New Testament in a Year
24 [a]On the following day he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 (A)When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. 26 Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.” 27 While he conversed with him, he went in and found many people gathered together 28 (B)and said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with, or visit, a Gentile, but God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean.[b] 29 And that is why I came without objection when sent for. May I ask, then, why you summoned me?”
30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago[c] at this hour, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was at prayer in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling robes stood before me and said, 31 ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to listen to all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Peter’s Speech.[d] 34 Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,[e] “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.(C) 35 Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. 36 [f]You know the word [that] he sent to the Israelites[g] as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,(D) 37 what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached,(E) 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth[h] with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.(F) 39 We are witnesses[i] of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and [in] Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. 40 This man God raised [on] the third day and granted that he be visible, 41 not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.(G) 42 He commissioned us(H) to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.[j] 43 To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The Baptism of Cornelius. 44 (I)While Peter was still speaking these things, the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.[k] 45 The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, 46 for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded, 47 “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?”(J) 48 He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.