Add parallel Print Page Options

Cornelio manda llamar a Pedro

10 Vivía en Cesarea un centurión llamado Cornelio, del regimiento conocido como el Italiano. Él y toda su familia eran devotos y temerosos de Dios. Realizaba muchas obras de beneficencia para el pueblo de Israel y oraba a Dios constantemente. Un día, como a las tres de la tarde,[a] tuvo una visión. Vio claramente a un ángel de Dios que se le acercaba y le decía:

―¡Cornelio!

―¿Qué quieres, Señor? —le preguntó Cornelio, mirándolo fijamente y con mucho miedo.

―Dios ha recibido tus oraciones y tus obras de beneficencia como una ofrenda —le contestó el ángel—. Envía de inmediato a algunos hombres a Jope para que hagan venir a un tal Simón, apodado Pedro. Él se hospeda con Simón el curtidor, que tiene su casa junto al mar.

Después de que se fuera el ángel que le había hablado, Cornelio llamó a dos de sus siervos y a un soldado devoto de los que le servían regularmente. Les explicó todo lo que había sucedido y los envió a Jope.

La visión de Pedro

Al día siguiente, mientras ellos iban de camino y se acercaban a la ciudad, Pedro subió a la azotea a orar. Era casi el mediodía.[b] 10 Tuvo hambre y quiso algo de comer. Mientras se lo preparaban, le sobrevino un éxtasis. 11 Vio el cielo abierto y algo parecido a una gran sábana que, suspendida por las cuatro puntas, descendía hacia la tierra. 12 En ella había toda clase de cuadrúpedos, como también reptiles y aves.

13 ―Levántate, Pedro; mata y come —le dijo una voz.

14 ―¡De ninguna manera, Señor! —replicó Pedro—. Jamás he comido nada impuro o inmundo.

15 Por segunda vez le insistió la voz:

―Lo que Dios ha purificado, tú no lo llames impuro.

16 Esto sucedió tres veces, y en seguida la sábana fue recogida al cielo.

17 Pedro no acertaba a explicarse cuál podría ser el significado de la visión. Mientras tanto, los hombres enviados por Cornelio, que estaban preguntando por la casa de Simón, se presentaron a la puerta. 18 Llamando, averiguaron si allí se hospedaba Simón, apodado Pedro.

19 Mientras Pedro seguía reflexionando sobre el significado de la visión, el Espíritu le dijo: «Mira, Simón, tres[c] hombres te buscan. 20 Date prisa, baja y no dudes en ir con ellos, porque yo los he enviado».

21 Pedro bajó y les dijo a los hombres:

―Aquí estoy; yo soy el que buscáis. ¿Qué asunto os ha traído hasta aquí?

22 Ellos le contestaron:

―Venimos de parte del centurión Cornelio, un hombre justo y temeroso de Dios, respetado por todo el pueblo judío. Un ángel de Dios le dio instrucciones de invitarte a su casa para escuchar lo que tú tienes que decirle.

23 Entonces Pedro los invitó a pasar y los hospedó.

Pedro en casa de Cornelio

Al día siguiente, Pedro se fue con ellos acompañado de algunos creyentes de Jope. 24 Un día después llegó a Cesarea. Cornelio estaba esperándolo con los parientes y amigos íntimos que había reunido. 25 Al llegar Pedro a la casa, Cornelio salió a recibirlo y, postrándose delante de él, le rindió homenaje. 26 Pero Pedro hizo que se levantara, y le dijo:

―Ponte de pie, que solo soy un hombre como tú.

27 Pedro entró en la casa conversando con él, y encontró a muchos reunidos.

28 Entonces les habló así:

―Vosotros sabéis muy bien que nuestra ley prohíbe que un judío se junte con un extranjero o lo visite. Pero Dios me ha hecho ver que a nadie debo llamar impuro o inmundo. 29 Por eso, cuando enviasteis por mí, vine sin poner ninguna objeción. Ahora permitidme que os pregunte: ¿para qué me habéis hecho venir?

30 Cornelio contestó:

―Hace cuatro días a esta misma hora, las tres de la tarde, estaba yo en casa orando.[d] De repente apareció delante de mí un hombre vestido con ropa brillante, 31 y me dijo: “Cornelio, Dios ha oído tu oración y se ha acordado de tus obras de beneficencia. 32 Por lo tanto, envía a alguien a Jope para hacer venir a Simón, apodado Pedro, que se hospeda en casa de Simón el curtidor, junto al mar”. 33 Así que inmediatamente mandé a llamarte, y tú has tenido la bondad de venir. Ahora estamos todos aquí, en la presencia de Dios, para escuchar todo lo que el Señor te ha encomendado que nos digas.

34 Pedro tomó la palabra, y dijo:

―Ahora comprendo que en realidad Dios no tiene favoritismos, 35 sino que en toda nación él ve con agrado a los que le temen y actúan con justicia. 36 Dios envió su mensaje al pueblo de Israel, anunciando las buenas nuevas de la paz por medio de Jesucristo, que es el Señor de todos. 37 Vosotros conocéis este mensaje que se difundió por toda Judea, comenzando desde Galilea, después del bautismo que predicó Juan. 38 Me refiero a Jesús de Nazaret: cómo lo ungió Dios con el Espíritu Santo y con poder, y cómo anduvo haciendo el bien y sanando a todos los que estaban oprimidos por el diablo, porque Dios estaba con él. 39 Nosotros somos testigos de todo lo que hizo en la tierra de los judíos y en Jerusalén. Lo mataron, colgándolo de un madero, 40 pero Dios lo resucitó al tercer día y dispuso que se apareciera, 41 no a todo el pueblo, sino a nosotros, testigos previamente escogidos por Dios, que comimos y bebimos con él después de su resurrección. 42 Él nos mandó a predicar al pueblo y a dar solemne testimonio de que ha sido nombrado por Dios como juez de vivos y muertos. 43 De él dan testimonio todos los profetas, que todo el que cree en él recibe, por medio de su nombre, el perdón de los pecados.

44 Mientras Pedro estaba todavía hablando, el Espíritu Santo descendió sobre todos los que escuchaban el mensaje. 45 Los defensores de la circuncisión que habían llegado con Pedro se quedaron asombrados de que el don del Espíritu Santo se hubiera derramado también sobre los gentiles, 46 pues los oían hablar en lenguas y alabar a Dios. Entonces Pedro respondió:

47 ―¿Acaso puede alguien negar el agua para que sean bautizados estos que han recibido el Espíritu Santo de igual manera que nosotros?

48 Y mandó que fueran bautizados en el nombre de Jesucristo. Entonces le pidieron que se quedara con ellos algunos días.

Footnotes

  1. 10:3 las tres de la tarde. Lit. la hora novena; también en v. 30.
  2. 10:9 casi el mediodía. Lit. alrededor de la hora sexta.
  3. 10:19 Var. no incluye tres (un ms. antiguo dice: dos).
  4. 10:30 en casa orando. Var. en casa ayunando y orando.

Cornelius Has a Vision

10 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea named[a] Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort, devout and fearing God together with all his household, doing many charitable deeds for the people and praying to God continually.[b] About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him and became terrified and[c] said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your charitable deeds have gone up for a memorial offering before God. And now, send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon, who is also called Peter. This man is staying as a guest with a certain Simon, a tanner,[d] whose house is by the sea.” And when the angel who spoke to him departed, he summoned two of the household slaves and a devout soldier from those who attended him, and after he[e] had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter Has a Vision

And the next day, as[f] they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about the sixth hour. 10 And he became hungry and wanted to eat. But while[g] they were preparing the food,[h] a trance came over him. 11 And he saw heaven opened and an object something like a large sheet coming down, being let down to the earth by its four corners, 12 in which were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and birds of the sky. 13 And a voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, slaughter and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common and unclean!” 15 And the voice came again to him for the second time: “The things which God has made clean, you must not consider unclean!” 16 And this happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed within himself as to what the vision that he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having found the house of Simon by asking around, stood at the gate. 18 And they called out and[i] asked if Simon who was also called Peter was staying there as a guest. 19 And while[j] Peter was reflecting about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, men[k] are looking for you. 20 But get up, go down, and go with them—not hesitating at all, because I have sent them.” 21 So Peter went down to the men and[l] said, “Behold, I am he whom you are looking for! What is the reason for which you have come?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man—and well spoken of by the whole nation of the Jews—was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear words from you.” 23 So he invited them in and[m] entertained them as guests, and on the next day he got up and[n] went away with them. And some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the next day he entered into Caesarea.

Peter Visits Cornelius

Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and[o] had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 So it happened that when Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his[p] feet, and[q] worshiped him.[r] 26 But Peter helped him up, saying, “Get up! I myself am also a man!” 27 And as he[s] conversed with him, he went in and found many people gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or to approach a foreigner. And to me God has shown that I should call no man common or unclean. 29 Therefore—and without raising any objection—I came when I[t] was sent for. So I ask for what reason you sent for me.”

30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago at this hour,[u] the ninth, I was praying in my house. And behold, a man in shining clothing stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your charitable deeds have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to Joppa and summon Simon who is also called Peter. This man is staying as a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner,[v] by the sea. 33 Therefore I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come.[w] So now we all are present before God to hear all the things that have been commanded to you by the Lord.”

34 So Peter opened his[x] mouth and[y] said, “In truth I understand that God is not one who shows partiality, 35 but in every nation the one who fears him and who does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for[z] the message that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—this one is Lord of all— 37 you know the thing that happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 Jesus of Nazareth—how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all the things that he did both in the land of the Judeans and in Jerusalem, whom they also executed by[aa] hanging him[ab] on a tree. 40 God raised this one up on the third day and granted that he should become visible, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen beforehand by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify solemnly that this one is the one appointed[ac] by God as judge of the living and of the dead. 43 To this one all the prophets testify, that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.”

The Holy Spirit Given to Gentiles

44 While[ad] Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message. 45 And those believers from the circumcision who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did!” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:1 Literally “by name”
  2. Acts 10:2 Literally “through everything”
  3. Acts 10:4 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“became”) has been translated as a finite verb
  4. Acts 10:6 Or “with a certain Simon Berseus”; most modern English versions treat the word as Simon’s profession (“Simon the tanner”), but the word may actually be a surname (“Simon Berseus” or “Simon Tanner”)
  5. Acts 10:8 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had explained”) which is understood as temporal
  6. Acts 10:9 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were on their way”)
  7. Acts 10:10 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were preparing”)
  8. Acts 10:10 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  9. Acts 10:18 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“called out”) has been translated as a finite verb
  10. Acts 10:19 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was reflecting”)
  11. Acts 10:19 Some manuscripts have “three men”
  12. Acts 10:21 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went down”) has been translated as a finite verb
  13. Acts 10:23 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“invited … in”) has been translated as a finite verb
  14. Acts 10:23 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“got up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  15. Acts 10:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“waiting for”) has been translated as a finite verb
  16. Acts 10:25 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  17. Acts 10:25 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“fell”) has been translated as a finite verb
  18. Acts 10:25 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  19. Acts 10:27 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“conversed with”) which is understood as temporal
  20. Acts 10:29 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was sent for”) which is understood as temporal
  21. Acts 10:30 Literally “from the fourth day until this hour”
  22. Acts 10:32 Or “of Simon Berseus”; most modern English versions treat the word as Simon’s profession (“Simon the tanner”), but the word may actually be a surname (“Simon Berseus” or “Simon Tanner”)
  23. Acts 10:33 Literally “have done rightly coming”
  24. Acts 10:34 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  25. Acts 10:34 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“opened”) has been translated as a finite verb
  26. Acts 10:36 The words “As for” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied in the translation in keeping with English style
  27. Acts 10:39 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“hanging”) which is understood as means
  28. Acts 10:39 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  29. Acts 10:42 Or “one who is designated”
  30. Acts 10:44 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was … speaking”)