The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 10 -

Futhermore there was a certaine man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a captaine of the band called the Italian band,

A deuoute man, and one that feared God with all his housholde, which gaue much almes to the people, and prayed God continually.

He sawe in a vision euidently (about the ninth houre of the day) an Angel of God comming in to him, and saying vnto him, Cornelius.

But when hee looked on him, hee was afrayd, and sayd, What is it, Lord? and he sayd vnto him, Thy prayers and thine almes are come vp into remembrance before God.

Nowe therefore send men to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.

Hee lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to doe.

And when the Angel which spake vnto Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his seruants, and a souldier that feared God, one of them that waited on him,

And tolde them all things, and sent them to Ioppa.

Peter’s Vision

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

On the morow as they went on their iourney, and drew neere vnto the citie, Peter went vp vpon the house to pray, about the sixt houre.

Then waxed hee an hungred, and would haue eaten: but while they made some thing ready, he fell into a trance.

And hee sawe heauen opened, and a certaine vessell come downe vnto him, as it had bene a great sheete, knit at the foure corners, and was let downe to the earth.

Wherein were all maner of foure footed beastes of the earth, and wilde beastes and creeping things, and foules of the heauen.

And there came a voyce to him, Arise, Peter: kill, and eate.

But Peter sayd, Not so, Lord: for I haue neuer eaten any thing that is polluted, or vncleane.

And the voyce spake vnto him againe the second time, The things that God hath purified, pollute thou not.

This was so done thrise: and the vessell was drawen vp againe into heauen.

Peter Called to Caesarea

Nowe while Peter douted in himselfe what this vision which he had seene, meant, beholde, the men which were sent from Cornelius, had inquired for Simons house, and stoode at the gate,

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

And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit sayde vnto him, Beholde, three men seeke thee.

Arise therefore, and get thee downe, and goe with them, and doute nothing: For I haue sent them.

Then Peter went downe to the men, which were sent vnto him from Cornelius, and sayd, Beholde, I am he whome ye seeke: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

And they sayd, Cornelius the captaine, a iust man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Iewes, was warned from heauen by an holy Angel, to send for thee into his house, and to heare thy wordes.

Then called he them in, and lodged them, and the next day, Peter went foorth with them, and certaine brethren from Ioppa accompanied him.

Peter Visits Cornelius

And the day after, they entred into Cesarea. Nowe Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsemen, and special friends.

And it came to passe as Peter came in, that Cornelius met him, and fell downe at his feete, and worshipped him.

But Peter tooke him vp, saying, Stand vp: for euen I my selfe am a man.

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

And he sayd vnto them, Ye know that it is an vnlawfull thing for a man that is a Iewe, to company, or come vnto one of another nation: but God hath shewed me, that I should not call any man polluted, or vncleane.

Therefore came I vnto you without saying nay, when I was sent for. I aske therefore, for what intent haue ye sent for me?

Then Cornelius sayd, Foure dayes agoe, about this houre, I fasted, and at the ninth houre I prayed in mine house, and beholde, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

And sayd, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine almes are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Send therefore to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter (he is lodged in the house of Simon a Tanner by the sea side) who when he commeth, shall speake vnto thee.

Then sent I for thee immediately, and thou hast well done to come. Nowe therefore are we all here present before God, to heare all things that are commanded thee of God.

Good News for the Gentiles

Then Peter opened his mouth, and sayd, Of a trueth I perceiue, that God is no accepter of persons.

But in euery nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousnesse, is accepted with him.

Ye know the worde which God hath sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Iesus Christ, which is Lord of all:

Euen the worde which came through all Iudea, beginning in Galile, after the baptisme which Iohn preached.

To wit, howe God anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost, and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the deuill: for God was with him.

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Iewes, and in Hierusalem, whom they slewe, hanging him on a tree.

Him God raysed vp the third day, and caused that he was shewed openly:

Not to all the people, but vnto the witnesses chosen before of God, euen to vs which did eate and drinke with him, after he arose from the dead.

And he commanded vs to preach vnto the people, and to testifie, that it is he that is ordained of God a iudge of quicke and dead.

To him also giue all the Prophets witnesse, that through his Name all that beleeue in him, shall receiue remission of sinnes.

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

(Acts 19:1–7)

While Peter yet spake these wordes, the holy Ghost fell on al them which heard the word.

So they of the circumcision which beleeued, were astonied, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was powred out the gift of the holy Ghost.

For they heard them speake with tongues, and magnifie God. Then answered Peter,

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which haue receiued the holy Ghost, as well as we?

So he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tary certaine dayes.

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”