³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them^(A) over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.^{(B) 4} On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait^(C) for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.^{(D) 5} For John baptized with^[a] water,^(E) but in a few days you will be baptized with^[b] the Holy Spirit.”^(F)

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore^(G) the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.^{(H) 8} But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;^(I) and you will be my witnesses^(J) in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,^(K) and to the ends of the earth.”^(L)

⁹ After he said this, he was taken up^(M) before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white^(N) stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,”^(O) they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back^(P) in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

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.

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism^{(A) 35} but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.^(B)