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 continually. 3About 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 man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He lodges with a certain Simon, a tanner whose house is by the sea.”a

7And when the angel speaking to him had departed, having called two of the servants and a devout soldier of those who are 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 as these are journeying and are approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10And he became hungry and desired to eat, but as they were preparing, a trance fell upon him, 11and he beholds 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 or 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 of Peter thinking over the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.b 20But having risen, go down and proceed with them, doubting nothing, because I have sent them.”

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

22And they said, “Cornelius a centurion, a righteous and God fearing man—and being well testified to by the whole 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 forth 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 Jew to unite himself or to come near to a foreigner. But God has shown me not to call any man common or unclean. 29So 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 said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been 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 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—He 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 Him all the prophets bear witness that everyone believing in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
(Joel 2:28-32; John 14:15-26; John 16:5-16; Acts 2:1-13; 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 upon 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.