Acts 10:9–32

⁹The next day, as they were on their way and coming near Joppa, Peter went up on the roof of the house about noon in order to pray. ¹⁰He became hungry and wanted something to eat; while the food was being prepared, he had a vision. ¹¹He saw heaven opened and something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners to the earth. ¹²In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and wild birds. ¹³A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!”

¹⁴But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything ritually unclean or defiled.”

¹⁵The voice spoke to him again, “Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.” ¹⁶This happened three times, and then the thing was taken back up into heaven.

¹⁷While Peter was wondering about the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius had learnt where Simon’s house was, and they were now standing in front of the gate. ¹⁸They called out and asked, “Is there a guest here by the name of Simon Peter?”

¹⁹Peter was still trying to understand what the vision meant, when the Spirit said, “Listen! Three^l men are here looking for you. ²⁰So get ready and go down, and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” ²¹So Peter went down and said to the men, “I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

²²“Captain Cornelius sent us,” they answered. “He is a good man who worships God and is highly respected by all the Jewish people. An angel of God told him to invite you to his house, so that he could hear what you have to say.” ²³Peter invited the men in and persuaded them to spend the night there.

The next day he got ready and went with them; and some of the believers from Joppa went along with him. ²⁴The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting for him, together with relatives and close friends that he had invited. ²⁵As Peter was about to go in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and bowed down before him. ²⁶But Peter made him rise. “Stand up,” he said; “I myself am only a man.” ²⁷Peter kept on talking to Cornelius as he went into the house, where he found many people gathered. ²⁸He said to them, “You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not allowed by his religion to visit or associate with Gentiles. But God has shown me that I must not consider any person ritually unclean or defiled. ²⁹And so when you sent for me, I came without any objection. I ask you, then, why did you send for me?”

³⁰Cornelius said, “It was about this time three days ago that I was praying^m in my house at three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man dressed in shining clothes stood in front of me ³¹and said: ‘Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity. ³²Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner of leather, who lives by the sea.’