Cornelius Sends for Peter

1And a certain man was in Cesarea by name Cornelius, a centurion of the band called Italian, 2Religious, and fearing God with all his house, and doing many alms to the people, and praying God always. 3He saw in a vision manifestly about the ninth hour of the day a messenger of God having come in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius. 4And having looked at him intently, and being afraid, he said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thine alms went up for remembrance before God. 5And now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon, who is called Peter: 6He is received as guest with a certain Simon a currier, to whom is a house by the sea: he shall speak to thee what thou must do. 7And when the messenger speaking to Cornelius departed, having called two of his servants, and a religious soldier of those persevering with him; 8And having related all to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision
(Leviticus 11:1–47; Deuteronomy 14:1–21)

9And the morrow, these traveling, and drawing near to the city, Peter went up upon the house to pray about the sixth hour: 10And he was hungry, and would have eaten: and these making ready, a deep trance fell upon him, 11And he sees heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as a great linen napkin fastened at the four beginnings, and laid down upon the earth: 12In which were all the quadrupeds of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and the flying things of heaven. 13And a voice was to him, Having risen, Peter, kill, and eat. 14And Peter said, By no means, Lord; for never ate I anything common or unclean. 15And a voice again of a second time to him, What things God cleansed, do not thou make common. 16And this was for thrice: and again was the vessel taken up into heaven.

Peter Called to Caesarea

17And as Peter was doubting in himself what the vision might be which he saw, and behold, the man sent from Cornelius having asked for Simon's house, stood at the gate, 18And having called, they were inquiring if Simon, surnamed Peter, is received there as a guest. 19And Peter reflecting concerning the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20But thou having risen, come down, and go with them, discussing nothing; for I have sent them. 21And Peter having come down to the men sent from Cornelius to him, said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what the cause for which ye are present? 22And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and fearing God, and witnessed of by the whole nation of the Jews, received intimation of the divine will by a holy messenger to send for thee to his house, and hear words of thee. 23Therefore having called them in, he received as guests. And on the morrow Peter came forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa came with him.

Peter Visits Cornelius

24And the morrow he came to Cesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and friends by relationship. 25And it was as Peter came in, Cornelius having met him, having fallen at his feet, worshipped. 26And Peter raised him up, saying, Arise: I am also myself man. 27And discoursing with him, he came in, and finds many come together. 28And he said to them, Ye know that it is violating law for a man a Jew to join himself, or come near to a strange tribe: and God shewed me to call no man common or unclean. 29And therefore came I without contradiction, having been sent for; therefore I inquire for what word ye sent for me?

30And Cornelius said, From the fourth day till this hour I was fasting; and the ninth hour praying in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31And he says, Cornelius, thy prayer was harkened to, and thine alms remembered before God. 32Therefore send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he is received as guest in the house of Simon the currier by the sea: who, being present, shall speak to thee. 33From this therefore sent I to thee: and thou didst well being present. Now therefore are all we present before God, to hear all commanded thee of God.

Good News for the Gentiles

34And Peter having opened the month; said, of a truth I comprehend that God is no respecter of faces! 35But in every nation he fearing him, and working justice, is acceptable to him. 36The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, announcing good news, peace through Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all.) 37The word ye know, having been through the whole of Judea, having begun from Galilee, after the immersion which John preached; 38Jesus from Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power; who passed through doing good, and healing all oppressed by the devil; for God was with him. 39And ye are witnesses of all which he did in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they killed, having hanged upon wood: 40Him God raised the third day, and gave him to be manifest; 41Not to all people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after his rising from the dead. 42And he enjoined us to proclaim to the people, and to testify that this is he appointed by God, Judge of the living and the dead. 43To him all the prophets testify, for all believing on him to receive remission of sins through his name.

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
(Acts 19:1–7)

44Peter yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all hearing the word. 45And believers of the circumcision were affected in mind, as many as came with Peter, that also upon the nations the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out. 46For they heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God. Then answered Peter, 47Much less can any hinder water, for these not to be immersed, who received the Holy Spirit as also we? 48And he commanded them to be immersed in the name of the Lord. Then asked they him to remain certain days.