the ninth hour of the
day*1 , he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him,
and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4 He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, “What is it,
Lord?”
He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a
memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is
surnamed Peter. 6 He lodges with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by
the seaside.*2 ”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of
his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him
continually. 8 Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the
city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. 10 He became
hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a
trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him,
like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, 12 in which were
all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and
birds of the sky. 13 A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and
eat!”
14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is
common or unclean.”
15 A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed,
you must not call unclean.” 16 This was done three times, and
immediately the vessel was received up into heaven. 17 Now while Peter was
very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean,
behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s
house, stood before the gate, 18 and called and asked whether Simon, who
was surnamed Peter, was lodging there. 19 While Peter was pondering the
vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three*3 men seek you. 20 But arise, get down, and go with
them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
21 Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you
seek. Why have you come?”
22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears
God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy
angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.” 23 So he
called them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter arose and went out with
them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the next
day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called
together his relatives and his near friends. 25 When it happened that
Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.
26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”
27 As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.
28 He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing
for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but
God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.
29 Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask
therefore, why did you send for me?”
30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at
the ninth hour,*4 I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in
bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your
gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore
to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of
Simon a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’
33 Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now
therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that
have been commanded you by God.”
34 Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t
show favoritism; 35 but in every nation he who fears him and works
righteousness is acceptable to him. 36 The word which he sent to the
children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord
of all — 37 that spoken word you yourselves know, which was
proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism
which John preached; 38 even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with
the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who
were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of
everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom
they also*5 killed, hanging him on a tree. 40 God
raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, 41 not to all
the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate
and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He charged us to preach
to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the
Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him,
that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of
sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all
those who heard the word. 45 They of the circumcision who believed were
amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was
also poured out on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in other
languages and magnifying God.
Then Peter answered, 47 “Can any man forbid the water, that these who have
received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized?” 48 He
commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked
him to stay some days.
1 3:00 PM
2 TR adds “This one will tell you what it is necessary for you
to do.”
3 Reading from TR and NU.
MT omits “three”
4 3:00 P. M.
5 TR omits “also”
World English Bible - Public Domain