Cornelius Sends for Peter

1Now a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius was a centurion of the cohort that is called Italian, 2devout and fearing God with all his household, doing many alms to the people and praying to God through all. 3As it were about the ninth hour of the day,† he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God having come to him and having said to him, “Cornelius!”

4And having looked intently on him, and having become afraid, he said, “What is it, Lord?”

And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5And now send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon,† who is called Peter. 6He lodges with a certain Simon, a tanner whose house is by the sea.”†

7And when the angel speaking to him went away, having called two of the servants and a devout soldier of those attending him, 8and having related all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision
(Leviticus 11:1–47; Deuteronomy 14:1–21)

9Now on the next day, in their journeying and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour† to pray. 10And he became hungry and desired to eat. But in their preparing, a trance fell upon him, 11and he sees heaven opening and a certain vessel as a great sheet descending, being let down upon the earth by four corners,† 12in which were all the quadrupeds† and creeping things of the earth and birds of heaven. 13And a voice came to him: “Having risen up, Peter, kill and eat!”

14But Peter said, “In no way, Lord! For never have I eaten anything common† and unclean.”

15And a voice came again to him for the second time: “What God has cleansed, you do not call common.”

16Now this took place for three times, and immediately† the vessel was taken up into heaven.

Peter Called to Caesarea

17And while Peter was perplexed in himself what the vision that he had seen might be, behold, the men having been sent from Cornelius, having inquired for the house of Simon, stood at the gate. 18And having called out, they were asking if Simon who is called Peter is lodged here.

19And in Peter's thinking over the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.† 20But having risen, go down and proceed with them, doubting nothing, because I have sent them.”

21And Peter, having gone down to the men,† said, “Behold, I am whom you⁺ seek; what is the cause for which you⁺ are here?”

22And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a man righteous and fearing God—and being well testified to by all the nation of the Jews—was divinely instructed by a holy angel† to send for you to his house and to hear a message from you.”

23Therefore, having called them in, he lodged them. And on the next day, having risen up, he went out† with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.

Peter Visits Cornelius

24And on the next day, he entered† into Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them, having called together his relatives and close friends. 25And as Peter was entering, Cornelius, having met him, having fallen at the feet, worshiped him. 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Rise up, I myself am also a man.”

27And talking with him, he entered, and he finds many having gathered together. 28And he was saying to them, “You⁺ know how unlawful it is for a man, a Jew, to unite himself or to come near to a foreigner. But God showed to me not to call any man common or unclean. 29Therefore also without objection I came, having been summoned. Therefore I inquire, for what reason did you⁺ summon me?”

30And Cornelius was saying, “Four days ago, until this hour, the ninth hour, I was praying in my house;† and behold, a man in bright apparel stood before me, 31and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer was heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send to Joppa and call for Simon, who is called Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner by the sea.†’

33Therefore I sent to you at once, and you did well, having come. Now therefore, we are all present before God to hear all the things having been commanded you by the Lord.†”

Good News for the Gentiles

34And Peter, having opened the mouth, said, “Of a truth I understand that God is not One who shows partiality, 35but in every nation, the one fearing Him and working righteousness is acceptable to Him, 36the word that He sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the gospel, peace by Jesus Christ—this One is Lord of all.

37You⁺ yourselves know the declaration having come through all Judea, having begun from Galilee, after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38Jesus from Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all those being oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

39And we are witnesses of all things that He did—both in the region of the Jews and in Jerusalem—whom they also put to death, having hanged Him on a tree. 40This One God raised up on the third day and gave Him to become manifest, 41not to all the people, but to the witnesses having been chosen beforehand by God, to us who did eat with and drink with Him after His rising out from the dead. 42And He instructed us to proclaim to the people and to testify fully that He is the One having been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43To this One all the prophets testify that everyone believing in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
(Acts 19:1–7)

44of Peter still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those hearing the word. 45And the believers from the circumcision, as many as had come with Peter, were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit has been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and magnifying God.

Then Peter answered, 47“Is anyone able to withhold the water to baptize these who have received the Holy Spirit, just as we also have?” 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.† Then they asked him to remain some days.

Footnotes:

3 That is, about three in the afternoon; also in verse 30
5 BYZ and TR and summon Simon
6 TR includes He will speak to you what it is necessary for you to do.
9 That is, about noon
11 BYZ and TR upon the earth, bound at its four corners
12 BYZ and TR include and the wild beasts
14 Or impure; similarly in verses 15 and 28
16 BYZ and TR and again
19 ECM, NA, and TR; NE and WH two men are seeking you; SBL, BYZ, and Tischendorf men are seeking you
21 TR the men sent to him by Cornelius
22 F35 by an angel
23 BYZ and TR do not include having risen up
24 BYZ and TR they entered
30 BYZ and TR Four days ago, until this hour, I was fasting, and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house.
32 BYZ and TR include He will speak to you when he arrives.
33 BYZ and TR you by God
48 F35 of the Lord Jesus; RP and TR of the Lord