Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

²³ So he invited them in and put them up for the night.

In the morning he got up and went with them. Some of the believers from Joppa went with him. ²⁴ They reached Caesarea the following day. Cornelius had summoned his relatives and close friends and was waiting for him.

²⁵ When Peter came in, Cornelius went to meet him. He fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

²⁶ “Get up!” said Peter, lifting him up. “I’m just a man, too.”

²⁷ So they talked together, and Peter came in and found lots of people assembled.

²⁸ “You must know,” he said to them, “that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to mix with or visit a Gentile. But God showed me that I should call nobody ‘common’ or ‘unclean.’ ²⁹ So I came when I was asked, and raised no objections. Do tell me, then, the reason why you sent for me.”

³⁰ “Four days ago,” answered Cornelius, “I was praying in my house at around this time, about three o’clock, and suddenly a man stood beside me in shining clothes. ³¹ ‘Cornelius,’ he said, ‘your prayer has been heard, and your almsgiving has been remembered by God. ³² So send someone to Joppa and call Simon, who is named Peter; he is staying in the house of Simon the tanner, beside the sea.’ ³³ So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. So now we are all here, in God’s presence, to listen to everything which the Lord has told you to say.”