Cornelius’ Vision

1Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian [a]cohort, 2a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3About the [b]ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4And he looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.” 7When the angel who *spoke to him left, he summoned two of his [c]servants and a devout soldier from his personal attendants, 8and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the [d]housetop about [e]the sixth hour to pray. 10But he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11and he *saw the sky opened up, and an [f]object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12and on it were all kinds of four-footed animals and [g]crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the sky. 13A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, [h]kill and eat!” 14But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything [i]unholy and unclean.” 15Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer [j]consider unholy.” 16This happened three times, and immediately the [k]object was taken up into the sky.

17Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in [l]mind as to what the vision which he had seen might [m]mean, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius had asked directions to Simon’s house, and they appeared at the gate; 18and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, [n]three men are looking for you. 20But get up, go downstairs and accompany them [o]without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” 21Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” 22They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear [p]a message from you.” 23So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

Peter in Caesarea

Now on the next day he got ready and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and [q]worshiped him. 26But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up; I, too, am just a man.” 27As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a [r]foreigner; and yet God has shown me that I am not to call any person [s]unholy or unclean. 29That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask, for what reason did you send for me?”

30Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the [t]ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining clothing, 31and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send some men to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ 33So I sent men to you immediately, and you have [u]been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear Good News

34Opening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35but in every nation the one who [v]fears Him and [w]does what is right is acceptable to Him. 36The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching [x]peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)— 37you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38[y]You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, [z]and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39We are witnesses of all the things that He did both in the [aa]country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on [ab]a cross. 40God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He [ac]be revealed, 41not to all the people, but to witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42And He ordered us to [ad]preach to the people, and to testify solemnly that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify of Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the [ae]message. 45All the [af]Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, 47“Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

[a] 1 Normally 600 men (the number varied)
[b] 3 I.e., 3 p.m.
[c] 7 Or household slaves
[d] 9 Housetops were flat living areas
[e] 9 I.e., noon
[f] 11 Or vessel
[g] 12 Or reptiles
[h] 13 Or sacrifice
[i] 14 Or profane; lit common
[j] 15 Lit make common
[k] 16 Or vessel
[l] 17 Lit himself
[m] 17 Lit be
[n] 19 One early ms two
[o] 20 Lit doubting nothing
[p] 22 Lit words
[q] 25 Or prostrated himself in reverence
[r] 28 I.e., Gentile
[s] 28 Or profane; lit common
[t] 30 I.e., 3 to 4 p.m.
[u] 33 Lit done well in coming
[v] 35 Or reveres
[w] 35 Lit works righteousness
[x] 36 Or the gospel of peace
[y] 38 Or How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
[z] 38 Lit who went
[aa] 39 Or countryside
[ab] 39 Lit wood; see Deut 21:23
[ac] 40 Lit become visible
[ad] 42 Or proclaim
[ae] 44 Lit word
[af] 45 Lit believers from the circumcision