Peter's Vision

The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, (A)Peter went up (B)on the housetop about (C)the sixth hour[a] to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into (D)a trance 11 and saw (E)the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; (F)for I have never eaten anything that is (G)common or (H)unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, (I)“What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what (J)the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, (K)the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering (L)the vision, (M)the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and (N)accompany them without hesitation,[b] for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and (O)God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by (P)a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and (Q)to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and (R)some of (S)the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:9 That is, noon
  2. Acts 10:20 Or accompany them, making no distinction

Peter Visits Cornelius

The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”

14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.[a]

15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.

19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

21 So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

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Footnotes

  1. 10:14 Greek anything common and unclean.