Acts 10
1 Now a certain man was in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called Italian,
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in the regiment known as the ‘Italian Regiment,’
2 a devout man, and fearing God with all his house, and doing many charities for the people, and beseeching God always.
A religious man and one who reverenced God, with all his household. He was liberal in his charities to the people, and prayed to God constantly.
3 He saw plainly in a vision about the ninth hour of the day, an agent of God coming in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius.
One afternoon, about three o’clock, he distinctly saw in a vision an angel from God come to him, and call him by name.
4 And after gazing at him, and having become afraid, he said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thy charities have come up for a memorial before God.
Cornelius fixed his eyes on him and, in great alarm, said, “What is it, Lord?” “Your prayers and your charities,” the angel answered, “have been an acceptable offering to God.
5 And now send men to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter.
And now, send messengers to Joppa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter.
6 This man lodges with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is beside the seaside.
He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea.”
7 And when the agent speaking to Cornelius departed, having called two of his housemen, and a devout soldier of those who personally served him,
When the angel, who had spoken to him, had gone, Cornelius called two servants and a religious soldier, who was one of his constant attendants,
8 and after reporting all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
9 Now on the morrow, while those men were traveling and approaching the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.
On the next day, while these men were on their way, just as they were nearing the town, Peter went up on the housetop about midday to pray.
10 And he became very hungry and wanted to eat. But while those men prepared, a trance fell upon him.
He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance,
11 And he sees heaven opened, and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet bound at four corners, and being lowered to the earth,
and saw that the heavens were open, and that something like a great sail was descending, let down by its four corners towards the earth.
12 in which were all the four-footed things of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the birds of the sky.
In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.
13 And a voice came to him, After rising, Peter, kill and eat.
Then he was aware of a voice which said – “Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat.”
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord, because I have never eaten anything profane or unclean.
“No, Lord, I cannot,” answered Peter, “for I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.”
15 And a voice again for a second time, What God has cleansed, thou shall not make profane.
Again he was aware of a voice which said – “What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.”
16 And this happened thrice, and again the vessel was taken up into heaven.
This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.
17 Now while Peter was bewildered in himself whatever the vision which he saw might be, that lo, the men who were sent from Cornelius, having inquired the house of Simon, stood at the gate.
While Peter was still perplexed as to the meaning of the vision that he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius, having enquired the way to Simon’s house, came up to the gate,
18 And after calling out they asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, lodges here.
and called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there.
19 And while Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, men seek thee.
Peter was still pondering over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, “There are two men looking for you at this moment.
20 But after rising, go down, and go with them, doubting nothing, because I have sent them.
Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
21 And having gone down to the men, Peter said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek. What is the cause for which ye are here?
Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the person you are looking for. What is your reason for coming?”
22 And they said, Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man, and fearing God, and being well testified by the whole nation of the Jews, was divinely warned by a holy agent to summon thee to his house, and to hear sayings from thee.
The men replied, “Our centurion, Cornelius, a pious man who reverences God and is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, has been instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house, and to listen to what you have to say.”
23 So, having invited them in, he lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went forth with them, and certain of the brothers from Joppa went with him.
So Peter invited them in and entertained them. The next day he lost no time in setting out with them, accompanied by some of the Lord’s followers from Joppa;
24 And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and close friends.
and the day following he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them, and had invited his relatives and intimate friends to meet them.
25 And when it came about for Peter to enter, Cornelius, having met him, after falling down at his feet, worshiped.
So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius met him, and, throwing himself at Peter’s feet, bowed to the ground.
26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, Stand up. I am also myself a man.
Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so, “Stand up, I am only human like yourself.”
27 And as he conversed with him, he went in and found many who came together.
Talking with him as he went, Peter entered the house, where he found a large gathering of people, to whom he said,
28 And he said to them, Ye understand how it is unlawful for a Jewish man to fraternize or to visit with a foreign man, and yet God demonstrated to me not to call one man profane or unclean.
“You are doubtless aware that it is forbidden for a Jew to be intimate with a foreigner, or even to enter his house; and yet God has shown me that I ought not to call anyone defiled or unclean.
29 And so I came without objection when summoned. I ask therefore for what matter ye summoned me.
That was why I came, when I was sent for, without raising any objection. And now I ask your reason for sending for me.”
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and the ninth hour praying in my house. And behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel.
“Just three days ago this very hour,” Cornelius said, “I was in my house, saying the Afternoon Prayers, when a man in dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me.
31 And he says, Cornelius, thy prayer was heard, and thy charities are remembered before God.
‘Cornelius,’ he said, ‘your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. This man lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner, beside the sea, who, after coming, will speak to thee.
Therefore send to Joppa, and invite the Simon, who is also known as Peter, to come here. He is lodging in the house of Simon the tanner, near the sea.’
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou did well having come. Now therefore we are all present in the sight of God, to hear all the things commanded thee by God.
Accordingly I sent to you at once, and you have been so good as to come. And now we are all here in the presence of God, to listen to all that you have been instructed by the Lord to say.”
34 And having opened his mouth, Peter said, In truth, I am overwhelmed that God is not partial,
Then Peter began. “I see, beyond all doubt,” he said, “that God does not show partiality,
35 but in every nation, he who fears him, and works righteousness, is acceptable to him.
but that in every nation he who reverences him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
36 The word that he sent forth to the sons of Israel, preaching good news, peace by Jesus Christ (this man is Lord of all),
God has sent his message to the Israelites and told them, through Jesus Christ, the good news of peace – and Jesus is Lord of all!
37 ye know, the word having occurred throughout the whole of Judea beginning from Galilee after the immersion that John preached-
You yourselves know the story which spread through all Judea, how, beginning form Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed –
38 Jesus of Nazareth-how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who passed through doing good, and healing all those who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.
the story, I mean, of Jesus of Nazareth, and how God consecrated him his Christ by enduing him with the Holy Spirit and with power; and how he went about doing good and curing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, whom also they killed, having hung on a tree.
We are ourselves, too, witnesses to all that he did in Judea and in Jerusalem; yet they put him to death by hanging him on a cross!
40 This man God raised up the third day, and granted him to become manifest,
This Jesus God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were previously chosen by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he arose from the dead.
not indeed to everyone, but to witnesses chosen beforehand by God – to us, who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to solemnly testify that this is the man designated by God, judge of the living and the dead.
Further, God charged us to proclaim to the people, and solemnly affirm, that it is Jesus who has been appointed by God judge of the living and the dead.
43 To this man all the prophets testify, that every man who believes in him, to receive remission of sins through his name.
To him it is that all the prophets bear witness, when they say that everyone who believes in him receives through his name forgiveness of sins.”
44 While Peter still spoke these sayings, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.
Before Peter had finished saying these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
45 And the faithful men of circumcision were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because also on the Gentiles the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out.
Those converts from Judaism, who had come with Peter, were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed even on the Gentiles;
46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
for they heard them speaking in different languages and extolling God. At this Peter asked,
47 Can any man forbid the water for these not to be immersed, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also?
“Can anyone refuse the water for the baptism of these people, now that they have received the Holy Spirit as we did ourselves?”
48 And he commanded them to be immersed in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to remain some days.
And he directed that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; after which they asked him to stay there a few days longer.
