Atos 10

¹ Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion that called the Italian Band,

² a man of piety, and one that feared God, with all his house; giving, also, much alms to the people, and praying to God continually.

³ He evidently saw, in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, a messenger of God coming in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius!

⁴ And having fixed his eyes upon him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms are come up, as a memorial before God.

⁵ And now send men to Joppa and bring hither Simon, whose surname is Peter:

⁶ he lodges with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.

⁷ As soon as the messenger, who spoke to Cornelius, was gone, he called two of his domestics, and a pious soldier, of them that waited upon him;

⁸ and having related to them all these things, he sent them to Joppa.

⁹ On the next day, while they were on their journey, and drew near the city, Peter went up to the top of the house to pray, about the sixth hour.

¹⁰ And he was hungry, and would have taken a little refreshment; but while they were preparing, he fell into an ecstasy;

¹¹ and he saw heaven opened, and something descending like a great sheet, fastened at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

¹² in which there were all sorts of things, even four-footed animals of the earth, and wild beasts, and reptiles, and fowls of the air.

¹³ And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter, kill, and eat.

¹⁴ But Peter said, By no means, Lord; for I have never eat anything which is common or unclean.

¹⁵ And the voice said to him again, the second time, Those things which God has cleansed, do not you call common.

¹⁶ And this was done three times, and the sheet was taken up again into heaven.

¹⁷ While Peter was pondering in himself, what the vision, which he had seen, might import; behold, the men, who were sent from Cornelius, having inquired out the house of Simon, stood at the door;

¹⁸ and calling, they asked, if Simon, whose surname was Peter, lodged there.

¹⁹ Now, as Peter was reflecting on this vision; the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are inquiring for you:

²⁰ arise, therefore, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men, who were sent to him from Cornelius, and said, Behold, I am the man whom you seek; what is the cause of your coming?

²² And they said, Cornelius, the centurion, a righteous man, who fears God, and has a character attested by all the Jewish people, has been instructed, by a holy messenger, to send for you to his house, and to hear words from you.

²³ Having, therefore, called them in, he entertained them, and the next day set out with them: and some of the brethren, who were of Joppa, went with him.

²⁴ And the next day they entered into Caesarea; and Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relations and intimate friends.

²⁵ Now, as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and prostrating himself at his feet, made obeisance.

²⁶ But Peter raised him up, saying, Arise; I also am a man.

²⁷ And discoursing with him, he went in, and found many gathered together.

²⁸ And he said to them, You know that it is unlawful for a man that is a Jew to join with, or to come into the house of, one of another nation; nevertheless, God has shown me that I am to call no man common or unclean.

²⁹ Wherefore, when I was sent for, I came without debate: I ask, therefore, on what account you have sent for me?

³⁰ And Cornelius said, Four days ago, I was fasting till this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house; and, behold, a man stood before me in bright raiment,

³¹ and said, Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms are remembered before God:

³² send, therefore, to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he lodges in the house of one Simon, a tanner, by the seaside; who, when he is come, shall speak to you.

³³ Immediately, therefore, I sent to you, and you have done well in coming. Now, therefore, we are all here present before God, to hear all things which God has given to you in charge.

³⁴ Then Peter, opening his mouth, said, Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons;

³⁵ but, in every nation, he that fears him, and works of righteousness, is acceptable to him.

³⁶ This is that message which he sent to the children of Israel; proclaiming the glad tidings of peace by Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

³⁷ You know the report there was, through all Judea, which began from Galilee, after the immersion which John preached,

³⁸ concerning 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 And we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the region of the Jews, and in Jerusalem: whom they slew, hanging him on a tree.

⁴⁰ This very person God raised up, on the third day, and granted him to become manifest;

⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses before appointed by God, even to us, who have eat and drunk with him after he arose from the dead.

⁴² And he has given in charge to us to proclaim to the people, and to testify that it is he who is appointed by God, to be the judge of the living and the dead.

⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness, that every one who believes on him, shall receive forgiveness of sins by his name.

⁴⁴ While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were hearing the word:

⁴⁵ and they of the circumcision, who believed, as many as came with Peter, were astonished that the gift of the Spirit was poured out upon the Gentiles also:

⁴⁶ for they heard them speaking in diverse languages, and glorifying God.

⁴⁷ Then Peter answered, Can any one forbid water, that these persons should not be immersed, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?

⁴⁸ And he ordered them to be immersed in the name of the Lord. And they entreated him to continue with them several days.