Cornelius Sends for Peter 1Fvrthermore there was a certaine man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a captaine of the band called the Italian band, 2A deuoute man, and one that feared God with all his housholde, which gaue much almes to the people, and prayed God continually. 3He sawe in a vision euidently (about the ninth houre of the day) an Angel of God coming in to him, and saying vnto him, Cornelius. 4But when hee looked on him, hee was afrayd, and sayd, What is it, Lord? And he sayd vnto him, Thy prayers & thine almes are come vp into remembrance before God. 5Nowe therefore send men to Ioppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter. 6Hee lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to doe. 7And 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, 8And tolde them all things, and sent them to Ioppa. Peter’s Vision 9On 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. 10Then waxed hee an hungred, and would haue eaten: but while they made some thing ready, he fell into a trance. 11And hee sawe heauen opened, and a certaine vessell come downe vnto him, as it had bene a great sheete, knit at the foure corners, & was let downe to the earth. 12Wherein were all maner of foure footed beastes of the earth, and wilde beastes and creeping things, and foules of the heauen. 13And there came a voyce to him, Arise, Peter: kill, and eate. 14But Peter sayd, Not so, Lord: for I haue neuer eaten any thing that is polluted, or vncleane. 15And the voyce spake vnto him againe the second time, The things that God hath purified, pollute thou not. 16This was so done thrise: and the vessell was drawen vp againe into heauen. Peter Called to Caesarea 17Nowe 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, 18And called, and asked, whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there. 19And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit sayde vnto him, Beholde, three men seeke thee. 20Arise therefore, and get thee downe, and goe with them, and doute nothing: For I haue sent them. 21Then 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? 22And 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. 23Then 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 24And the day after, they entred into Cesarea. Nowe Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsemen, and special friends. 25And it came to passe as Peter came in, that Cornelius met him, and fell downe at his feete, and worshipped him. 26But Peter tooke him vp, saying, Stand vp: for euen I my selfe am a man. 27And as he talked with him, he came in, and found many that were come together. 28And 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. 29Therefore came I vnto you without saying nay, when I was sent for. I aske therefore, for what intent haue ye sent for me? 30Then Cornelius sayd, Foure dayes agoe, about this houre, I fasted, & at the ninth houre I prayed in mine house, and beholde, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31And sayd, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine almes are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32Send 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. 33Then 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 34Then Peter opened his mouth, and sayd, Of a trueth I perceiue, that God is no accepter of persons. 35But in euery nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousnesse, is accepted with him. 36Ye know the worde which God hath sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Iesus Christ, which is Lord of all: 37Euen the worde which came through all Iudea, beginning in Galile, after the baptisme which Iohn preached. 38To 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. 39And 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. 40Him God raysed vp the third day, and caused that he was shewed openly: 41Not 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. 42And 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. 43To 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 44While Peter yet spake these wordes, the holy Ghost fell on al them which heard the word. 45So 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. 46For they heard them speake with tongues, and magnifie God. Then answered Peter, 47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which haue receiued the holy Ghost, as well as we? 48So he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tary certaine dayes. |
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