Acts 10
1 Now a Captain of the Italian Regiment, named Cornelius, was quartered at Caesarea.
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.
2 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.
He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
3 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!"
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 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.
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 to Jaffa and fetch Simon, surnamed Peter.
Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.
6 He is staying as a guest with Simon, a tanner, who has a house close to the sea."
He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 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,
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 everything, he sent them to Jaffa.
He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.
9 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.
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 had become unusually hungry and wished for food; but, while they were preparing it, 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 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.
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 and a voice came to him which said, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat."
Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”
14 "On no account, Lord," he replied; "for I have never yet eaten anything unholy and impure."
“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15 Again a second time a voice was heard which said, "What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy."
The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16 This was said three times, and immediately the sail was drawn up out of sight.
This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.
17 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,
While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.
18 had come to the door and had called the servant, and were asking, "Is Simon, surnamed Peter, staying here?"
They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.
19 And Peter was still earnestly thinking over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, "Three men are now inquiring for you.
As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
20 Rise, go down, and go with them without any misgivings; for it is I who have sent them to you."
So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”
21 So Peter went down and said to the men, "I am the Simon you are inquiring for. What is the reason of your coming?"
So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22 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."
“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 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,
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 after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was awaiting their arrival, and had invited all his relatives and intimate friends to be present.
The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him, and threw himself at his feet to do him homage.
As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
26 But Peter lifted him up. "Stand up," he said; "I myself also am but a man."
But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 So Peter went in and conversed with him, and found a large company assembled.
As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.
28 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.
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 So for this reason, when sent for, I came without raising any objection. I therefore ask why you sent for me."
So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”
30 "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,
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 who said, "'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been put on record before God.
and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.
32 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.'
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 "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."
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 to speak. "I clearly see," he said, "that God makes no distinctions between one man and another;
Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,
35 but that in every nation those who fear Him and live good lives are acceptable to Him.
but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
36 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;
He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37 the story, I mean, which has spread through the length and breadth of Judaea, beginning in 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 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.
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 "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.
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 That same Jesus God raised to life on the third day, and permitted Him to appear unmistakably,
God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—
41 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.
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 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.
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 all the Prophets bear witness, and testify that through His name all who believe in Him receive the forgiveness of their sins."
All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
44 While Peter was speaking 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 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.
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 tongues and extolling the majesty of God. Then Peter said,
For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
47 "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?"
“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. Then they begged him to remain with them for a time.
So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.
