家里做客，他的房子靠近海边。” 7 说这话的天使一走，哥尼流便叫了两个仆人和他的私人随从里的一个虔诚的士兵， 8 向他们解释了一切，然后便派他们去了约帕。
9 第二天，这三个人快走到约帕时，大约在中午时分，彼得到房顶上去祈祷。 10 他感到饥饿，想吃东西。当他们正在备饭时，他感到一片恍惚， 11 他看到天敞开，好似一大块布的东西被吊住四角，从天而降，直缒到地。 12 里面装满各种走兽、飞禽和爬行动物。 13 这时，一个声音对他说∶“起来，彼得，把它们宰了吃吧！”
14 彼得答道∶“主啊，这肯定不行！我还从来没有吃过污秽和不洁净的东西呢！”
15 那个声音又对他说∶“上帝洁净过的东西，你不要认为不洁净。” 16 这样如此一连三次，那个东西便被立即收回天上去了。
17 彼得还在纳闷所见的异象是什么意思时，哥尼流派来的人已经到了，他们已经打听出西门的家在哪里。这时，这些人已经站在大门口了。 18 他们高声问道，有没有一位叫西门彼得的客人住在那里。
19 彼得还在琢磨那异象的时候，圣灵对他说∶“听着，有三个人正在找你！ 20 所以，赶紧起身下去，跟他们去，不要犹豫，因为是我派他们来的。” 21 彼得于是走下来，对那三个人说∶“我就是你们要找的那个人，你们为什么来呢？”
22 他们说∶“军官哥尼流派我们来的，他是个好人，敬畏上帝，受到所有犹太人的尊重。一个圣天使指示他，邀请你去他家，好听你的话。” 23 彼得把他们请进屋来，安排他们住下了。
第二天，他做好了准备，跟着他们一起上路了。从约帕来的一些基督兄弟也与他一起同行去了。 24 第二天，他们到达了该撒利亚。哥尼流正在等候他们，并已邀请了亲戚好友。 25 彼得刚要进屋，哥尼流就迎了上去，匍伏在彼得的脚边，拜他。 26 彼得把他扶起来，说∶“快起来！我只不过是个凡人而已。” 27 彼得边说边走进了屋子。他发现很多人聚集在里面， 28 就说∶“你们知道，我们的法律是不允许犹太人和外族人交往，并去拜访外族人。但是，上帝指示我不该把任何人看成是不洁净或污秽的， 29 所以，你们邀请我，我没有推辞就来了。不过，我要问你们：你们为什么邀请我呢？”
30 哥尼流说道∶“四天前，大约在这个时候，也就是下午三点钟左右，我正在屋里做祷告，突然，一个身穿耀眼衣服的人站到我面前。 31 他说∶‘哥尼流，上帝听到了你的祷告，你对穷人的施舍，也被上帝记在心里了， 32 所以，你要派人去约帕，请一个叫西门彼得的人到这儿来。他住在海边，在硝皮匠西门的家里做客。 33 所以，我马上就派人去请你，而你，竟肯光临寒舍。那么，现在我们都在此，在上帝的面前，准备聆听上帝吩咐你讲述所有的话。”
彼得在哥尼流家讲话
34 彼得便开口说道∶“我现在真正彻底地明白了上帝是不偏不倚的。 35 任何一个民族的人，只要敬畏他、做正确的事情，他都会接受的。 36 你们知道他通过全人类之主耶稣基督，把信息送给了以色列人，传播福音。 37 约翰传播洗礼的信息后，从加利利开始，发生在犹太各地的大事，你们是知道的。 38 你们知道拿撒勒的耶稣—上帝是怎样用圣灵和力量膏泽他，他又怎样走遍各地，到处行善，治愈了受到魔鬼控制的人。那是因为上帝与他同在。 39 我们是他在犹太城和耶路撒冷所做的一切的见证人。他们把他钉死在了十字架上， 40 但是，在第三天，上帝使他复活，而且向人们显示了他， 41 但不是在所有的人的面前，而是在事先被上帝挑选的证人的面前出现，即向我们显示了他。我们在他从死里复活后，还与他同吃同喝。 42 他还命令我们向这些人们传道，证明，他就是上帝任命来审判生者和死者的那位。 43 所有的先知关于他都证实说：信仰他的人都会通过他的名字领受到对罪孽的宽恕。”
上帝展示他接受所有的人
44 彼得正说着这些事时，圣灵降临到所有正在听这信息的人的身上了。 45 和彼得一起来的犹太信徒都非常惊讶，因为圣灵的馈赠竟然也倾注到了外族人的身上了。 46 因为他们听见，这些人在说不同的语言并且盛赞上帝的伟大。这时，彼得说∶ 47 “他们也和我们一样，领受了圣灵，那么，谁能阻止他们接受水的洗礼呢？ 48 因此，他便吩咐他们以耶稣基督的名义接受了洗礼。然后，那些人又请求彼得他们多住了几日。
Acts 10
New Catholic Bible
Baptism of the Centurion Cornelius
Chapter 10
The Vision of Cornelius.[a] 1 In Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius who was a centurion of the so-called Italian cohort.[b] 2 He was a devout and God-fearing man, as were all the members of his household. He gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God.
3 One afternoon about three o’clock,[c] he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God approaching him and calling to him, “Cornelius!” 4 He stared at him in terror and asked, “What is it, Lord?”
The angel said, “Your prayers and acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send some men to Joppa and summon a man named Simon, who is also called Peter. 6 He is lodging with another Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier on his staff. 8 He told them all that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
The Vision of Peter.[d] 9 About noon[e] the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He then saw heaven opened and something that looked like a large sheet descending, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals as well as reptiles and birds of the air.
13 A voice then said to him, “Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord. For I have never eaten anything profane or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke again to him, for a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” 16 This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven again.
17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision he had seen, suddenly the men who were sent by Cornelius appeared. They had asked for directions to Simon’s house, and now they were standing at the entrance 18 and inquiring whether Simon known as Peter was lodging there.
19 As Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Some men have come to see you. 20 Hurry down and go with them without any hesitation, for I have sent them.”
21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason you have come?” 22 They replied, “A centurion named Cornelius, who is greatly respected by the entire Jewish nation as an upright and Godfearing man, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.
The next day, he set out with them, accompanied by some of the brethren from Joppa. 24 On the following day, they reached Caesarea. Cornelius had been expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter arrived, Cornelius came out to meet him and, falling at his feet, did him reverence. 26 But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I am only a man myself.”
27 While they conversed together, they went inside where a large crowd had gathered. 28 Peter said to them, “You are well aware that Jews are forbidden to associate with or visit a Gentile. However, God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean. 29 That is why I came without offering any objection when I was summoned. I would like to know exactly why you sent for me.”
30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago, at this very hour, three o’clock in the afternoon,[f] I was in my house praying when suddenly I saw a man in shining robes standing before me. 31 He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving has not been forgotten by God. 32 Therefore, send to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is also called Peter. He is lodging at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ 33 And so I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now all of us have assembled here in the presence of God to listen to everything that the Lord has commanded you to say.”
34 Peter’s Speech. Then Peter addressed them: “I now understand how true it is that God has no favorites, 35 but that in every nation all those who fear God and do what is right are acceptable to him. 36 He sent his word to the children of Israel and proclaimed the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all.
37 “You are well aware of what was proclaimed all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism of John, 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses to everything he did in the Jewish countryside and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him to life on the third day and allowed him to be seen 41 not by all the people but by witnesses who were chosen by God in advance—by us who ate and drank with him[g] after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to bear witness that he is the one designated by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the Prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 The Baptism of Cornelius. While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit descended upon all who were listening to his message. 45 The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and proclaiming the greatness of God.
Peter said further, 47 “Can anyone withhold the water of baptism from these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 Then he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 49 Afterward, they asked him to stay with them for a few days.
Footnotes
- Acts 10:1 The moment in which the Christian movement entered into the Gentile world was a major event for the Church. Luke speaks of God’s initiative that captures the world through the Resurrection and the Spirit and expresses itself in the dynamism with which the Lord animates the first community. To illustrate it, he elevates an account of conversion to the rank of an historic event and an irreversible theological fact. Indeed, it is the longest account in the Acts of the Apostles.
Cornelius, a Roman official in Caesarea—the city that is the seat of government—is, along with his entire family, a “God-fearing” man, i.e., one who has accepted the beliefs and principal practices of Judaism, though not going so far as to share the Jewish way of life and become part of the people through circumcision.
In his inner righteousness and generosity, Cornelius is recognized by God as suitable to enter into communication with him. However, to find the truth that he desires he must hear the announcement of the facts concerning Jesus from the mouth of eyewitnesses and thus must meet Peter—who is living some 30 miles away. Only then will these Gentiles master the word of Christ and make it their own through the inspiration of the Spirit (Acts 10:40).
Thus, Cornelius is no longer the central figure of our account. Luke wishes to stress a fact: the initiative of God to liberate the Gospel from being shut up in the Jewish world. The community of Jerusalem, still bound by its Jewish ties, opens itself to the outside world by a series of encounters, but it is blocked from doing so by a redoubtable problem. The Jewishness of the first disciples prevents them from frequenting the Gentiles’ houses of prayer and from sharing their tables without incurring a legal uncleanness and violating the Law. How then can they live in community and partake in the Eucharist, for example?
Must not the Gentiles first be made part of Israel through circumcision? In the face of the gift given by God to the Gentiles “as . . . upon us at the beginning” (Acts 11:15), in the face of this Pentecost of the Gentile nations (Acts 10:45), the community of Jerusalem must also be converted and realize that the religious and ritual appurtenances can no longer provide superiority or priority, that these are no longer to be regarded as a wall of separation—finally, that no person can be declared unclean (Acts 10:27).
The text is carefully constructed. Each personage has a vision that presents itself as an enigma. Then it becomes clear in the concrete action, the encounter, and the mutual hospitality. Peter’s discourse is the pivotal point of the account. Like its predecessors (Acts 2:14-41; 3:11-26), it relates the major themes of the announcement of Jesus. The Spirit authenticates the word concerning Jesus and inspires Gentiles to become witnesses of the Resurrection.
The concrete problems of the entry of Gentiles into the Church and of contacts between Jews and Gentiles will be definitively regulated at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:10, 19-21), but Paul will struggle all his life against the Judaizing practices and theories that tempt certain communities of Israelite origin (see Gal 2; 5). The encounter of Peter and Cornelius leads to the formation of the first Christian community made up of the two most difficult milieux: the Christian and the Gentile. Henceforth, the Church will no longer be able to shut herself up within her own confines. - Acts 10:1 Italian cohort: an auxiliary unit of soldiers.
- Acts 10:3 Three o’clock: literally, “about the ninth hour.” This time period was a Jewish hour of prayer (see Acts 3:1).
- Acts 10:9 The vision that now occurs makes it possible for Peter to sit down at table and eat with Gentiles without feeling any guilt. Hence, it is clear that at first not even the apostles fully understood the Lord’s teaching about the Law. However, with the aid of this vision and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the apostles ultimately arrive at a fuller understanding.
- Acts 10:9 Noon: literally, “about the sixth hour.”
- Acts 10:30 Three o’clock in the afternoon: literally, “about the ninth hour.”
- Acts 10:41 Ate and drank with him: those who shared a table with Jesus after he rose from the dead were given unmistakable evidence of the Lord’s bodily Resurrection (see Lk 24:42f; Jn 21:12-15).
Copyright © 2004 by World Bible Translation Center
