Acts 10

1In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Cohort.

2He was a devout man who feared God, along with his whole household. He gave many gifts to the poor among the people and prayed to God continually.

3One day at about the ninth hour, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”

4He stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” The angel said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the poor have gone up as a memorial before God.

5Now send men to Joppa and bring back a man named Simon, who is called Peter.

6He is staying with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7When the angel who spoke to him had left, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him.

8He explained everything to them and sent them to Joppa.

9The next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof about the sixth hour to pray.

10He became hungry and wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the earth by its four corners.

12In it were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.

13Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14But Peter said, “By no means, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15The voice spoke to him a second time: “What God has made clean, you must not call impure.”

16This happened three times, and then the object was immediately taken up into heaven.

17While Peter was puzzling over what the vision he had seen might mean, the men sent by Cornelius, having asked the way to Simon’s house, appeared at the gate.

18They called out and asked whether Simon who was called Peter was staying there.

19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, three men are looking for you.

20So get up, go downstairs, and go with them without any hesitation, for I have sent them.”

21So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”

22They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”

23So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers and sisters from Joppa went along with him.

24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25When Peter arrived, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.

26But Peter lifted him up and said, “Stand up. I am only a man myself.”

27As he talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered.

28He said to them, “You yourselves know that it is against our law for a Jewish man to associate with a foreigner or to visit one. But God has shown me that I should not call any person impure or unclean.

29That is why I came without objection when I was sent for. So I ask you, why did you send for me?”

30Cornelius said, “Four days ago at this very hour, the ninth hour, I was praying in my house, and suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me.

31He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.

32So send to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter. He is staying in the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’

33So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to say.”

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,

35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

36As for the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all—

37you yourselves know what has happened throughout all Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:

38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.

39We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,

40but God raised him on the third day and caused him to be seen,

41not by all the people but by us, the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit came down on all who were listening to the message.

45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said,

47“Can anyone refuse the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for some days.