Cornelius Calls for Peter

10 At Caesarea^(A) there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. ² He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;^(B) he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. ³ One day at about three in the afternoon^(C) he had a vision.^(D) He distinctly saw an angel^(E) of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

⁴ Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering^(F) before God.^{(G) 5} Now send men to Joppa^(H) to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is staying with Simon the tanner,^(I) whose house is by the sea.”

⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. ⁸ He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.^(J)

Peter’s Vision^(K)

⁹ About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof^(L) to pray. ¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.^{(M) 11} He saw heaven opened^(N) and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹² It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. ¹³ Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

¹⁴ “Surely not, Lord!”^(O) Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”^(P)

¹⁵ The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”^(Q)

¹⁶ This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

¹⁷ While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision,^(R) the men sent by Cornelius^(S) found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. ¹⁸ They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

¹⁹ While Peter was still thinking about the vision,^(T) the Spirit said^(U) to him, “Simon, three^[a] men are looking for you. ²⁰ So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”^(V)

²¹ Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

²² The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man,^(W) who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”^{(X) 23} Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers^(Y) from Joppa went along.^{(Z) 24} The following day he arrived in Caesarea.^(AA) Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. ²⁶ But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”^(AB)

²⁷ While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.^{(AC) 28} He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.^(AD) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.^{(AE) 29} So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

³⁰ Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes^(AF) stood before me ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. ³² Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ ³³ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism^{(AG) 35} but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.^{(AH) 36} You know the message^(AI) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news^(AJ) of peace^(AK) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.^{(AL) 37} You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed^(AM) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing^(AN) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.^(AO)

³⁹ “We are witnesses^(AP) of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,^{(AQ) 40} but God raised him from the dead^(AR) on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people,^(AS) but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate^(AT) and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people^(AU) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.^{(AV) 43} All the prophets testify about him^(AW) that everyone^(AX) who believes^(AY) in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”^(AZ)

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on^(BA) all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter^(BB) were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out^(BC) even on Gentiles.^{(BD) 46} For they heard them speaking in tongues^[b](BE) and praising God.

Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.^(BF) They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”^{(BG) 48} So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.^(BH) Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

The Altar of Burnt Offering^(A)

27 “Build an altar^(B) of acacia wood, three cubits^[a] high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide.^{[b] 2} Make a horn^(C) at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze. ³ Make all its utensils of bronze—its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls,^(D) meat forks and firepans.^{(E) 4} Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. ⁵ Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar. ⁶ Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze.^{(F) 7} The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried.^{(G) 8} Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just as you were shown^(H) on the mountain.

The Courtyard^(I)

⁹ “Make a courtyard^(J) for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits^[c] long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen, ¹⁰ with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. ¹¹ The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts.

¹² “The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits^[d] wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. ¹³ On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide. ¹⁴ Curtains fifteen cubits^[e] long are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases, ¹⁵ and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases.

¹⁶ “For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain^(K) twenty cubits^[f] long, of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen—the work of an embroiderer^(L)—with four posts and four bases. ¹⁷ All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases. ¹⁸ The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide,^[g] with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits^[h] high, and with bronze bases. ¹⁹ All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze.

Oil for the Lampstand^(M)

²⁰ “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil^(N) of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning. ²¹ In the tent of meeting,^(O) outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law,^(P) Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps^(Q) burning before the Lord from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance^(R) among the Israelites for the generations to come.

The Priestly Garments

28 “Have Aaron^(S) your brother brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab and Abihu,^(T) Eleazar and Ithamar,^(U) so they may serve me as priests.^{(V) 2} Make sacred garments^(W) for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor.^{(X) 3} Tell all the skilled workers^(Y) to whom I have given wisdom^(Z) in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest. ⁴ These are the garments they are to make: a breastpiece,^(AA) an ephod,^(AB) a robe,^(AC) a woven tunic,^(AD) a turban^(AE) and a sash. They are to make these sacred garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so they may serve me as priests. ⁵ Have them use gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and fine linen.^(AF)

The Ephod^(AG)

⁶ “Make the ephod^(AH) of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen—the work of skilled hands. ⁷ It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be fastened. ⁸ Its skillfully woven waistband^(AI) is to be like it—of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen.

⁹ “Take two onyx stones and engrave^(AJ) on them the names of the sons of Israel ¹⁰ in the order of their birth—six names on one stone and the remaining six on the other. ¹¹ Engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones the way a gem cutter engraves a seal. Then mount the stones in gold filigree settings ¹² and fasten them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear the names on his shoulders^(AK) as a memorial^(AL) before the Lord. ¹³ Make gold filigree settings ¹⁴ and two braided chains of pure gold, like a rope, and attach the chains to the settings.

The Breastpiece^(AM)

¹⁵ “Fashion a breastpiece^(AN) for making decisions—the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. ¹⁶ It is to be square—a span^[i] long and a span wide—and folded double. ¹⁷ Then mount four rows of precious stones^(AO) on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite^(AP) and beryl; ¹⁸ the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; ¹⁹ the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst; ²⁰ the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper.^[j] Mount them in gold filigree settings. ²¹ There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel,^(AQ) each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.^(AR)

²² “For the breastpiece make braided chains of pure gold, like a rope. ²³ Make two gold rings for it and fasten them to two corners of the breastpiece. ²⁴ Fasten the two gold chains to the rings at the corners of the breastpiece, ²⁵ and the other ends of the chains to the two settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. ²⁶ Make two gold rings and attach them to the other two corners of the breastpiece on the inside edge next to the ephod. ²⁷ Make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the seam just above the waistband of the ephod. ²⁸ The rings of the breastpiece are to be tied to the rings of the ephod with blue cord, connecting it to the waistband, so that the breastpiece will not swing out from the ephod.

²⁹ “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place,^(AS) he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord. ³⁰ Also put the Urim and the Thummim^(AT) in the breastpiece, so they may be over Aaron’s heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord. Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.

Other Priestly Garments^(AU)

³¹ “Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, ³² with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar^[k] around this opening, so that it will not tear. ³³ Make pomegranates^(AV) of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. ³⁴ The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. ³⁵ Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die.

³⁶ “Make a plate^(AW) of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the Lord.^{(AX) 37} Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban. ³⁸ It will be on Aaron’s forehead, and he will bear the guilt^(AY) involved in the sacred gifts the Israelites consecrate, whatever their gifts may be. It will be on Aaron’s forehead continually so that they will be acceptable^(AZ) to the Lord.

³⁹ “Weave the tunic^(BA) of fine linen and make the turban^(BB) of fine linen. The sash is to be the work of an embroiderer. ⁴⁰ Make tunics, sashes and caps for Aaron’s sons^(BC) to give them dignity and honor.^{(BD) 41} After you put these clothes^(BE) on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint^(BF) and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests.^(BG)

⁴² “Make linen undergarments^(BH) as a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. ⁴³ Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the tent of meeting^(BI) or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place,^(BJ) so that they will not incur guilt and die.^(BK)

“This is to be a lasting ordinance^(BL) for Aaron and his descendants.