23 So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and (A)some of (B)the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and (C)fell down at his feet and (D)worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, (E)“Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew (F)to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but (G)God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30 And Cornelius said, (H)“Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at (I)the ninth hour,[a] and behold, (J)a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, (K)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 lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that (L)God (M)shows no partiality, 35 but (N)in every nation anyone who fears him and (O)does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for (P)the word that he sent to Israel, (Q)preaching good news of (R)peace through Jesus Christ ((S)he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, (T)beginning (U)from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how (V)God anointed Jesus of Nazareth (W)with the Holy Spirit and with (X)power. He went about doing good and healing all (Y)who were oppressed by the devil, (Z)for God was with him. 39 And (AA)we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. (AB)They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but (AC)God raised him on (AD)the third day and made him to (AE)appear, 41 (AF)not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as (AG)witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And (AH)he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify (AI)that he is the one appointed by God to be judge (AJ)of the living and the dead. 43 (AK)To him (AL)all the prophets bear witness that (AM)everyone who believes in him receives (AN)forgiveness of sins (AO)through his name.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:30 That is, 3 p.m.

23 Peter invited them into the house as his guests.

The next day he got up and went with them, together with some of the believers from Joppa. 24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Anticipating their arrival, Cornelius had gathered his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in order to honor him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Get up! Like you, I’m just a human.” 27 As they continued to talk, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them, “You all realize that it is forbidden for a Jew to associate or visit with outsiders. However, God has shown me that I should never call a person impure or unclean. 29 For this reason, when you sent for me, I came without objection. I want to know, then, why you sent for me.”

30 Cornelius answered, “Four days ago at this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me. 31 He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to him. 32 Therefore, send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is known as Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, located near the seacoast.’ 33 I sent for you right away, and you were kind enough to come. Now, here we are, gathered in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has directed you to say.”

34 Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn’t show partiality to one group of people over another. 35 Rather, in every nation, whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all! 37 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism John preached. 38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of everything he did, both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him up on the third day and allowed him to be seen, 41 not by everyone but by us. We are witnesses whom God chose beforehand, who ate and drank with him after God raised him from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

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