English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment.

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

2He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.

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

3One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.

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.

4Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel. And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!

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

5Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.

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

6He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”

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,

7As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants.

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

8He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa. Peter Visits Cornelius

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.

9The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon,

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

10and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

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

11He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners.

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

12In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds.

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

13Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”

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

14“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean. ”

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

15But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”

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

16The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

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

17Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate,

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

18they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.

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

19Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you.

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

20Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

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

21So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

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.”

22They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.”

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.

23So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

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

24They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

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

25As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him.

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

26But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!”

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

27So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.

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.

28Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.

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

29So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for 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

30Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me.

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

31He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God!

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.’

32Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’

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.”

33So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.” The Gentiles Hear the Good News

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

34Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.

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

35In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.

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

36This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

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

37You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism.

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.

38And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with 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,

39“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross,

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

40but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear,

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.

41not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from 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.

42And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead.

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

43He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

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

44Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.

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.

45The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.

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

46For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked,

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

47“Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”

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

48So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.