Acts 10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Peter and Cornelius
10 In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. 2 He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. 3 One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.”(A) 4 He stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” He answered, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.(B) 5 Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; 6 he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.”(C) 7 When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, 8 and after telling them everything he sent them to Joppa.
9 About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.(D) 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while it was being prepared he fell into a trance.(E) 11 He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners.(F) 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.”(G) 15 The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.”(H) 16 This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon’s house and were standing by the gate.(I) 18 They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, three[a] men are searching for you.(J) 20 Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?” 22 They answered, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous[b] and God-fearing man who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish people, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”(K) 23 So Peter[c] invited them in and gave them lodging.
The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers and sisters from Joppa accompanied him.(L) 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.”(M) 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.(N) 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,(O) 35 but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness[d] is acceptable to him.(P) 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.(Q) 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.(R) 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,(S) 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,(T) 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.(U) 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.(V) 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”(W)
Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.(X) 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,(Y) 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?”(Z) 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.(AA)
Acts 10
New American Standard Bible
Cornelius’ Vision
10 Now there was a man in (A)Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was (B)called the Italian [a]cohort, 2 a devout man and (C)one who feared God with all his household, and (D)made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About (E)the [b]ninth hour of the day he clearly saw (F)in a vision (G)an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And he (H)looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts (I)have ascended (J)as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now dispatch some men to (K)Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6 he is staying with a tanner named (L)Simon, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who *spoke to him left, he summoned two of his [c]servants and a devout soldier from his personal attendants, 8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to (M)Joppa.
9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, (N)Peter went up on (O)the [d]housetop about [e](P)the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were making preparations, he (Q)fell into a trance; 11 and he *saw (R)the sky opened up, and an [f]object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and on it were all kinds of four-footed animals and [g]crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the sky. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, [h]kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, (S)Lord, for (T)I have never eaten anything [i]unholy and unclean.” 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “(U)What God has cleansed, no longer [j]consider unholy.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the [k]object was taken up into the sky.
17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in [l]mind as to what (V)the vision which he had seen might [m]mean, behold, (W)the men who had been sent by Cornelius had asked directions to Simon’s house, and they appeared at the gate; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was reflecting on (X)the vision, (Y)the Spirit said to him, “Behold, [n]three men are looking for you. 20 But get up, go downstairs and (Z)accompany them [o]without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” 21 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 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and (AA)God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, (AB)was divinely directed by a (AC)holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear [p](AD)a message from you.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.
Peter in Caesarea
Now on the next day he got ready and went away with them, and (AE)some of (AF)the brothers from (AG)Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day he entered (AH)Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and [q](AI)worshiped him. 26 But Peter helped 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 that it is (AL)forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a [r]foreigner; and yet (AM)God has shown me that I am not to call any person [s]unholy or unclean. 29 That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask, for what reason did you send for me?”
30 Cornelius said, “(AN)Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during (AO)the [t]ninth hour; and behold, (AP)a man stood before me in shining clothing, 31 and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send some men to (AQ)Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent men to you immediately, and you have [u]been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Gentiles Hear Good News
34 (AR)Opening his mouth, Peter said:
“I most certainly understand now that (AS)God is not one to show partiality, 35 but (AT)in every nation the one who [v](AU)fears Him and [w]does what is right is acceptable to Him. 36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, (AV)preaching [x](AW)peace through Jesus Christ (He is (AX)Lord of all)— 37 you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 [y]You know of (AY)Jesus of Nazareth, how God (AZ)anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, [z](BA)and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for (BB)God was with Him. 39 We are (BC)witnesses of all the things that He did both in the [aa]country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on [ab](BD)a cross. 40 (BE)God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He [ac]be revealed, 41 (BF)not to all the people, but to (BG)witnesses who had been 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)ordered us to [ad]preach to the people, and to (BJ)testify solemnly that this is the One who has been (BK)appointed by God as (BL)Judge of the living and the dead. 43 (BM)All the prophets testify of Him, that through (BN)His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, (BO)the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the [ae]message. 45 (BP)All the [af]Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been (BQ)poured out on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them (BR)speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, 47 “(BS)Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who (BT)have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he (BU)ordered them to be baptized (BV)in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
Footnotes
- Acts 10:1 Normally 600 men (the number varied)
- Acts 10:3 I.e., 3 p.m.
- Acts 10:7 Or household slaves
- Acts 10:9 Housetops were flat living areas
- Acts 10:9 I.e., noon
- Acts 10:11 Or vessel
- Acts 10:12 Or reptiles
- Acts 10:13 Or sacrifice
- Acts 10:14 Or profane; lit common
- Acts 10:15 Lit make common
- Acts 10:16 Or vessel
- Acts 10:17 Lit himself
- Acts 10:17 Lit be
- Acts 10:19 One early ms two
- Acts 10:20 Lit doubting nothing
- Acts 10:22 Lit words
- Acts 10:25 Or prostrated himself in reverence
- Acts 10:28 I.e., Gentile
- Acts 10:28 Or profane; lit common
- Acts 10:30 I.e., 3 to 4 p.m.
- Acts 10:33 Lit done well in coming
- Acts 10:35 Or reveres
- Acts 10:35 Lit works righteousness
- Acts 10:36 Or the gospel of peace
- Acts 10:38 Or How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
- Acts 10:38 Lit who went
- Acts 10:39 Or countryside
- Acts 10:39 Lit wood; see Deut 21:23
- Acts 10:40 Lit become visible
- Acts 10:42 Or proclaim
- Acts 10:44 Lit word
- Acts 10:45 Lit believers from the circumcision
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
