Acts
10 And a certain man at Cesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what is known as the Italian cohort, 2 a pious man and one who feared God with all his family, doing many acts of charity to the people and praying to God continually, 3 saw in a vision distinctly, at about three o’clock in the afternoon, an angel of God come in to him and say to him “Cornelius!” 4 And he, terror-struck as he fixed his eyes on him, said “What is it, sir?” And he said to him “Your prayers and charities have gone up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa after a certain Simon, who is also named Peter; 6 he is a guest of a certain Simon, a tanner, who has his house by the seaside.”
7 And when the angel that spoke to him went away, he called two of the domestics and a pious soldier, one of those who were constantly in his company, 8 and gave them an account of the whole event and sent them to Joppa.
9 And on the following day, as they were on their way and were nearing the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray at twelve o’clock. 10 And he grew hungry and wanted a bite; but while they were getting it ready he fell into a trance 11 and saw the sky opened and a thing like a great sheet coming down, being let down on the earth by four corners, 12 with all the different quadrupeds and reptiles and birds of the air in it. 13 And there came a voice speaking to him, “Up, Peter, kill and eat.” 14 And Peter said “No, no, sir, I have never eaten anything vile or unclean.” 15 And again there was a voice speaking to him a second time; “What God has made clean do not you make vile.” 16 And this happened three times, and at once the thing was taken up into the sky.
17 And as Peter was at a loss to know what the vision he had seen might be, the men sent from Cornelius made their appearance at the porch, having got themselves directed to Simon’s house, 18 and called out to inquire whether Simon, also named Peter, was a guest there. 19 And while Peter was thinking the vision over, the Spirit said “Here are men looking for you; 20 but rise and come down and go with them without any doubting, because it was I that sent them.” 21 And Peter came down to the men and said “Here, I am the one you are looking for: what is the occasion you are here about?” 22 And they said “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, vouched for by all the nation of the Jews, had it revealed to him by a holy angel that he should send for you to his house and hear words from you.”
23 So he invited them in and made them his guests. But on the following day he went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. 24 And on the following day he came into Cesarea; and Cornelius was awaiting them, having called together his relatives and intimate friends.
25 And when it came to Peter’s going in, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet and did reverence. 26 But Peter made him rise, saying “Stand up: I am a man myself.” 27 And he went in conversing with him, and found a great many come together, 28 and said to them “You know yourselves it is an impropriety for a Jew to fraternize with an alien or make a call on him. And God has shown me I am not to call any man vile or unclean; 29 for which very reason I came without making any objection when I was sent for. So I inquire for what reason you sent for me.”
30 And Cornelius said “Four days ago, to an hour, I was offering the three o’clock prayer in my house, and there before me stood a man in splendid vesture 31 and said ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your charities are remembered before God; 32 so send to Joppa and have Simon who is also named Peter come; he is a guest of Simon a tanner, by the seaside’; 33* so I sent to you instantly, and you did well to come. So now we are all present before God to hear everything that you are directed to say by the Lord.”
34 And Peter opened his mouth and said “I perceive to a certainty that God is not partial, 35 but in every nation he who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. 36 The word he sent to the sons of Israel bringing the news of peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— 37 you know, the thing that took place all over Palestine, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism that John preached, 38 Jesus from Nazareth, how God anointed him with Holy Spirit and power; who went along doing good and healing all who were tyrannized over by the Devil, because God was with him 39 (and we are witnesses to everything that he did both in the countryside of the Jews and in Jerusalem); which same Jesus they put to death by hanging him on a tree. 40 Him God raised on the third day, and had him show himself, 41 not to all the people but to the witnesses preappointed by God, us who ate and drank with him after his rising from the dead, 42 and instructed us to proclaim to the people and to attest that this is the God-ordained judge of living and dead. 43 To him all the prophets testify that everyone who believes in him is to receive pardon of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the discourse; 45 and the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were surprised that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the foreigners too, 46 for they heard them speak languages and magnify God. Then Peter answered 47 “Can anyone bar the water, that these who have received the Holy Spirit the same as we did should not be baptized?” 48 And he directed that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.