Acts 10

1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius. He was an army officer in what was called the Italian Group of soldiers.

2He and his whole family were faithful and respected God. He gave generously to those in need, and he prayed to God regularly.

3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said: Cornelius!

4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked: What is it, Lord? The angel answered: Your prayers and your gifts to the poor have gone up to God like an offering He remembers.

5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.

6He is staying with Simon, a man who makes leather for a living, whose house is by the sea.

7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a faithful soldier, one of his personal helpers.

8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

9About noon the following day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.

10He became hungry and wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared, Peter fell into a deep vision.

11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.

12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.

13Then a voice told him: Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.

14Peter replied: Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything unclean or forbidden.

15The voice spoke to him a second time: Do not call anything unclean that God has made clean.

16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate.

18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him: Simon, three men are looking for you.

20So get up and go downstairs. Do not be afraid to go with them, because I have sent them.

21Peter went down and said to the men: I am the one you are looking for. Why have you come?

22The men replied: We have come from Cornelius, an army officer. He is a good man who respects God, and all the Jewish people think highly of him. A holy angel told him to bring you to his house, so that he could hear what you have to say.

23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.

24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and bowed down at his feet to honor him.

26But Peter made him get up. He said: Stand up. I am only a man myself.

27While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.

28He said to them: You know well that it is against our law for a Jewish man to spend time with or visit someone who is not Jewish. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone unclean or unworthy.

29So when you sent for me, I came without arguing. May I ask why you sent for me?

30Cornelius answered: Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me

31And said: Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.

32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon, who makes leather for a living, and lives by the sea.

33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.

34Then Peter began to speak: I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism

35But accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right.

36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

37You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached —

38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.

39We are witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed Him by hanging Him on a cross,

40But God raised Him from the dead on the third day and let people see Him.

41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen — by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

42He commanded us to preach to the people and to tell them that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

43All the prophets speak about Him, saying that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

45The Jewish believers who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the non-Jewish people.

46For they heard them speaking in other languages and praising God. Then Peter said:

47Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.

48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.