1 A nd there was a certain man in Cesarea, by name Cornelius, a centurion from a band called Italian,

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, doing also many kind acts to the people, and beseeching God always,

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

3 h e saw in a vision manifestly, as it were the ninth hour of the day, a messenger of God coming in 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 a nd he having looked earnestly on him, and becoming afraid, said, `What is it, Lord?' And he said to him, `Thy prayers and thy kind acts came 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 send for a certain one Simon, who is surnamed Peter,

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

6 t his one doth lodge with a certain Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea; this one shall speak to thee what it behoveth thee to do.'

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 messenger who is speaking to Cornelius went away, having called two of his domestics, and a pious soldier of those waiting on him continually,

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

8 a nd having declared to them all things, 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 are proceeding on the way, and are drawing nigh to the city, Peter went up upon the house-top 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 very hungry, and wished to eat; and they making ready, there fell upon him a trance,

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 doth behold the heaven opened, and descending unto him a certain vessel, as a great sheet, bound at the four corners, and let down upon 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 four-footed beasts of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, 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 came a voice unto him: `Having risen, Peter, slay and eat.'

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

14 A nd Peter said, `Not so, Lord; because at no time did I eat 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 a second time unto him: `What God did cleanse, thou, declare not thou common;'

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

16 a nd this was done thrice, and again was the vessel received up to the heaven.

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

17 A nd as Peter was perplexed in himself what the vision that he saw might be, then, lo, the men who have been sent from Cornelius, having made inquiry for 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 were asking if Simon, who is surnamed Peter, doth lodge here?

They called to ask if Simon Peter was staying there.

19 A nd Peter thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, `Lo, three men do 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 having risen, go down and go on 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 having come down unto the men who have been sent from Cornelius unto him, said, `Lo, I am he whom ye seek, what the cause for which ye are present?'

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 man righteous and fearing God, well testified to, also, by all the nation of the Jews, was divinely warned by a holy messenger to send for thee, to his house, and to hear sayings 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 called them in, therefore, he lodged them, and on the morrow Peter went forth 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 did enter into Cesarea; and Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kindred and near 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 as it came that Peter entered in, Cornelius having met him, having fallen at feet, did bow before;

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

26 a nd Peter raised him, saying, `Stand up; I also myself am a man;'

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

27 a nd talking with him he went in, and doth find many having come 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 unto them, `Ye know how it is unlawful for a man, a Jew, to keep company with, or to come unto, one of another race, but to me God did shew 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 t herefore also without gainsaying I came, having been sent for; I ask, therefore, for what matter ye did send 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 till this hour, I was fasting, and the ninth hour 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 he said, Cornelius, thy prayer was heard, and thy kind acts were remembered 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 call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter; this one doth lodge in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea, who having come, shall speak to thee;

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 a t once, therefore, I sent to thee; thou also didst do well, having come; now, therefore, are we all before God present to hear all things that have been commanded thee by 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 having opened 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 who is fearing Him, and is working 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 that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming good news -- peace through Jesus Christ (this one is Lord of all,)

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 -- ye have known; -- the word that came throughout all Judea, having begun from Galilee, after the baptism that 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 from Nazareth -- how God did anoint him with the Holy Spirit and power; who went through, doing good, and healing all those oppressed by 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 a nd we -- we are witnesses of all things that he did, both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, -- whom they did slay, having hanged upon a tree.

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 ` This one God did raise up the third day, and gave him to become manifest,

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

41 n ot to all the people, but to witnesses, to those having been chosen before by God -- to us who did eat with, and did drink with him, after his rising out of the 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 fully that it is he who hath been ordained by 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 this one do all the prophets testify, that through his name every one that is believing in him doth receive 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 is yet speaking these sayings, the Holy spirit fell upon all those hearing the word,

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

45 a nd those of the circumcision believing were astonished -- as many as came with Peter -- because also upon the nations the gift of the Holy Spirit hath been 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 were hearing them speaking with tongues and magnifying God.

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

47 T hen answered Peter, `The water is any one able to forbid, that these may not be baptized, who the Holy Spirit did receive -- even as also we?'

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

48 h e commanded them also to be baptized in the name of the Lord; then they besought him to remain certain 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.