1 B ut a certain man in Caesarea,—by name Cornelius, a centurion of the band called Italic,

There was a man in the city of Caesarea by the name of Cornelius. He was a captain of an Italian group of the army.

2 p ious, and fearing God with all his house, giving much alms to the people, and supplicating God continually,

He and his family were good people and honored God. He gave much money to the people and prayed always to God.

3 — saw plainly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius.

One afternoon about three o’clock he saw in a dream what God wanted him to see. An angel of God came to him and said, “Cornelius.”

4 B ut he, having fixed his eyes upon him, and become full of fear, said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thine alms have gone up for a memorial before God.

He was afraid as he looked at the angel. He said, “What is it, Lord?” The angel said, “Your prayers and your gifts of money have gone up to God. He has remembered them.

5 A nd now send men to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter.

Send some men to the city of Joppa and ask Simon Peter to come here.

6 H e lodges with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.

He is living with Simon, the man who works with leather. His house is by the sea-shore. He will tell you what you must do.”

7 A nd when the angel who was speaking to him had departed, having called two of his household and a pious soldier of those who were constantly with him,

The angel left him. Then Cornelius called two of his servants and a religious soldier who took care of him.

8 a nd related all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

He told what had happened. Then he sent them to Joppa. Peter’s Dream

9 A nd on the morrow, as these were journeying and drawing near to the city, Peter went up on the house to pray, about the sixth hour.

The next day they went on their way. About noon they were coming near the town. At this time Peter went up on the roof to pray.

10 A nd he became hungry and desired to eat. But as they were making ready an ecstasy came upon him:

He became very hungry and wanted something to eat. While they were getting food ready to eat, he saw in a dream things God wanted him to see.

11 a nd he beholds the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as a great sheet, by four corners let down to the earth;

He saw heaven open up and something like a large linen cloth being let down to earth by the four corners.

12 i n which were all the quadrupeds and creeping things of the earth, and the fowls of the heaven.

On the cloth were all kinds of four-footed animals and snakes of the earth and birds of the sky.

13 A nd there was a voice to him, Rise, Peter, slay and eat.

A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill something and eat it.”

14 A nd Peter said, In no wise, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common or unclean.

Peter said, “No, Lord! I have never eaten anything that our Law says is unclean.”

15 A nd a voice again the second time to him, What God has cleansed, do not thou make common.

The voice said the second time, “What God has made clean you must not say is unclean.”

16 A nd this took place thrice, and the vessel was straightway taken up into heaven.

This happened three times. Then it was taken back to heaven. Cornelius’ Men Find Peter

17 A nd as Peter doubted in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold also the men who were sent by Cornelius, having sought out the house of Simon, stood at the gate,

Peter thought about the meaning of the dream. The men that Cornelius had sent came. They were standing by the gate asking about Simon’s house.

18 a nd having called, they inquired if Simon who was surnamed Peter was lodged there.

They called to ask if Simon Peter was staying there.

19 B ut as Peter continued pondering over the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek thee;

Peter was still thinking about the dream when the Holy Spirit said to him, “See, three men are looking for you.

20 b ut rise up, go down, and go with them, nothing doubting, because I have sent them.

Get up. Go down and go with them. Do not doubt if you should go, because I sent them.”

21 A nd Peter going down to the men said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause for which ye come?

Peter went down to the men who had been sent by Cornelius. He said, “I am the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”

22 A nd they said, Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man, and fearing God, and borne witness to by the whole nation of the Jews, has been divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for thee to his house, and hear words from thee.

They said, “Cornelius sent us. He is a captain and a good man and he honors God. The whole Jewish nation can say this is true. An angel from God told him to send for you. He asks you to come to his house. He wants to hear what you have to say.” Peter Goes to Cornelius

23 H aving therefore invited them in, he lodged them. And on the morrow, rising up he went away with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa went with him.

Peter asked them to come in and stay with him for the night. The next day he went with them. Some of the brothers from Joppa went along.

24 A nd on the morrow they came to Caesarea. But Cornelius was looking for them, having called together his kinsmen and intimate friends.

The next day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was looking for them. He had gathered all his family and close friends at his house.

25 A nd when Peter was now coming in, Cornelius met him, and falling down did homage.

When Peter came, Cornelius got down at his feet and worshiped him.

26 B ut Peter made him rise, saying, Rise up: I myself also am a man.

But Peter raised him up and said, “Get up! I am just a man like you.”

27 A nd he went in, talking with him, and found many gathered together.

As Peter spoke with Cornelius, he went into the house and found a large group of people gathered together.

28 A nd he said to them, Ye know how it is unlawful for a Jew to be joined or come to one of a strange race, and to me God has shewn to call no man common or unclean.

Peter said to them, “You know it is against our Law for a Jew to visit a person of another nation. But God has shown me I should not say that any man is unclean.

29 W herefore also, having been sent for, I came without saying anything against it. I inquire therefore for what reason ye have sent for me.

For this reason I came as soon as you sent for me. But I want to ask you why you sent for me?”

30 A nd Cornelius said, Four days ago I had been unto this hour, and the ninth praying in my house, and lo, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Cornelius said, “Four days ago at three o’clock in the afternoon I was praying here in my house. All at once, I saw a man standing in front of me. He had on bright clothes.

31 a nd said, Cornelius, thy prayer has been heard, and thy alms have come in remembrance before God.

He said to me, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayers and has remembered your gifts of love.

32 S end therefore to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.

You must send to Joppa and ask Simon Peter to come here. He is staying at the house of Simon, the man who works with leather. His house is by the sea-shore.’

33 I mmediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast well done in coming. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

I sent for you at once. You have done well to come. We are all here and God is with us. We are ready to hear whatever the Lord has told you to say.” Peter Preaches in Cornelius’ House

34 A nd Peter opening his mouth said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons,

Then Peter said, “I can see, for sure, that God does not respect one person more than another.

35 b ut in every nation he that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

He is pleased with any man in any nation who honors Him and does what is right.

36 T he word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, (he is Lord of all things,)

He has sent His Word to the Jews. He told them the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ. Jesus is Lord of All.

37 y e know; the testimony which has spread through the whole of Judaea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached—

You know the story yourselves. It was told in all the country of Judea. It began in the country of Galilee after the preaching of John the Baptist.

38 J esus who of Nazareth: how God anointed him with Holy Spirit and with power; who went through doing good, and healing all that were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

God gave Jesus of Nazareth the Holy Spirit and power. He went around doing good and healing all who were troubled by the devil because God was with Him.

39 W e also witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also slew, having hanged him on a cross.

We have seen and heard everything He did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And yet they killed Him by nailing Him to a cross.

40 T his God raised up the third day and gave him to be openly seen,

God raised Him to life on the third day and made Him to be seen.

41 n ot of all the people, but of witnesses who were chosen before of God, us who have eaten and drunk with him after he arose from among dead.

Not all the people saw Him but those who were chosen to see Him. We saw Him. We ate and drank with Him after He was raised from the dead.

42 A nd he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he it is who was determinately appointed of God judge of living and dead.

He told us to preach to the people and tell them that God gave Christ the right to be the One Who says who is guilty of the living and the dead.

43 T o him all the prophets bear witness that every one that believes on him will receive through his name remission of sins.

All the early preachers spoke of this. Everyone who puts his trust in Christ will have his sins forgiven through His name.” The Holy Spirit Comes to the Family of Cornelius

44 W hile Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were hearing the word.

While Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came on all who were hearing his words.

45 A nd the faithful of the circumcision were astonished, as many as came with Peter, that upon the nations also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out:

The Jewish followers who had come along with Peter were surprised and wondered because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also given to the people who were not Jews.

46 f or they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,

They heard them speak in special sounds and give thanks to God. Then Peter said,

47 C an any one forbid water that these should not be baptised, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also ?

“Will anyone say that these people may not be baptized? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”

48 A nd he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay some days.

He gave the word that they should be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for some days.