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ActsChapter 10

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In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort.
He was devout and God-fearing, together with his whole household; he gave generously to those in need among the people and prayed to God constantly.
One afternoon, about three o'clock, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God who came to him and said, "Cornelius."
He stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" The angel said to him, "Your prayers and your acts of mercy have gone up as a memorial offering before God.
Now send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon who is called Peter.
He is a guest of Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."
When the angel who had spoken to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among his personal attendants.
He explained everything to them and sent them to Joppa.
The next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof about noon to pray.
He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while it was being prepared he fell into a trance.
He saw heaven opened and something like a great sheet coming down, being lowered to the earth by its four corners.
In it were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.
Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
But Peter said, "By no means, Lord! I have never eaten anything common or unclean."
The voice came to him again, a second time: "What God has cleansed, you must not call common."
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken up into heaven.
While Peter was still puzzling over what the vision he had seen might mean, the men sent by Cornelius had asked their way to Simon's house and were standing at the gate.
They called out, asking whether Simon who was called Peter was staying there.
While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Look, some men are searching for you.
Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitating, for I have sent them."
So Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?"
They said, "Cornelius the centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, 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."
So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along with him.
The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.
But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up. I am only a man myself."
As he talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.
He said to them, "You know that it is forbidden for a Jew to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call anyone common or unclean.
That is why I came without objection when I was sent for. So I ask why you sent for me."
Cornelius said, "Four days ago, at this very hour, three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house, when suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me
and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of mercy have been remembered before God.
Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.'
So I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to hear everything the Lord has commanded you to say."
Then Peter began to speak: "Now I truly understand that God shows no partiality,
but in every nation the one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
He sent his word to the people of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
You know what has happened throughout all Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
And we are witnesses of everything he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,
but God raised him on the third day and caused him to be seen—
not by all the people, but by witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.
To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message.
The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,
for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter responded,
"Surely no one can withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!"
And he directed that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
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