Acts 10:9-23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Peter’s Vision
9 The(A) next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the housetop(B) about noon.[a] 10 Then he became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he went into a visionary state. 11 He saw heaven opened(C) 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 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!”
14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything common[b] and ritually unclean!”(D)
15 Again, a second time, a voice said to him, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.”(E) 16 This happened three times, and then 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, 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.(F) 20 Get up, go downstairs, and accompany them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”(G)
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.”(H) 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.(I)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Acts 10:9 Lit about the sixth hour
- Acts 10:14 Perhaps profane, or non-sacred; Jews ate distinctive food according to OT law and their traditions, similar to modern kosher or non-kosher foods.
Acts 10:9-23
New American Standard Bible
9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, (A)Peter went up on (B)the [a]housetop about [b](C)the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were making preparations, he (D)fell into a trance; 11 and he *saw (E)the sky opened up, and an [c]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 [d]crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the sky. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, [e]kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, (F)Lord, for (G)I have never eaten anything [f]unholy and unclean.” 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “(H)What God has cleansed, no longer [g]consider unholy.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the [h]object was taken up into the sky.
17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in [i]mind as to what (I)the vision which he had seen might [j]mean, behold, (J)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 (K)the vision, (L)the Spirit said to him, “Behold, [k]three men are looking for you. 20 But get up, go downstairs and (M)accompany them [l]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 (N)God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, (O)was divinely directed by a (P)holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear [m](Q)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 (R)some of (S)the brothers from (T)Joppa accompanied him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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 10:9-26
The Message
9-13 The next day as the three travelers were approaching the town, Peter went out on the balcony to pray. It was about noon. Peter got hungry and started thinking about lunch. While lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the skies open up. Something that looked like a huge blanket lowered by ropes at its four corners settled on the ground. Every kind of animal and reptile and bird you could think of was on it. Then a voice came: “Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.”
14 Peter said, “Oh, no, Lord. I’ve never so much as tasted food that was not kosher.”
15 The voice came a second time: “If God says it’s okay, it’s okay.”
16 This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the skies.
17-20 As Peter, puzzled, sat there trying to figure out what it all meant, the men sent by Cornelius showed up at Simon’s front door. They called in, asking if there was a Simon, also called Peter, staying there. Peter, lost in thought, didn’t hear them, so the Spirit whispered to him, “Three men are knocking at the door looking for you. Get down there and go with them. Don’t ask any questions. I sent them to get you.”
21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I think I’m the man you’re looking for. What’s up?”
22-23 They said, “Captain Cornelius, a God-fearing man well-known for his fair play—ask any Jew in this part of the country—was commanded by a holy angel to get you and bring you to his house so he could hear what you had to say.” Peter invited them in and made them feel at home.
God Plays No Favorites
23-26 The next morning he got up and went with them. Some of his friends from Joppa went along. A day later they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had his relatives and close friends waiting with him. The minute Peter came through the door, Cornelius was up on his feet greeting him—and then down on his face worshiping him! Peter pulled him up and said, “None of that—I’m a man and only a man, no different from you.”
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