Peter’s Vision^(A)

⁹ About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof^(B) to pray.

²⁵ After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof^(A) of his house.

⁸ Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands^(A) without anger or disputing.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit^(A) on all occasions^(B) with all kinds of prayers and requests.^(C) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^(D) for all the Lord’s people.

⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision.^(A) I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. ⁶ I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. ⁷ Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

⁸ “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

⁹ “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’^{(B) 10} This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

¹¹ “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea^(C) stopped at the house where I was staying. ¹² The Spirit told^(D) me to have no hesitation about going with them.^(E) These six brothers^(F) also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³ He told us how he had seen an angel^(G) appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. ¹⁴ He will bring you a message^(H) through which you and all your household^(I) will be saved.’

⁸ He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.^(A)

Peter’s Vision^(B)

⁹ About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof^(C) to pray. ¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.^{(D) 11} He saw heaven opened^(E) 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!”^(F) Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”^(G)

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

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,^(I) the men sent by Cornelius^(J) 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,^(K) the Spirit said^(L) 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.”^(M)

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,^(N) 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.”^{(O) 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^(P) from Joppa went along.^{(Q) 24} The following day he arrived in Caesarea.^(R) Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. ²⁶ But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”^(S)

²⁷ While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.^{(T) 28} He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.^(U) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.^{(V) 29} So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

³⁰ Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes^(W) stood before me ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. ³² Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’

⁴ and will give our attention to prayer^(A) and the ministry of the word.”