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Peter Has a Vision

Around noon[a] the next day, while they were on their way and coming close to the town, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became very hungry and wanted to eat, and while the food[b] was being prepared, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven open and something like a large linen sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the ground. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds of the air.

13 Then a voice told him,[c] “Get up, Peter! Kill something and eat it.”

14 But Peter said, “Absolutely not, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean!”

15 Again the voice came to him a second time, “You must stop calling unclean what God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times. Then the sheet[d] was quickly taken back into heaven.

17 While Peter was still at a loss to know what the vision he had seen could mean, the men sent by Cornelius asked for Simon’s house and went to the gate. 18 They called out and asked if Simon who was called Peter was staying there. 19 Peter was still thinking about the vision when the Spirit told him, “Look! Three men are looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and don’t hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

21 So Peter went to the men and said, “I’m the man you’re looking for. Why are you here?”

22 The men replied, “Cornelius, a centurion and an upright and God-fearing man who is respected by the whole Jewish nation, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his home to hear what you have to say.”

23 So Peter[e] welcomed them as his guests. The next day, he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along with him.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:9 Lit. About the sixth hour
  2. Acts 10:10 Lit. it
  3. Acts 10:13 Lit. came to him
  4. Acts 10:16 Lit. the vessel
  5. Acts 10:23 Lit. he

Peter’s Vision(A)

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof(B) to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.(C) 11 He saw heaven opened(D) and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!”(E) Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”(F)

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”(G)

16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision,(H) the men sent by Cornelius(I) found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision,(J) the Spirit said(K) to him, “Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”(L)

21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man,(M) who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”(N) 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(O) from Joppa went along.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:19 One early manuscript two; other manuscripts do not have the number.