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Cornelius’ and Peter’s Visions

10 Now there was a man at (A)Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was (B)called the Italian [a]cohort, a devout man and (C)one who feared God with all his household, and (D)gave many [b]alms to the people and prayed to God continually. About (E)the [c]ninth hour of the day he clearly saw (F)in a vision (G)an angel of God who had come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” And (H)looking intently on him and becoming afraid, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and [d]alms (I)have ascended (J)as a memorial before God. Now send some men to (K)Joppa and summon a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; he is lodging with a tanner named (L)Simon, whose house is by the sea.” And when the angel who was speaking to him had left, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, and after he explained everything to them, he sent them to (M)Joppa.

And on the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, (N)Peter went up on (O)the housetop about (P)the [e]sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat. And while they were making preparations, he (Q)fell into a trance 11 and *saw (R)heaven opened up, and [f]an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the [g]sky. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise up, Peter, [h]slaughter and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, (S)Lord, for (T)I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.” 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “(U)What God has cleansed, no longer consider defiled.” 16 And this happened three times and immediately the [i]object was taken up into heaven.

17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in [j]mind as to what (V)the vision which he had seen might be, behold, (W)the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was reflecting on (X)the vision, (Y)the Spirit said to him, “Behold, [k]three men are looking for you. 20 But rise up, go down and (Z)accompany them without taking issue at all, for I have sent them Myself.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and (AA)God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, (AB)was directed by a (AC)holy angel to summon you to his house and hear [l](AD)a message from you.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

Peter at Caesarea

And on the next day he rose up and went away with them, and (AE)some of (AF)the brothers from (AG)Joppa went with him. 24 And on the following day he entered (AH)Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 And when Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and [m](AI)worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “(AJ)Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he entered and *found (AK)many people assembled. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how (AL)unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet (AM)God has shown me that I should not call any man defiled or unclean. 29 That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was summoned. So I ask for what reason you have summoned me.”

30 And Cornelius said, “(AN)Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during (AO)the [n]ninth hour; and behold, (AP)a man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your [o]alms have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to (AQ)Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is lodging at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and you have [p]been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been ordered by the Lord.”

The Holy Spirit Poured Out on the Gentiles

34 (AR)And opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most truly comprehend now that (AS)God is not one to show partiality, 35 but (AT)in every nation the one who [q](AU)fears Him and does righteousness is welcome to Him. 36 As for the word which He sent to the sons of Israel, (AV)proclaiming the good news of (AW)peace through Jesus Christ—He is (AX)Lord of all— 37 you yourselves know the thing which happened throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 [r]You know of (AY)Jesus of Nazareth, how God (AZ)anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, [s](BA)and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for (BB)God was with Him. 39 And we are (BC)witnesses of all the things He did both in the [t]land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also (BD)put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree. 40 (BE)God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He appear, 41 (BF)not to all the people, but to (BG)witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us (BH)who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He (BI)commanded us to [u]preach to the people, and solemnly to (BJ)bear witness that this is the One who has been (BK)designated by God as (BL)Judge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him (BM)all the prophets bear witness that through (BN)His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these things, (BO)the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the word. 45 (BP)And all the [v]circumcised believers who came with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been (BQ)poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them (BR)speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 47 (BS)Can anyone refuse water for these to be baptized who (BT)have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 And he (BU)ordered them to be baptized (BV)in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for a few days.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:1 Normally 600 men (the number varied); or battalion
  2. Acts 10:2 Or gifts of charity
  3. Acts 10:3 3 p.m.
  4. Acts 10:4 Or gifts of charity
  5. Acts 10:9 Noon
  6. Acts 10:11 Or a vessel
  7. Acts 10:12 Or heaven
  8. Acts 10:13 Or sacrifice
  9. Acts 10:16 Or vessel
  10. Acts 10:17 Lit himself
  11. Acts 10:19 One early ms two
  12. Acts 10:22 Lit words
  13. Acts 10:25 Or prostrated himself in reverence
  14. Acts 10:30 3 p.m.
  15. Acts 10:31 Or deeds of charity
  16. Acts 10:33 Lit done well in coming
  17. Acts 10:35 Or reverences
  18. Acts 10:38 Or How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
  19. Acts 10:38 Lit who went
  20. Acts 10:39 Or countryside
  21. Acts 10:42 Or proclaim
  22. Acts 10:45 Lit believers from among the circumcision

Cornelius’s Vision

10 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment.(A) He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.(B) About three in the afternoon[a] he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.”(C)

Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it, Lord?”

The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God.(D) Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”(E)

When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

The(F) next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the roof(G) about noon.[b] 10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened(H) and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12 In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. 13 A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”

14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything impure and ritually unclean.”(I)

15 Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.”(J) 16 This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven.

Peter Visits Cornelius

17 While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, right away the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there.

19 While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you.(K) 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”(L)

21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the one you’re looking for. What is the reason you’re here?”

22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you.”(M) 23 Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging.

The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.(N) 24 The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was 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 lifted him up and said, “Stand up. I myself am also a man.”(O) 27 While talking with him, he went in and found a large gathering of people. 28 Peter said to them, “You know it’s forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner,(P) but God has shown me that I must not call any person impure or unclean.(Q) 29 That’s why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So may I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon,[c] I was[d] praying in my house. Just then a man in dazzling clothing stood before me(R) 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God’s sight. 32 Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner’s house by the sea.’[e] 33 So I immediately sent for you, and it was good of you to come. So now we are all in the presence of God to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Good News for Gentiles

34 Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God doesn’t show favoritism,(S) 35 but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.(T) 37 You know the events that took place throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the devil, because God was with him.(U) 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything he did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, and yet they killed him by hanging him on a tree.(V) 40 God raised up this man on the third day and caused him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us whom God appointed as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.(W) 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.(X) 43 All the prophets testify(Y) about him that through his name(Z) everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.”(AA)

Gentile Conversion and Baptism

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down(AB) on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.(AC) 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[f] and declaring the greatness of God.

Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (AD) 48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.(AE) Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

Footnotes

  1. 10:3 Lit About the ninth hour
  2. 10:9 Lit about the sixth hour
  3. 10:30 Lit at the ninth hour
  4. 10:30 Other mss add fasting and
  5. 10:32 Other mss add When he arrives, he will speak to you.
  6. 10:46 Or other languages