Acts, 10

1. One of the centurions of the Italica cohort stationed in Caesarea was called Cornelius.

1. There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band],

2. He and the whole of his household were devout and God-fearing, and he gave generously to Jewish causes and prayed constantly to God.

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. One day at about the ninth hour he had a vision in which he distinctly saw the angel of God come into his house and call out to him, 'Cornelius!'

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. He stared at the vision in terror and exclaimed, 'What is it, Lord?' The angel answered, 'Your prayers and charitable gifts have been accepted by God.

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. Now you must send some men to Jaffa and fetch a man called Simon, known as Peter,

5. And now send men to Joppa, and call for [one] Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6. who is lodging with Simon the tanner whose house is by the sea.'

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. When the angel who said this had gone, Cornelius called two of the slaves and a devout soldier of his staff,

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. told them all that had happened, and sent them off to Jaffa.

8. And when he had declared all [these] things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9. Next day, while they were still on their journey and had only a short distance to go before reaching the town, Peter went to the housetop at about the sixth hour to say his prayers.

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. He felt hungry and was looking forward to his meal, but before it was ready he fell into a trance

10. And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11. and saw heaven thrown open and something like a big sheet being let down to earth by its four corners;

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. it contained every kind of animal, reptile and bird.

12. Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13. A voice then said to him, 'Now, Peter, kill and eat!'

13. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14. But Peter answered, 'Certainly not, Lord; I have never yet eaten anything profane or unclean.'

14. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15. Again, a second time, the voice spoke to him, 'What God has made clean, you have no right to call profane.'

15. And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common.

16. This was repeated three times, and then suddenly the container was drawn up to heaven again.

16. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17. Peter was still at a loss over the meaning of the vision he had seen, when the men sent by Cornelius arrived. They had asked where Simon's house was and they were now standing at the door,

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. calling out to know if the Simon known as Peter was lodging there.

18. And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19. While Peter's mind was still on the vision, the Spirit told him, 'Look! Some men have come to see you.

19. While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20. Hurry down, and do not hesitate to return with them; it was I who told them to come.'

20. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21. Peter went down and said to them, 'I am the man you are looking for; why have you come?'

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. They said, 'The centurion Cornelius, who is an upright and God-fearing man, highly regarded by the entire Jewish people, was told by God through a holy angel to send for you and bring you to his house and to listen to what you have to say.'

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. So Peter asked them in and gave them lodging. Next day, he was ready to go off with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Jaffa.

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. They reached Caesarea the following day, and Cornelius was waiting for them. He had asked his relations and close friends to be there,

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 reached the house Cornelius went out to meet him, fell at his feet and did him reverence.

25. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped [him].

26. But Peter helped him up. 'Stand up,' he said, ' after all, I am only a man!'

26. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

27. Talking together they went in to meet all the people assembled there,

27. And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

28. and Peter said to them, 'You know it is forbidden for Jews to mix with people of another race and visit them; but God has made it clear to me that I must not call anyone profane or unclean.

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. That is why I made no objection to coming when I was sent for; but I should like to know exactly why you sent for me.'

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. Cornelius replied, 'At this time three days ago I was in my house saying the prayers for the ninth hour, when I suddenly saw a man in front of me in shining robes.

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. He said, "Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have not been forgotten by God;

31. And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

32. so now you must send to Jaffa and fetch Simon known as Peter who is lodging in the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea."

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. So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Here we all are, assembled in front of you to hear all the instructions God has given you.'

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 addressed them, 'I now really understand', he said, 'that God has no favourites,

34. Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35. but that anybody of any nationality who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

35. But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

36. 'God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ -- he is the Lord of all.

36. The word which [God] sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

37. You know what happened all over Judaea, how Jesus of Nazareth began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism.

37. That word, [I say], ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

38. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.

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. Now we are witnesses to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and they killed him by hanging him on a tree,

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. yet on the third day God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen,

40. Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

41. not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses that God had chosen beforehand. Now we are those witnesses -- we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead-

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 has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to bear witness that God has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or 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. It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name.'

43. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

44. While Peter was still speaking the Holy Spirit came down on all the listeners.

44. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45. Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were all astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit should be poured out on gentiles too,

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. since they could hear them speaking strange languages and proclaiming the greatness of God. Peter himself then said,

46. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47. 'Could anyone refuse the water of baptism to these people, now they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?'

47. Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48. He then gave orders for them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterwards they begged him to stay on for some days.

48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.