Acts 10
1 Now [there was] a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
Now a Captain of the Italian Regiment, named Cornelius, was quartered at Caesarea.
2 a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
He was religious and God-fearing--and so was every member of his household. He was also liberal in his charities to the people, and continually offered prayer to God.
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.
About three o'clock one afternoon he had a vision, and distinctly saw an angel of God enter his house, who called him by name, saying, "Cornelius!"
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.
Looking steadily at him, and being much alarmed, he said, "What do you want, Sir?" "Your prayers and charities," he replied, "have gone up and have been recorded before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:
And now send to Jaffa and fetch Simon, surnamed Peter.
6 he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side.
He is staying as a guest with Simon, a tanner, who has a house close to 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;
So when the angel who had been speaking to him was gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a God-fearing soldier who was in constant attendance on him,
8 and having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
and, after telling them everything, he sent them to Jaffa.
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:
The next day, while they were still on their journey and were getting near the town, about noon Peter went up on the house-top to pray.
10 and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance;
He had become unusually hungry and wished for food; but, while they were preparing it, 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:
The sky had opened to his view, and what seemed to be an enormous sail was descending, being let down to the earth by ropes at the four corners.
12 wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and fowls 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.
and a voice came to him which said, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat."
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.
"On no account, Lord," he replied; "for I have never yet eaten anything unholy and impure."
15 And a voice [came] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.
Again a second time a voice was heard which said, "What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy."
16 And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven.
This was said three times, and immediately the sail was drawn up out of sight.
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 greatly perplexed as to the meaning of the vision which he had seen, just then the men sent by Cornelius, having by inquiry found out Simon's house,
18 and called and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodging there.
had come to the door and had called the servant, and were asking, "Is Simon, surnamed Peter, staying here?"
19 And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
And Peter was still earnestly thinking over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, "Three men are now inquiring for you.
20 But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them.
Rise, go down, and go with them without any misgivings; for it is I who have sent them to you."
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?
So Peter went down and said to the men, "I am the Simon you are inquiring for. What is the reason of your 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.
Their reply was, "Cornelius, a Captain, an upright and God-fearing man, of whom the whole Jewish nation speaks well, has been divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and 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.
Upon hearing this, Peter invited them in, and gave them a lodging. The next day he set out with them, some of the brethren from Jaffa going with him,
24 And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends.
and the day after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was awaiting their arrival, and had invited all his relatives and intimate friends to be present.
25 And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him, and threw himself at his feet to do him homage.
26 But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
But Peter lifted him up. "Stand up," he said; "I myself also am but a man."
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come together:
So Peter went in and conversed with him, and found a large company assembled.
28 and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how that 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 shewed that I should not call any man common or unclean:
He said to them, "You know better than most that a Jew is strictly forbidden to associate with a Gentile or visit him; but God has taught me to call no one unholy or unclean.
29 wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me.
So for this reason, when sent for, I came without raising any objection. I therefore ask why you sent 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 at this hour, three days ago," replied Cornelius, "I was offering afternoon prayer in my house, when suddenly a man in shining raiment stood in front of me,
31 and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
who said, "'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been put on record before 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.
Send therefore to Jaffa, and invite Simon, surnamed Peter, to come here. He is staying as a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, close to 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.
"Immediately, therefore, I sent to you, and I thank you heartily for having come. That is why all of us are now assembled here in God's presence, to listen to what the Lord has commanded you 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 to speak. "I clearly see," he said, "that God makes no distinctions between one man and another;
35 but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him.
but that in every nation those who fear Him and live good lives are 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)—
The Message which He sent to the descendants of Israel, when He announced the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all--that Message you cannot but know;
37 that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
the story, I mean, which has spread through the length and breadth of Judaea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed.
38 [even] Jesus of Nazareth, how that God anointed him 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.
It tells how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, so that He went about everywhere doing acts of kindness, and curing all who were being continually oppressed by the Devil--for God was with Jesus.
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.
"And we are witnesses as to all that He did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. But they even put Him to death, by crucifixion.
40 Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest,
That same Jesus God raised to life on the third day, and permitted Him to appear unmistakably,
41 not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
not to all the people, but to witnesses--men previously chosen by God--namely, to us, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
42 And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he which is ordained of God [to be] the Judge of quick and dead.
And He has commanded us to preach to the people and solemnly declare that this is He who has been appointed by God to be the 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 all the Prophets bear witness, and testify that through His name all who believe in Him receive the forgiveness of their sins."
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the Message.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
And all the Jewish believers who had come with Peter were astonished that on the Gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling the majesty of God. Then Peter said,
47 Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
"Can any one forbid the use of water, and object to these persons being baptized--men who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?"
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. Then they begged him to remain with them for a time.
