Act 10 | ESV | STEP | At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius , a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort ,

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of ^awhat was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man ^bwho feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 ^cAbout the ninth hour of the day ^{▼▼That is, 3 p.m.} ^ehe saw clearly in a vision ^fan angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms ^ghave ascended ^has a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging ⁱwith one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, ^jPeter went up ^kon the housetop about ^lthe sixth hour ^{▼▼That is, noon} to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into ⁿa trance 11 and saw ^othe heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; ^pfor I have never eaten anything that is ^qcommon or ^runclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, ^s“What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what ^tthe vision that he had seen might mean, behold, ^uthe men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering ^vthe vision, ^wthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and ^xaccompany them without hesitation, ^{▼▼Or accompany them, making no distinction} for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and ^zGod-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by ^aaa holy angel to send for you to come to his house and ^abto hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and ^acsome of ^adthe brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and ^aefell down at his feet and ^afworshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, ^ag“Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew ^ahto associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but ^aiGod has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30 And Cornelius said, ^aj“Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at ^akthe ninth hour, ^{▼▼That is, 3 p.m.} and behold, ^ama man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, ^anyour prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Gentiles Hear the Good News

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that ^aoGod ^apshows no partiality, 35 but ^aqin every nation anyone who fears him and ^ardoes what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for ^asthe word that he sent to Israel, ^atpreaching good news of ^aupeace through Jesus Christ ( ^avhe is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, ^awbeginning ^axfrom Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how ^ayGod anointed Jesus of Nazareth ^azwith the Holy Spirit and with ^bapower. He went about doing good and healing all ^bbwho were oppressed by the devil, ^bcfor God was with him. 39 And ^bdwe are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. ^beThey put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but ^bfGod raised him on ^bgthe third day and made him to ^bhappear, 41 ^binot to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as ^bjwitnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And ^bkhe commanded us to preach to the people and to testify ^blthat he is the one appointed by God to be judge ^bmof the living and the dead. 43 ^bnTo him ^boall the prophets bear witness that ^bpeveryone who believes in him receives ^bqforgiveness of sins ^brthrough his name.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

44 While Peter was still saying these things, ^bsthe Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among ^btthe circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because ^buthe gift of the Holy Spirit ^bvwas poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them ^bwspeaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 ^bx“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit ^byjust as we have?” 48 And he ^bzcommanded them ^cato be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.