Acts 10:1–33

Cornelius Sends a Delegation

10There was a certain man in ^aCaesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian ¹Regiment, ^2ba devout man and one who ^cfeared God with all his household, who gave ²alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. ³About ³the ninth hour of the day ^dhe saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

⁴And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”

So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. ⁵Now ^esend men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶He is lodging with ^fSimon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. ^gHe ⁴will tell you what you must do.” ⁷And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. ⁸So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

⁹The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, ^hPeter went up on the housetop to pray, about ⁵the sixth hour. ¹⁰Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹and ⁱsaw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹²In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! ^jFor I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

¹⁵And a voice spoke to him again the second time, ^k“What God has ⁶cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Summoned to Caesarea

¹⁷Now while Peter ⁷wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹While Peter thought about the vision, ^lthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ^20mArise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

²¹Then Peter went down to the men ⁸who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

²²And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and ⁿhas a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” ²³Then he invited them in and lodged them.

On the next day Peter went away with them, ^oand some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter Meets Cornelius

²⁴And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. ²⁶But Peter lifted him up, saying, ^p“Stand up; I myself am also a man.” ²⁷And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. ²⁸Then he said to them, “You know how ^qunlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But ^rGod has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. ²⁹Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

³⁰So Cornelius said, ⁹“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, ^sa man stood before me ^tin bright clothing, ³¹and said, ‘Cornelius, ^uyour prayer has been heard, and ^vyour ¹alms are remembered in the sight of God. ³²Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. ²When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”