Acts 10:23-43

Evangelical Heritage Version

²³ So Peter invited them in and received them as guests.

Peter Goes to the Home of Cornelius

The next day, Peter got ready and left with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along with him. ²⁴ The following day, he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter was about to enter the house, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshipped him. ²⁶ But Peter helped him up and said, “Stand up! I too am just a man.”

²⁷ While he talked with him, Peter went inside and found many people gathered there. ²⁸ He said to them, “You understand how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to associate with or visit anyone who is not a Jew. But God showed me that I should no longer continue to call anyone impure or unclean. ²⁹ That is why I came without objection when you sent for me. May I ask why you sent for me?”

³⁰ Cornelius replied, “From four days ago to this hour, I have been fasting. At the ninth hour,^[a] I was praying in my house when a man in shining clothes suddenly stood in front of me. ³¹ He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your gifts to the poor have been remembered in God’s sight. ³² Therefore send to Joppa and call for Simon, who is called Peter. He is staying as a guest in the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.^[b]’ ³³ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything that the Lord^[c] has instructed you to say.”

The Holy Spirit Comes on All Who Listen

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really am beginning to understand that God does not show favoritism, ³⁵ but in every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ He sent his word to the people of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

³⁷ “You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached. ³⁸ God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, because God was with him.

³⁹ “Indeed, we are witnesses of all the things he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem, yet they killed him by hanging him on a cross.^{[d] 40} But God raised him on the third day and caused him to be seen, ⁴¹ not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had already chosen—by us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify solemnly that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that, through his name, everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.”