¹Now there was a certain man in Caesarea , Cornelius by name , a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

²a 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 .

³At about the ninth hour of the day , he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him , “Cornelius !”[#10:3 3:00 p.m.]

⁴He , 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 .

⁵Now send men to Joppa , and get Simon , who is also called Peter .

⁶He is staying with a tanner named Simon , whose house is by the seaside.[#10:6 TR adds “This one will tell you what it is necessary for you to do.”]

⁷When 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 .

⁸Having explained everything to them , he sent them to Joppa .

⁹Now 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 .

¹⁰He became hungry and desired to eat , but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance .

¹¹He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him , like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth ,

¹²in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth , wild animals , reptiles , and birds of the sky .

¹³A voice came to him , “Rise, Peter , kill and eat !”

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

¹⁵A voice came to him again the second time , “ What God has cleansed , you must not call unclean .”

¹⁶This was done three times , and immediately the thing was received up into heaven .

¹⁷Now 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 enquiry for Simon ’s house , stood before the gate ,

¹⁸and called and asked whether Simon , who was also called Peter , was lodging there .

¹⁹While Peter was pondering the vision , the Spirit said to him , “Behold , three men seek you .[#10:19 Reading from TR and NU. MT omits “three”]

²⁰But arise, get down , and go with them , doubting nothing ; for I have sent them .”

²¹Peter went down to the men , and said , “Behold , I am he whom you seek . Why have you come ?”

²²They 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 .”

²³So 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 .

²⁴On the next day they entered into Caesarea . Cornelius was waiting for them , having called together his relatives and his near friends .

²⁵When Peter entered , Cornelius met him , fell down at his feet , and worshipped him .

²⁶But Peter raised him up , saying , “Stand up ! I myself am also a man.”

²⁷As he talked with him , he went in and found many gathered together .

²⁸He 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 .

²⁹Therefore I also came without complaint when I was sent for . I ask therefore , why did you send for me ?”

³⁰Cornelius 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[#10:30 3:00 p.m.]

³¹and said , ‘Cornelius , your prayer is heard , and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God .

³²Send 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 .’

³³Therefore 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 .”

³⁴Peter opened his mouth and said , “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favouritism;

³⁵but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him .

³⁶The word which he sent to the children of Israel , preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ —he is Lord of all —

³⁷you yourselves know what happened , which was proclaimed throughout all Judea , beginning from Galilee , after the baptism which John preached ;

³⁸how 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 .

³⁹We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem ; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree .[#10:39 TR omits “also”]

⁴⁰God raised him up the third day and gave him to be revealed,

⁴¹not 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 .

⁴²He 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 .

⁴³All the prophets testify about him , that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”

⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking these words , the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word .

⁴⁵They 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 .

⁴⁶For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God .

Then Peter answered,

⁴⁷“Can anyone forbid these people from being baptised with water ? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us .”

⁴⁸He commanded them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ . Then they asked him to stay some days .