Acts 10
1 Now [there was] a certain man in Cæsarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band],
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in the regiment known as the ‘Italian Regiment,’
2 a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to 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 in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto 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 he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone 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 fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:
And now, send messengers to Joppa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter.
6 he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side.
He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea.”
7 And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
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 having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
9 Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto 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 hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance;
He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance,
11 and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon 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 wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.
In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, 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; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.
“No, Lord, I cannot,” answered Peter, “for I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.”
15 And a voice [came] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.
Again he was aware of a voice which said – “What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.”
16 And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven.
This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.
17 Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before 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 called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, were lodging there.
and called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there.
19 And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three 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 arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them.
Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
21 And Peter went down to the men, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
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 one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned [of God] by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words 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 he called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied 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 Cæsarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near 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 to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius met him, and, throwing himself at Peter’s feet, bowed to the ground.
26 But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so, “Stand up, I am only human like yourself.”
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come 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 unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and [yet] unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common 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 wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for 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, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer 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 saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
‘Cornelius,’ he said, ‘your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.
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 Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord.
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 Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Then Peter began. “I see, beyond all doubt,” he said, “that God does not show partiality,
35 but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh 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 which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (he 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 that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judæa, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
You yourselves know the story which spread through all Judea, how, beginning form Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed –
38 [even] Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for 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 things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him 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 Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest,
This Jesus God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear,
41 not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, [even] to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose 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 charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God [to be] the 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 him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.
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 yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word.
Before Peter had finished saying these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
45 And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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 speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
for they heard them speaking in different languages and extolling God. At this Peter asked,
47 Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?
“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 baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain 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.
