Acts 10
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in the regiment known as the ‘Italian Regiment,’
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.
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.
He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
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.
One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “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.
Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
5 And now, send messengers to Joppa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter.
Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.
6 He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea.”
He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
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,
When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.
8 and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
He explained what had happened and 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.
The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance,
He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, 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.
He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
12 In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.
It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.
13 Then he was aware of a voice which said – “Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat.”
Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”
14 “No, Lord, I cannot,” answered Peter, “for I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.”
“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15 Again he was aware of a voice which said – “What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.”
The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16 This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.
This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up 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,
While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.
18 and called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there.
They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying 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.
As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
20 Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because 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?”
So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you 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.”
“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
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;
So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
24 and the day following he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them, and had invited his relatives and intimate friends to meet them.
The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 So, when Peter entered the city, Cornelius met him, and, throwing himself at Peter’s feet, bowed to the ground.
As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
26 Peter, however, lifted him up, saying as he did so, “Stand up, I am only human like yourself.”
But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 Talking with him as he went, Peter entered the house, where he found a large gathering of people, to whom he said,
As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered 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.
He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure 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.”
So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you 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.
Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me
31 ‘Cornelius,’ he said, ‘your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been accepted, by God.
and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before 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.’
Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’
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.”
So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”
34 Then Peter began. “I see, beyond all doubt,” he said, “that God does not show partiality,
Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
35 but that in every nation he who reverences him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
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!
He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37 You yourselves know the story which spread through all Judea, how, beginning form Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed –
You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed:
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 Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because 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!
We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,
40 This Jesus God raised on the third day, and enabled him to appear,
God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—
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 by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank 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 to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the 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.”
All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
44 Before Peter had finished saying these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message.
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;
All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
46 for they heard them speaking in different languages and extolling God. At this Peter asked,
For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
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 anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”
48 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.
So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.
