Acts 10
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in the regiment known as the “Italian Regiment,”
There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band],
2 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.
[A] devout [man], and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 One afternoon, about three o’clock, he distinctly saw in a vision an angel from God come to him, and call him by name.
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 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.
And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now, send messengers to Joppa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter.
And now send men to Joppa, and call for [one] Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea.’
He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
7 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,
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
8 and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
And when he had declared all [these] things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 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.
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance,
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 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.
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.
Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 Then he was aware of a voice which said – ‘Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat.’
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 ‘No, Lord, I cannot,’ answered Peter, ‘for I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.’
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 Again he was aware of a voice which said – ‘What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.’
And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common.
16 This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.
This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 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,
Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,
18 and called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there.
And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 Peter was still pondering over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, ‘There are two men looking for you at this moment.
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.’
Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
21 Peter went down to the men and said, ‘I am the person you are looking for. What is your reason for coming?’
Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what [is] the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 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.’
And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
23 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;
Then called he them in, and lodged [them]. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 and the day following he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them, and had invited his relatives and intimate friends to meet them.
And the morrow after they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25 So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius met him, and, throwing himself at Peter’s feet, bowed to the ground.
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped [him].
26 Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so, ‘Stand up, I am only human like yourself.’
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 Talking with him as he went, Peter entered the house, where he found a large gathering of people, to whom he said,
And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 ‘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.
And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 That was why I came, when I was sent for, without raising any objection. And now I ask your reason for sending for me.’
Therefore came I [unto you] without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
30 ‘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.
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 “Cornelius,” he said, “your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God.
And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 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.”
Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of [one] Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 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.’
Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 Then Peter began. ‘I see, beyond all doubt,’ he said, ‘that God does not show partiality,
Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 but that in every nation he who reverences him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 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!
The word which [God] sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all: )
37 You yourselves know the story which spread through all Judea, how, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed –
That word, [I say], ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 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.
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 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!
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 This Jesus God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear,
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 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.
Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 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.
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and dead.
43 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.’
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 Before Peter had finished saying these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 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;
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 for they heard them speaking in different languages and extolling God. At this Peter asked,
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 ‘Can anyone refuse the water for the baptism of these people, now that they have received the Holy Spirit as we did ourselves?’
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he directed that they should be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ; after which they asked him to stay there a few days longer.
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
