Acts 10:30-43

The Voice

Cornelius: ³⁰ It was about this time of day four days ago when I was here, in my house, praying the customary midafternoon prayer. Suddenly a man appeared out of nowhere. His clothes were dazzling white, and he stood directly in front of me ³¹ and addressed me: “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your kindness to the poor has been noticed by God. ³² God wants you to find a man in Joppa, Simon who is also called Peter, who is staying at the home of a tanner named Simon, near the seaside.” ³³ I wasted no time, did just as I was told, and you have generously accepted my invitation. So here we are, in the presence of God, ready to take in all that the Lord has told you to tell us.

Peter: ³⁴ It is clear to me now that God plays no favorites, ³⁵ that God accepts every person whatever his or her culture or ethnic background, that God welcomes all who revere Him and do right. ³⁶ You already know that God sent a message to the people of Israel; it was a message of peace, peace through Jesus the Anointed—who is King of all people. ³⁷ You know this message spread through Judea, beginning in Galilee where John called people to be ritually cleansed through baptism.^{[a] 38} You know God identified Jesus as the uniquely chosen One by pouring out the Holy Spirit on Him, by empowering Him. You know Jesus went through the land doing good for all and healing all who were suffering under the oppression of the evil one, for God was with Him. ³⁹ My friends and I stand as witnesses to all Jesus did in the region of Judea and the city of Jerusalem. The people of our capital city killed Him by hanging Him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised Him up on the third day and made it possible for us to see Him. ⁴¹ Not everyone was granted this privilege, only those of us whom God chose as witnesses. We actually ate and drank with Him after His resurrection. ⁴² He told us to spread His message to everyone and to tell them that He is the One whom God has chosen to be Judge, to make a just assessment of all people—both living and dead. ⁴³ All the prophets tell us about Him and assert that every person who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name.