The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 10 -

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.

He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.

One day at about the ninth hour,(a) he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.

Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.

He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.(b)”

When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.

He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

(Leviticus 11:1–47; Deuteronomy 14:1–21)

The next day at about the sixth hour,(c) as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray.

He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.

It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.

Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”

“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure

(d)

or unclean.”

The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.

Peter Called to Caesarea

While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.

They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.

As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.(e)

So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”

So Peter went down to the men

(f)

and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”

“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”

So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

Peter Visits Cornelius

The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.

But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.

He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”

Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour.(g) Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me

and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.

Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’

So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”

Good News for the Gentiles

Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,

but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.

He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed:

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,

God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—

not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.

All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

(Acts 19:1–7)

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message.

All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,

“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”

So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

Footnotes

(a)10:3 That is, about three in the afternoon; also in verse 30

(b)10:6 TR includes He will tell you what you need to do.

(d)10:14 Literally common; similarly in verses 15 and 28

(e)10:19 ECM, NA, and TR; NE and WH two men are looking for you; SBL, BYZ, and Tischendorf men are looking for you

(f)10:21 TR the men sent to him by Cornelius

(g)10:30 BYZ and TR Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house.

Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.

At about the ninth hour of the day,(a) he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

He, fastening his eyes on him and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.

Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter.

He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.(b)

When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.

Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

(Leviticus 11:1–47; Deuteronomy 14:1–21)

Now on the next day as they were on their journey and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.

He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.

He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,

in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.

A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”

But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”

This was done three times, and immediately the thing was received up into heaven.

Peter Called to Caesarea

Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate,

and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there.

While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three(c) men seek you.

But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”

They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”

So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter Visits Cornelius

On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.

But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”

As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.

He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.

Therefore I also came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?”

Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour,(d) I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing

and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.

Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’

Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”

Good News for the Gentiles

Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;

but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all—

you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also (e) killed, hanging him on a tree.

God raised him up the third day and gave him to be revealed,

not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.

All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

(Acts 19:1–7)

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.

They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.

For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,

“Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.”

He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.

Footnotes

(a)10:3 p.m.

(b)10:6 TR adds “This one will tell you what it is necessary for you to do.”

(d)10:30 p.m.

(e)10:39 TR omits “also”