The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 10 -

And there was a certain man in Caesarea, by name Cornelius, a centurion from a cohort that is called Italian,

pious, and fearing God with all his house, also doing many kind acts to the people, and always imploring God;

he saw in a vision openly, as it were the ninth hour of the day, a messenger of God coming in to him, and saying to him, “Cornelius”;

and he having looked earnestly on him, and becoming afraid, said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your kind acts came up for a memorial before God,

and now send men to Joppa, and send for a certain one Simon, who is surnamed Peter;

this one lodges with a certain Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea; this one will speak to you what you must do.”

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

and having expounded all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

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

And on the next day, as these are proceeding on the way, and are drawing near to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour,

and he became very hungry, and wished to eat; and they making ready, there fell on him a trance,

and he beholds Heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending to him, as a great sheet, bound at the four corners, and let down on the earth,

in which were all the four-footed beasts of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the birds of the sky,

and there came a voice to him: “Having risen, Peter, slay and eat.”

And Peter said, “Not so, Lord; because at no time did I eat anything common or unclean”;

and [there is] a voice again a second time to him: “What God cleansed, you do not declare common”;

and this was done three times, and again was the vessel received up to Heaven.

Peter Called to Caesarea

And as Peter was perplexed in himself what the vision that he saw might be, then, behold, the men who have been sent from Cornelius, having made inquiry for the house of Simon, stood at the gate,

and having called, they were asking if Simon, who is surnamed Peter, lodges here.

And Peter thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you;

but having risen, go down and go on with them, doubting nothing, because I have sent them”;

and Peter having come down to the men who have been sent from Cornelius to him, said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek, what [is] the cause for which you are present?”

And 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 you, to his house, and to hear sayings from you.”

Having called them in, therefore, he lodged them, and on the next day Peter went forth with them, and certain of the brothers from Joppa went with him,

Peter Visits Cornelius

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

and as it came that Peter entered in, Cornelius having met him, having fallen at [his] feet, worshiped [him];

and Peter raised him, saying, “Stand up; I am also a man myself”;

and talking with him he went in, and finds many having come together.

And he said to them, “You know how it is unlawful for a man, a Jew, to keep company with, or to come to, one of another race, but God showed to me to call no man common or unclean;

therefore also without contradicting I came, having been sent for; I ask, therefore, for what matter you sent for me?”

And Cornelius said, “Four days ago until this hour, I was fasting, and [at] the ninth hour praying in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in radiant clothing,

and he said, Cornelius, your prayer was heard, and your kind acts were remembered before God;

send, therefore, to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter; this one lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea, who having come, will speak to you;

at once, therefore, I sent to you; you also did well, having come; now, therefore, we are all present before God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”

Good News for the Gentiles

And Peter having opened his mouth, said, “Of a truth, I perceive that God is not favoring by appearance,

but in every nation he who is fearing Him, and is working righteousness, is acceptable to Him;

the word that He sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming good news—peace through Jesus Christ (this One is Lord of all),

you have known the word that came throughout all Judea, having begun from Galilee, after the immersion that John preached;

Jesus who [is] from Nazareth—how God anointed 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;

and we are witnesses of all things that He did, both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem—whom they slew, having hanged [Him] on a tree.

This One God raised up [on] the third day, and gave Him to become visible,

not to all the people, but to witnesses, to those having been chosen before by God—to us who ate with [Him], and drank with Him, after His rising out of the dead;

and He commanded us to preach to the people, and to fully testify that it is He who has been ordained judge of living and dead by God—

to this One do all the Prophets testify, that through His Name everyone that is believing in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

(Acts 19:1–7)

While Peter is yet speaking these sayings, the Holy Spirit fell on all those hearing the word,

and those of circumcision [who were] believing were astonished—as many as came with Peter—because the gift of the Holy Spirit has also been poured out on the nations,

for they were hearing them speaking with tongues and magnifying God.

Then Peter answered, “Is anyone able to forbid the water, that these may not be immersed, who received the Holy Spirit—even as us also?”

He commanded them to also be immersed in the Name of the LORD; then they implored him to remain certain days.

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”