23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

Peter at Caesarea

And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and asome of bthe brethren from cJoppa accompanied him.

24 On the following day he entered aCaesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and 1aworshiped him.

26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “aStand up; I too am just a man.”

27 As he talked with him, he entered and * found amany people assembled.

28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how aunlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet bGod has shown me that I should not call any man 1unholy or unclean.

29 “That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”

30 Cornelius said, “aFour days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during bthe 1ninth hour; and behold, ca man stood before me in shining garments,

31 and he * said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your 1alms have been remembered before God.

32 ‘Therefore send to aJoppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’

33 “So I sent for you immediately, and you have 1been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear Good News

34 aOpening his mouth, Peter said:

“I most certainly understand now that bGod is not one to show partiality,

35 but ain every nation the man who 1bfears Him and 2does what is right is welcome to Him.

36 “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, apreaching 1bpeace through Jesus Christ (He is cLord of all)—

37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed.

38 “1You know of aJesus of Nazareth, how God banointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, 2cand how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for dGod was with Him.

39 “We are awitnesses of all the things He did both in the 1land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also bput Him to death by hanging Him on a 2cross.

40 “aGod raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible,

41 anot to all the people, but to bwitnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us cwho ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

42 “And He aordered us to 1preach to the people, and solemnly to btestify that this is the One who has been cappointed by God as dJudge of the living and the dead.

43 “Of Him aall the prophets bear witness that through bHis name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”