Acts 9:43–10:23
9:43 So114 Peter115 stayed many days in Joppa with a man named116 Simon, a tanner.117
10:1 Now there was a man in Caesarea1 named Cornelius, a centurion2 of what was known as the Italian Cohort.3 10:2 He4 was a devout, God-fearing man,5 as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the people6 and prayed to God regularly. 10:3 About three o’clock one afternoon7 he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God8 who came in9 and said to him, “Cornelius.” 10:4 Staring at him and becoming greatly afraid, Cornelius10 replied,11 “What is it, Lord?” The angel12 said to him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity13 have gone up as a memorial14 before God. 10:5 Now15 send men to Joppa16 and summon a man named Simon,17 who is called Peter. 10:6 This man is staying as a guest with a man named Simon, a tanner,18 whose house is by the sea.” 10:7 When the angel who had spoken to him departed, Cornelius19 called two of his personal servants20 and a devout soldier from among those who served him,21 10:8 and when he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
10:9 About noon22 the next day, while they were on their way and approaching23 the city, Peter went up on the roof24 to pray. 10:10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing the meal, a trance came over him.25 10:11 He26 saw heaven27 opened28 and an object something like a large sheet29 descending,30 being let down to earth31 by its four corners. 10:12 In it32 were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles33 of the earth and wild birds.34 10:13 Then35 a voice said36 to him, “Get up, Peter; slaughter37 and eat!” 10:14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord, for I have never eaten anything defiled and ritually unclean!”38 10:15 The voice39 spoke to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not consider40 ritually unclean!”41 10:16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into heaven.42
10:17 Now while Peter was puzzling over43 what the vision he had seen could signify, the men sent by Cornelius had learned where Simon’s house was44 and approached45 the gate. 10:18 They46 called out to ask if Simon, known as Peter,47 was staying there as a guest. 10:19 While Peter was still thinking seriously about48 the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look! Three men are looking for you. 10:20 But get up,49 go down, and accompany them without hesitation,50 because I have sent them.” 10:21 So Peter went down51 to the men and said, “Here I am,52 the person you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 10:22 They said, “Cornelius the centurion,53 a righteous54 and God-fearing man, well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation,55 was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message56 from you.” 10:23 So Peter57 invited them in and entertained them as guests.
On the next day he got up and set out58 with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa59 accompanied him.