Book of Common Prayer

¹⁷ `I have seen a strange thing,' Peter said to himself. `I wonder what it all means.' He was thinking about all this. And the men whom Cornelius sent had asked the way to Simon's house. Now they stood at the gate.

¹⁸ `Is this where Simon Peter is staying?' they called.

¹⁹ Peter was still thinking about what he had seen. Then the Spirit of God said to him, `Three men are looking for you.

²⁰ Get up. Go down and go with them. Do not fear to go, because I have sent them.'

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men whom Cornelius had sent to him. He said, `Here I am. You are looking for me. Why have you come?'

²² They answered, `God sent a holy angel to Cornelius. He told him to call you to his house and hear what you have to say. Cornelius is a captain in the army. He is a good man. He does what is right and obeys God. All the Jews speak well of him.'

²³ Peter said, `Come in.' He had them stay as his guests. The next day he and some of the Christian brothers from Joppa went with the men.

²⁴ The day after that, they reached Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them. He had called his family and close friends together.

²⁵ Peter was about to enter the house. Cornelius met him. He kneeled down at his feet and worshipped him.

²⁶ But Peter raised him up and said, `Please stand up. I too am only a man.

²⁷ Peter talked to him and went in with him. He saw many people who had come together.

²⁸ He began to talk with them. He said, `You yourselves know it is against our law for a Jew to visit and be friends with someone who is not a Jew. But God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.

²⁹ So when you sent for me, I did not say "No". Now I ask, why did you send for me?'

³⁰ Cornelius answered, `Four days ago, it was just at this time, three o'clock. I was in my house talking with God. I had not eaten any food. A man stood in front of me wearing shining clothes.

³¹ He said to me, "Cornelius, God has heard what you said to him. He has remembered your gifts to the poor.

³² Send men to Joppa to call for Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, the man who makes skins into leather. His house is by the sea."

³³ So I sent for you right away. You have done well to come. Now we are all here before God to hear all that the Lord has told you to tell me.'

³⁶ They were troubled and afraid. They thought they were seeing a spirit.

³⁷ He said to them, `Why are you troubled? Why do you wonder about these things in your hearts?

³⁸ Look at my hands and my feet. You can see that it is I myself. Touch me with your hands and see. A spirit does not have a body and bones as you see I have.'

³⁹ They gave him a piece of cooked fish.

⁴⁰ He took the fish and ate it in front of them.

⁴¹ Then he said, `I told you this while I was with you. I told you that things were written about me in the books of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. And I told you that all of these things must come true.'

⁴² Then he taught them so that they understood the things in the holy writings.

⁴³ He said, `It is written that the Christ must have trouble. On the third day he will rise from death.

⁴⁴ Men will talk in his name to people in all countries. They will tell them to stop their wrong ways and ask to be forgiven. They will begin in Jerusalem.

⁴⁵ You are the men who have seen these things, and will tell people about them.

⁴⁶ I will send you what the Father has promised to give you. So wait in the city of Jerusalem until you have been given power from God.'

⁴⁷ Jesus led the disciples out as far as the town of Bethany. He put up his hands and blessed them.

⁴⁸ While he was blessing them, he left them. He was taken up into heaven.

⁴⁹ They bowed down and worshipped him. They were very happy and went back to Jerusalem.

⁵⁰ Every day they were in the temple praising God.