| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, | 1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment. |
| 2a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. | 2He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly. |
| 3About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” | 3One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” |
| 4And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. | 4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God. |
| 5Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. | 5Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter. |
| 6He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” | 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” |
| 7And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. | 7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants. |
| 8So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa. | 8He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa. |
| 9The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. | 9The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray. |
| 10Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance | 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. |
| 11and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. | 11He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. |
| 12In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. | 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. |
| 13And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” | 13Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” |
| 14But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” | 14“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” |
| 15And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” | 15The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” |
| 16This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. | 16This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven. |
| 17Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. | 17While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate. |
| 18And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. | 18They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there. |
| 19While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. | 19As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. |
| 20Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” | 20So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.” |
| 21Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?” | 21So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?” |
| 22And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” | 22“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.” |
| 23Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him. | 23So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa. |
| 24And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. | 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. |
| 25As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. | 25As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. |
| 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” | 26But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” |
| 27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. | 27As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together. |
| 28Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. | 28He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. |
| 29Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?” | 29So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?” |
| 30So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, | 30Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me |
| 31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. | 31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God. |
| 32Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ | 32Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ |
| 33So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.” | 33So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.” |
| 34Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. | 34Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, |
| 35But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. | 35but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. |
| 36The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— | 36He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. |
| 37that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: | 37You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed: |
| 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. | 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. |
| 39And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. | 39We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, |
| 40Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, | 40God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen— |
| 41not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. | 41not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us 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 it is He who was ordained by God to be 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 judge the living and the dead. |
| 43To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” | 43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” |
| 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. | 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. |
| 45And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. | 45All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. |
| 46For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, | 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said, |
| 47“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” | 47“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” |
| 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. | 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days. |
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