Acts 10

Peter and Cornelius

1In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. 2He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. 3#Acts 3.1; 5.19; 9.10One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.” 4#Mt 26.13; Acts 3.4; Rev 8.4He stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” He answered, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; 6#Acts 9.43he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.” 7When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, 8and after telling them everything he sent them to Joppa.

9 # Mt 24.17; Acts 11.5–14 About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10#Acts 22.17He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while it was being prepared he fell into a trance. 11#Acts 7.56; Rev 19.11He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” 14#Lev 11.4; 20.25; Deut 14.3, 7; Ezek 4.14; Acts 9.5But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” 15#v 28; Mt 15.11; Rom 14.14, 17, 20; 1 Cor 10.25; 1 Tim 4.4; Titus 1.15The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” 16This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.

17 # v 3 Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon’s house and were standing by the gate. 18They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there. 19#Acts 11.12While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, three#10.19 One ancient authority reads two; others lack the word men are searching for you. 20Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?” 22#v 2; Acts 11.14They answered, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous#10.22 Or just and God-fearing man who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish people, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23#v 45; Acts 11.12So Peter#10.23 Gk he 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 accompanied him. 24The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25On Peter’s arrival, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, worshiped him. 26#Acts 14.14, 15; Rev 19.10But Peter made him get up, saying, “Stand up; I am only a mortal.” 27And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled, 28#Jn 4.9; 18.28; Acts 11.3; 15.8, 9and he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is improper for a Jew to associate with or to visit an outsider, but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?”

30Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. 31He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms have been remembered before God. 32Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News

34 # Deut 10.17; Rom 2.11; Eph 6.9; Col 3.25; 1 Pet 1.17 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35#Acts 15.9but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness#10.35 Or acts justly is acceptable to him. 36#Isa 57.19; Mt 28.18; Rom 10.12; Eph 1.20, 22You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38#Jn 3.2; Acts 2.22how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39#Lk 24.48; Acts 5.30We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40#Acts 2.24but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41#Jn 14.17, 22; 21.13not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42#Mt 28.19, 20; Rom 14.9; 2 Cor 5.10; 1 Pet 4.5He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43#Isa 53.11; Acts 15.9; 26.22; Rom 10.11; Gal 3.22All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

44 # Acts 4.31; 8.15, 16; 11.15; 15.8 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45#v 23; Acts 11.18The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the gentiles, 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47#Acts 8.36; 11.17“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48#Acts 2.38; 8.16; 19.5; 1 Cor 1.17So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

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