Acts Chapter 10
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the company⁺ of soldiers called the Italian company.
2 Cornelius was a devout man who revered⁺ God, with all his house. He gave many alms~ to the people and prayed to God always.
3 About three o'clock⁺ in the afternoon, in a vision he clearly⁺ saw an angel of God coming in to him and saying to him: Cornelius.
4 When Cornelius looked at the angel, he was afraid and said: What is it, Lord? The angel said to him: Your prayers and your alms~ have come up for a memorial before God.
5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose surname is Peter.
6 He is staying⁺ with Simon the tanner whose house is by the seaside. He will tell you what you ought to do.
7 After the angel who spoke to Cornelius departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier who faithfully served him.
8 After he explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 On the next day as they went on their journey and drew near to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray about twelve o'clock⁺ noon.
10 He became very hungry and would have eaten, but while they made ready, he fell into a trance.
11 He saw heaven opened and a vessel like a large sheet knit at the four corners descending to him and let down to the ground.
12 In this sheet were all kinds⁺ of four footed beasts of the Earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds⁺ of the air.
13 Then a voice came to him saying: Rise, Peter. Kill and eat.
14 But Peter said: Surely not, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
15 The voice spoke to him again a second time, saying: What God has cleansed, you must not call common.
16 This was done three times and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now while Peter pondered⁺ what this vision that he had seen should mean, behold the men who were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house and stood before the gate.
18 They called and asked if Simon who was surnamed Peter was staying⁺ there.
19 While Peter thought about this vision, the Spirit said to him: Behold three men seek you.
20 Therefore arise. Get down and go with them, doubting nothing. For I have sent them.
21 Then Peter went down to the men who were sent to him from Cornelius and said: Behold I am he whom you seek. What is the reason⁺ that you have come?
22 They said: Cornelius the centurion, a righteous⁺ man, one who fears God and is of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for you and ask you to come to his house and to hear words from you.
23 Then Peter invited⁺ them in and lodged them. On the next day, Peter went away with them and certain brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
24 The next day, ⁺ they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them and he had called together his relatives⁺ and close friends.
25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26 But Peter lifted⁺ him up saying: Stand up. I myself am also a man.
27 As Peter talked with Cornelius, he went in and found many who had come together.
28 He said to them: You know that it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to keep company or come to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone common or unclean.
29 Therefore I came to you without dispute⁺ as soon as I was sent for. I ask therefore, for what intent have you sent for me?
30 Cornelius said: Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour. At three o'clock⁺ in the afternoon, I prayed in my house and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing.
31 He said: Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your alms~ are remembered in the sight of God.
32 Therefore, send to Joppa and call Simon whose surname is Peter to come here. He is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.
33 Therefore, I immediately sent for you. You have done well to have come. Therefore we are now all here, present before God, to hear all things that are commanded to you by God.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: Truly I perceive that God is not a discriminating respecter~ of persons.
35 But in every nation, those who fear Him and work righteousness are accepted by Him.
36 The Word that God sent to the children of Israel proclaiming⁺ peace by Jesus Christ who is Lord of all,
37 that Word you know. It was published throughout all Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed⁺:
38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. For God was with Him. Matthew 3:16
39 We are witnesses of everything⁺ that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. It was this Jesus they killed⁺ and hung on a tree.
40 But God raised Him up the third day and showed Him openly.
41 Not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to those of us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
42 He commanded us to proclaim⁺ the Word to the people and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the quick and the dead.
43 All the prophets gave witness to Him, that through His name, whoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the Word.
45 Those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, including all⁺ who came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered:
47 Can anyone forbid water, so that these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we have should not be baptized?
48 And he commanded them all to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked⁺ him to stay⁺ with them for a few days.