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.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:9 Housetops were flat living areas
  2. Acts 10:9 I.e., noon
  3. Acts 10:11 Or vessel
  4. Acts 10:12 Or reptiles
  5. Acts 10:13 Or sacrifice
  6. Acts 10:14 Or profane; lit common
  7. Acts 10:15 Lit make common
  8. Acts 10:16 Or vessel
  9. Acts 10:17 Lit himself
  10. Acts 10:17 Lit be
  11. Acts 10:19 One early ms two
  12. Acts 10:20 Lit doubting nothing
  13. Acts 10:22 Lit words

Peter Has a Vision

Around noon[a] the next day, while they were on their way and coming close to the town, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became very hungry and wanted to eat, and while the food[b] was being prepared, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven open and something like a large linen sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the ground. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds of the air.

13 Then a voice told him,[c] “Get up, Peter! Kill something and eat it.”

14 But Peter said, “Absolutely not, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean!”

15 Again the voice came to him a second time, “You must stop calling unclean what God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times. Then the sheet[d] was quickly taken back into heaven.

17 While Peter was still at a loss to know what the vision he had seen could mean, the men sent by Cornelius asked for Simon’s house and went to the gate. 18 They called out and asked if Simon who was called Peter was staying there. 19 Peter was still thinking about the vision when the Spirit told him, “Look! Three men are looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and don’t hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

21 So Peter went to the men and said, “I’m the man you’re looking for. Why are you here?”

22 The men replied, “Cornelius, a centurion and an upright and God-fearing man who is respected by the whole Jewish nation, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his home to hear what you have to say.”

23 So Peter[e] welcomed them as his guests. The next day, he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along with him.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:9 Lit. About the sixth hour
  2. Acts 10:10 Lit. it
  3. Acts 10:13 Lit. came to him
  4. Acts 10:16 Lit. the vessel
  5. Acts 10:23 Lit. he