Acts

The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 10, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 10 New English Translation

Peter Visits Cornelius

   1 Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the people and prayed to God regularly. 3 About three o'clock one afternoon he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, "Cornelius." 4 Staring at him and becoming greatly afraid, Cornelius replied, "What is it, LORD?" The angel said to him, "Your prayers and your acts of charity have gone up as a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa and summon a man named Simon, who is called Peter. 6 This man is staying as a guest with a man named Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea." 7 When the angel who had spoken to him departed, Cornelius called two of his personal servants and a devout soldier from among those who served him, 8 and when he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
   9 About noon the next day, while they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing the meal, a trance came over him. 11 He saw heaven opened and an object something like a large sheet descending, being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and wild birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; slaughter and eat!" 14 But Peter said, "Certainly not, LORD, for I have never eaten anything defiled and ritually unclean!" 15 The voice spoke to him again, a second time, "What God has made clean, you must not consider ritually unclean!" 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into heaven.
   17 Now while Peter was puzzling over what the vision he had seen could signify, the men sent by Cornelius had learned where Simon's house was and approached the gate. 18 They called out to ask if Simon, known as Peter, was staying there as a guest. 19 While Peter was still thinking seriously about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Look! Three men are looking for you. 20 But get up, go down, and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them." 21 So Peter went down to the men and said, "Here I am, the person you're looking for. Why have you come?" 22 They said, "Cornelius the centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message from you." 23 So Peter invited them in and entertained them as guests. On the next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting anxiously for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 So when Peter came in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. 26 But Peter helped him up, saying, "Stand up. I too am a mere mortal." 27 Peter continued talking with him as he went in, and he found many people gathered together. 28 He said to them, "You know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile, yet God has shown me that I should call no person defiled or ritually unclean. 29 Therefore when you sent for me, I came without any objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?" 30 Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this very hour, at three o'clock in the afternoon, I was praying in my house, and suddenly a man in shining clothing stood before me 31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your acts of charity have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. This man is staying as a guest in the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.' 33 Therefore I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come. So now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the LORD has commanded you to say to us."
   34 Then Peter started speaking: "I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, 35 but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is LORD of all) - 37 you know what happened throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 with respect to Jesus from Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of all the things he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us, the witnesses God had already chosen, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

   44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were greatly 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 "No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?" 48 So he gave orders to have them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.

King James Version

   1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
   2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
   3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
   4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
   5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
   6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
   7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
   8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
   9 ¶ On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
   10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
   11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
   12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
   13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
   14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
   15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
   16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
   17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
   18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
   19 ¶ While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
   20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
   21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
   22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
   23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
   24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
   25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
   26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
   27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
   28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
   29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
   30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
   31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
   32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
   33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
   34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
   35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
   36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
   37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
   38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
   39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
   40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
   41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
   42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
   43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
   44 ¶ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
   45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
   46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
   47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
   48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.