International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.

1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,

2He was a devout man who feared God, as did everyone in his home. He gave many gifts to the poor among the people and always prayed to God.

2a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.

3One day, about three in the afternoon, he had a vision and clearly saw an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, "Cornelius!"

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

4He stared at the angel in terror and asked, "What is it, Lord?" The angel answered him, "Your prayers and your gifts to the poor have arisen as a reminder to God.

4And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

5Send men now to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter.

5And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.

6He is a guest of Simon, a leatherworker, whose house is by the sea."

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

7When the angel who had spoken to him had gone, Cornelius summoned two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of those who served him regularly.

7When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,

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

8and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9Around noon the next day, while they were on their way and coming close to the town, Peter went up on the roof to pray.

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

10He became very hungry and wanted to eat, and while the food was being prepared, he fell into a trance

10And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance

11and saw heaven open and something like a large linen sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the ground.

11and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.

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

12In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.

13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter! Kill something and eat it."

13And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

14But Peter said, "Absolutely not, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean!"

14But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

15Again the voice came to him a second time, "You must stop calling unclean what God has made clean."

15And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

16This happened three times. Then the sheet was quickly taken back into heaven.

16This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

17While Peter was still at a loss to know what the vision he had seen could mean, the men sent by Cornelius asked for Simon's house and went to the gate.

17Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate

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

18and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.

19Peter was still thinking about the vision when the Spirit told him, "Look! Three men are looking for you.

19And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.

20Get up, go downstairs, and don't hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."

20Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

21So Peter went to the men and said, "I'm the man you're looking for. Why are you here?"

21And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”

22The men replied, "Cornelius, a centurion and an upright and God-fearing man who is respected by the whole Jewish nation, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his home to hear what you have to say."

22And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright 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 welcomed them as his guests. The next day, he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along with him.

23So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

24The next day, they arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends together.

24And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25When Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him, bowed down at his feet, and began to worship him.

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

26But Peter made him get up, saying, "Stand up! I, too, am only a man."

26But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”

27As Peter talked with him, he went in and found that many people had gathered.

27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.

28He told them, "You understand how wrong it is for a Jew to associate or visit with unbelievers. But God has shown me that I should stop calling anyone common or unclean,

28And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.

29and that is why I didn't hesitate when I was sent for. Now may I ask why you sent for me?"

29So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this very hour, three o'clock in the afternoon, I was praying in my home. All at once a man in radiant clothes stood in front of me

30And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing

31and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard. God has remembered your gifts to the poor,

31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.

32so send messengers to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter, to come to you. He is a guest in the home of Simon, a leatherworker, by the sea.'

32Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’

33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. All of us are here now in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has ordered you to say."

33So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

34Then Peter began to speak: "Now I understand that God shows no partiality.

34So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,

35Indeed, whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation.

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

36He has sent his word to the descendants of Israel and brought them the good news of peace through Jesus the Messiah. This man is the Lord of everyone.

36As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

37You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached.

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

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

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

39We are witnesses of everything Jesus did in the land of the Jews, including Jerusalem. "They hung him on a tree and killed him,

39And we are witnesses of all that he did both 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 allowed him to appear—

40but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,

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

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

42He also ordered us to preach to the people and to testify solemnly that this is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.

42And he 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 to this: everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

43To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44While Peter was still making this statement, the Holy Spirit fell on all the people who were listening to his message.

44While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.

45Then the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the gentiles, too,

45And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.

46because they heard them speaking in foreign languages and praising God. Then Peter said,

46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,

47"No one can stop us from using water to baptize these people who have received the Holy Spirit in the same way that we did, can they?"

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

48So Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah. Then they asked him to stay there for several days.

48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.