Acts 10
1 Futhermore there was a certaine man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a captaine 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 deuoute man, and one that feared God with all his housholde, which gaue much almes to the people, and prayed God continually.
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 sawe in a vision euidently (about the ninth houre of the day) an Angel of God comming in to him, and saying vnto 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 But when hee looked on him, hee was afrayd, and sayd, What is it, Lord? and he sayd vnto him, Thy prayers and thine almes are come vp into remembrance 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 Nowe therefore send men to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.
And now, send messengers to Joppa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter.
6 Hee lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to doe.
He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea.’
7 And when the Angel which spake vnto Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his seruants, and a souldier that feared God, one of them that waited on 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 tolde them all things, and sent them to Ioppa.
and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
9 On the morow as they went on their iourney, and drew neere vnto the citie, Peter went vp vpon the house to pray, about the sixt houre.
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 Then waxed hee an hungred, and would haue eaten: but while they made some thing 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 hee sawe heauen opened, and a certaine vessell come downe vnto him, as it had bene a great sheete, knit at the foure corners, and was let downe 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 Wherein were all maner of foure footed beastes of the earth, and wilde beastes and creeping things, and foules of the heauen.
In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.
13 And there came a voyce to him, Arise, Peter: kill, and eate.
Then he was aware of a voice which said – ‘Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat.’
14 But Peter sayd, Not so, Lord: for I haue neuer eaten any thing that is polluted, or vncleane.
‘No, Lord, I cannot,’ answered Peter, ‘for I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.’
15 And the voyce spake vnto him againe the second time, The things that God hath purified, pollute thou not.
Again he was aware of a voice which said – ‘What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.’
16 This was so done thrise: and the vessell was drawen vp againe into heauen.
This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.
17 Nowe while Peter douted in himselfe what this vision which he had seene, meant, beholde, the men which were sent from Cornelius, had inquired for Simons house, and stoode 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 called, and asked, whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged 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 sayde vnto him, Beholde, three men seeke 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 Arise therefore, and get thee downe, and goe with them, and doute nothing: For I haue sent them.
Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.’
21 Then Peter went downe to the men, which were sent vnto him from Cornelius, and sayd, Beholde, I am he whome ye seeke: 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 sayd, Cornelius the captaine, a iust man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Iewes, was warned from heauen by an holy Angel, to send for thee into his house, and to heare thy wordes.
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 Then called he them in, and lodged them, and the next day, Peter went foorth with them, and certaine brethren from Ioppa 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 the day after, they entred into Cesarea. Nowe Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsemen, and special 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 it came to passe as Peter came in, that Cornelius met him, and fell downe at his feete, 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 tooke him vp, saying, Stand vp: for euen I my selfe 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 came in, and found many that were 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 sayd vnto them, Ye know that it is an vnlawfull thing for a man that is a Iewe, to company, or come vnto one of another nation: but God hath shewed me, that I should not call any man polluted, or vncleane.
‘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 Therefore came I vnto you without saying nay, when I was sent for. I aske therefore, for what intent haue 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 Then Cornelius sayd, Foure dayes agoe, about this houre, I fasted, and at the ninth houre I prayed in mine house, and beholde, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
‘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 sayd, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine almes 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 Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter (he is lodged in the house of Simon a Tanner by the sea side) who when he commeth, shall speake vnto 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 Then sent I for thee immediately, and thou hast well done to come. Nowe therefore are we all here present before God, to heare all things that are commanded thee of 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 Then Peter opened his mouth, and sayd, Of a trueth I perceiue, that God is no accepter of persons.
Then Peter began. ‘I see, beyond all doubt,’ he said, ‘that God does not show partiality,
35 But in euery nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousnesse, is accepted with him.
but that in every nation he who reverences him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
36 Ye know the worde which God hath sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Iesus Christ, which 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 Euen the worde which came through all Iudea, beginning in Galile, after the baptisme which Iohn preached.
You yourselves know the story which spread through all Judea, how, beginning form Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed –
38 To wit, howe God anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost, and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the deuill: 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 land of the Iewes, and in Hierusalem, whom they slewe, 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 raysed vp the third day, and caused that he was shewed openly:
This Jesus God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear,
41 Not to all the people, but vnto the witnesses chosen before of God, euen to vs which did eate and drinke 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 vs to preach vnto the people, and to testifie, that it is he that is ordained of God a iudge of quicke and 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 also giue all the Prophets witnesse, that through his Name all that beleeue in him, shall receiue remission of sinnes.
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 wordes, the holy Ghost fell on al them which heard the word.
Before Peter had finished saying these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
45 So they of the circumcision which beleeued, were astonied, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was powred out the gift of the holy Ghost.
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 speake with tongues, and magnifie God. Then answered Peter,
for they heard them speaking in different languages and extolling God. At this Peter asked,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which haue receiued the holy Ghost, 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 So he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tary certaine dayes.
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.
