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After a Vision, a Gentile Named Cornelius Sends Men To Joppa To Get Peter

10 Now a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name— a centurion[a] from the cohort[b] being called “Italian[c]”, a devout one, and one fearing God with all his household, doing many acts-of-almsgiving to the [Jewish] people, and praying to God continually— saw in a vision[d] clearly[e], as-if [f] it were around the ninth[g] hour of the day, an angel of God having come-in[h] to him, and having said to him, “Cornelius!” And the one— having looked-intently at him, and having become terrified— said, “What is it, sir[i]?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your acts-of-almsgiving went up for a memorial before God. And now, send men to Joppa, and send-for a certain Simon who is called Peter. This one is lodging with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is beside the sea”. And when the angel speaking to him departed, having called two of his household-servants and a devout soldier from the ones attaching-themselves[j] to him, and having described everything to them, he sent them forth to Joppa.

Before They Arrive, Peter Has a Vision To Treat As Clean What God Has Made Clean

Now on the next day, while those ones were journeying and drawing-near to the city, Peter went up on the housetop around the sixth[k] hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and was wanting to eat. And while they were preparing it, a trance came upon him. 11 And he sees the heaven having been opened and a certain object like a large sheet coming down, being let down by four corners on the ground— 12 in which were all the four-footed-animals and reptiles of the earth, and birds of the heaven. 13 And a voice came to him, “Having arisen, Peter, slaughter and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, because I never ate anything defiled and unclean”. 15 And a voice again came to him for a second time, “The things which God made-clean[l], don’t you be making-defiled[m]”. 16 And this[n] took place three-times, and immediately the object was taken-up into heaven.

The Spirit Tells Peter He Has Sent Three Men, And He Is To Go With Them

17 Now while Peter was being greatly-perplexed within himself as to what the vision which he saw might mean, behold— the men having been sent-forth by Cornelius, having asked-repeatedly as to the house of Simon, stood at the gate. 18 And having called, they were inquiring, “Is Simon, the one being called Peter, lodging here?” 19 And while Peter was pondering about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold— three men are seeking you. 20 But[o] having arisen, go down and proceed with them not doubting[p] at all, because I have sent them forth”. 21 And Peter, having gone down to the men, said, “Behold— I am the one whom you are seeking. What is the reason for which you are-here?” 22 And the ones said, “Cornelius— a centurion, a righteous man, and one fearing God, and one being attested by the whole nation of the Jews— was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to listen-to words from you”. 23 Then having invited them in, he gave-them-lodging.

Peter Goes To Cornelius. Peter Now Understands That His Vision Pertained To Gentiles

And on the next day, having arisen, he went forth with them. And some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. 24 And on the next day, he entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was expecting them, having called together his relatives and close friends. 25 And when Peter’s entering the house came about, Cornelius— having met him, having fallen at his feet— paid-homage. 26 But Peter raised him, saying, “Stand up. I myself also am a man”. 27 And while conversing-with him, he went in and finds many having come-together. 28 And he said to them, “You know how it is unlawful for a Jewish man to be joining[q] or coming-to[r] a foreigner. And-yet God showed me that I should be calling no person defiled or unclean. 29 Therefore, having been sent-for, I indeed came without-objection. So I ask, for what reason did you send-for me?” 30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago at this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth[s] hour, and behold— a man stood before me in shining clothing. 31 And he says, ‘Cornelius, your prayer was heard, and your acts-of-almsgiving were remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is called Peter. This one is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, beside the sea’. 33 Therefore I sent to you at-once, and you did[t] well, having come. So now we are all here before God to hear all the things having been commanded you by the Lord”.

Peter Begins Proclaiming The Gospel To Cornelius

34 And Peter, having opened his mouth, said, “I understand, in accordance with [God’s] truth, that God is not a respecter-of-persons, 35 but in every nation, the one fearing Him and working righteousness is acceptable[u] to Him. 36 As to the message which He sent-forth to the sons of Israel announcing-the-good-news-of peace through Jesus Christ, this One is Lord of all[v]. 37 You know the matter[w] having taken place throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed[x], 38 as to Jesus from Nazareth— how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power; Who went about doing-good and healing all the ones being oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of everything which He did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; Whom indeed they killed, having hung Him on a cross. 40 God raised this One on the third day, and granted that He become visible— 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses having been chosen-beforehand by God; to us, who ate with and drank with Him after He rose-up from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to proclaim to the people, and to solemnly-warn that this One is the One having been designated[y] by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify concerning[z] this One, that everyone believing in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name”.

While Peter Is Speaking, The Spirit Falls On These Gentiles Just Like At Pentecost

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all the ones hearing the message. 45 And the believers of the circumcision— all-who came with Peter— were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured-out also on the Gentiles! 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter responded, 47 “No one is able to forbid[aa] the water so that these may not be baptized, is he?— who received the Holy Spirit as also we did. 48 And he commanded that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:1 That is, commander of 100 soldiers.
  2. Acts 10:1 That is, battalion of Roman soldiers, one tenth of a legion, and thus about 600 soldiers.
  3. Acts 10:1 This may mean it was made up of native Italians. Cornelius may have volunteered for this duty in order to come to Israel.
  4. Acts 10:3 Or, sight.
  5. Acts 10:3 Or, distinctly, plainly.
  6. Acts 10:3 That is, as if it were broad daylight inside his house. Some manuscripts simply say ‘about’.
  7. Acts 10:3 That is, 3 p.m.
  8. Acts 10:3 That is, come into his house.
  9. Acts 10:4 Or, lord, as in Rev 7:14.
  10. Acts 10:7 Or, devoting-themselves to him. That is, not ones merely ‘attached to’ his regiment, but ones attaching-themselves to him personally; friends; fellow God-fearers.
  11. Acts 10:9 That is, noon.
  12. Acts 10:15 Or, declared-clean, treated-as-clean.
  13. Acts 10:15 Or, declaring-defiled, treating-as-defiled. Note the change in tense.
  14. Acts 10:16 That is, this conversation.
  15. Acts 10:20 That is, in contrast to what your conscience will tell you.
  16. Acts 10:20 Or, hesitating, wavering.
  17. Acts 10:28 Or, associating with, keeping-company with.
  18. Acts 10:28 That is, coming to his home.
  19. Acts 10:30 That is, at my 3 o’clock prayers.
  20. Acts 10:33 Or, acted commendably.
  21. Acts 10:35 Or, welcome. That is, even non-Jews fearing and obeying the true God are welcome to Him. They do not have to become Jews first, a revolutionary idea to Peter.
  22. Acts 10:36 That is, Jews and Gentiles.
  23. Acts 10:37 Or, thing.
  24. Acts 10:37 Or, proclaimed: how God anointed Him— Jesus from Nazareth— with.
  25. Acts 10:42 Or, ordained, appointed.
  26. Acts 10:43 Or, to this.
  27. Acts 10:47 Or, withhold.

Cornelius Calls for Peter

10 At Caesarea(A) there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;(B) he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon(C) he had a vision.(D) He distinctly saw an angel(E) of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering(F) before God.(G) Now send men to Joppa(H) to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner,(I) whose house is by the sea.”

When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.(J)

Peter’s Vision(K)

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof(L) to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.(M) 11 He saw heaven opened(N) and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!”(O) Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”(P)

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”(Q)

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

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision,(R) the men sent by Cornelius(S) found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision,(T) the Spirit said(U) to him, “Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”(V)

21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man,(W) who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”(X) 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers(Y) from Joppa went along.(Z) 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea.(AA) Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”(AB)

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.(AC) 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.(AD) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.(AE) 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes(AF) stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So 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.”

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism(AG) 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.(AH) 36 You know the message(AI) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news(AJ) of peace(AK) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.(AL) 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed(AM) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing(AN) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.(AO)

39 “We are witnesses(AP) of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,(AQ) 40 but God raised him from the dead(AR) on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people,(AS) but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate(AT) and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people(AU) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.(AV) 43 All the prophets testify about him(AW) that everyone(AX) who believes(AY) in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”(AZ)

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on(BA) all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter(BB) were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out(BC) even on Gentiles.(BD) 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b](BE) and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.(BF) They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”(BG) 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.(BH) Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:19 One early manuscript two; other manuscripts do not have the number.
  2. Acts 10:46 Or other languages