Acts 10:24–48

²⁴The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵On Peter’s arrival, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, worshiped him. ²⁶But Peter made him get up, saying, “Stand up; I am only a mortal.”^{* 27}And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled, ²⁸and he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is improper for a Jew to associate with or to visit an outsider, but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.^{* 29}So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?”

³⁰Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. ³¹He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms have been remembered before God. ³²Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ ³³Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News

³⁴Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality,^{* 35}but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness^y is acceptable to him.^{* 36}You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.^{* 37}That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: ³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.^{* 39}We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,^{* 40}but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,^{* 41}not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.^{* 42}He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.^{* 43}All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”^*

Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.^{* 45}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,^{* 46}for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, ⁴⁷“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”^{* 48}So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.^*