- Cornelius Calls for Peter
- 1
- At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius,
- a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
- 2
- He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;
- he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
- 3
- One 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!"
- 4
- 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 before God.
- 5
- Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
- 6
- He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."
- 7
- 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.
- 8
- He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
- Peter's Vision
- 9
- About noon the following day as they were on their journey
- and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
- 10
- He became hungry and wanted something to eat,
- and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
- 11
- He saw heaven opened 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 of the earth and birds of the air.
- 13
- Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
- 14
- "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
- 15
- The voice spoke to him a second time,
- "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
- 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,
- the men sent by Cornelius 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,
- the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you.
- 20
- So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."
- 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, who is respected by
- all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come
- to his house so that he could hear what you have to say."
- 23
- Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
- The next day Peter started out with them,
- and some of the brothers from Joppa went along.
- Peter at Cornelius' House
- 24
- The following day he arrived in Caesarea.
- 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."
- 27
- Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.
- 28
- He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for
- a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me
- that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
- 29
- So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection.
- May I ask why you sent for me?"
- 30
- Cornelius 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
- 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
- 35
- but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
- 36
- You know the message God sent to the people of Israel,
- telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
- 37
- You know what has happened throughout Judea,
- beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached--
- 38
- how 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.
- 39
- "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews
- and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree,
- 40
- but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
- 41
- He 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.
- 42
- He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify
- that he is the one whom God appointed 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."
- 44
- While Peter was still speaking these words,
- the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
- 45
- The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished
- that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
- 46
- For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said,
- 47
- "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water?
- They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
- 48
- So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
- Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.