Cornelius Sends for Peter

1And a certain man in Caesarea, by name Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian, 2devout, and fearing God with all his house, and doing many alms to the people, and praying to God always; 3saw openly in a vision about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, Cornelius. 4And he looking upon him, and being afraid, said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayer and thine alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5And now send men to Joppa, and call for a certain Simon, who is called Peter: 6he is lodging with a certain Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea. 7And when the angel speaking to him went away, calling two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually; 8and having related all things to them, he sent them away to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9And on the following day, they traveling, and drawing nigh the city, Peter went up on the house to pray about the sixth hour. 10And he became hungry, and wished to eat: but they getting it ready, an ecstasy came on him, 11and he saw the heaven open, and a certain vessel like a great sheet came down, and resting upon the earth with four rope ends: 12in which were all quadrupeds, and creeping things of the earth, and birds of the heaven. 13And a voice came to him, Arising, Peter, slay, and eat. 14And Peter said, By no means, Lord, because I never was in the habit of eating anything unconsecrated and unclean. 15And the voice again the second time came to him, Whatsoever things God has cleansed, do not count unclean; 16and this took place the third time; and immediately the vessel was received up into the heaven.

Peter Called to Caesarea

17And while Peter was at a loss within himself, as to what the vision he saw might be, behold, the men having been sent by Cornelius, making inquiry for the house of Simon, stood at the gate, 18and having called, they were asking, if Simon, called Peter, lodges there. 19And Peter meditating concerning the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, men are seeking thee; 20but rising up, come down, and go with them, doubting nothing: because I have sent them. 21And Peter having come down to the men, said, Behold, I am he whom you are seeking: what is the cause on account of which you are present? 22And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a man righteous and fearing God, and being of good report by all the nation of the Jews, was warned by a holy angel to send for thee to come into his house, and to hear words with thee. 23Then having called them in, he lodged them. And on the following day, rising up he went out with them, and certain ones of the brethren, who were from Joppa went along with him.

Peter Visits Cornelius

24And on the following day they came into Caesarea; and Cornelius was expecting them, having called together his own relatives and near friends. 25And when it came to pass that Peter was coming in, Cornelius meeting him, falling down at his feet, worshiped. 26And Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I also am a man. 27And conversing with him, he came in, and finds many having come together; 28and he said to them, You know how it is an unlawful thing for a Jewish man to associate with, or come to one of another nation; and God has shown me not to call any man unconsecrated or unclean. 29Therefore indeed, being sent for, I came unhesitatingly. Then I make inquiry for what word did you send for me?

30And Cornelius said, From the fourth day until this hour, indeed the ninth, I was praying in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in shining apparel, 31and says, Cornelius, thy prayer has been heard, and thine alms have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon the tanner by the sea. 33Then I immediately sent for thee; and thou hast done well being present. Now therefore we are all present before God, to hear all things which have been commanded thee of the Lord.

Good News for the Gentiles

34And Peter, opening his mouth, said, In truth I apprehend that God is no respecter of persons: 35but in every nation the one fearing him, and working righteousness, is acceptable to him; 36the word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ: he is Lord of all. 37This word you know, which was throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38Jesus, the one from Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Ghost and power: who went about doing good, and healing all oppressed by the devil: because God is with Him. 39And we are witnesses in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they even slew, hanging him on the wood. 40God raised him on the third day, and gave him to be made manifest; 41not to all the people, but to the witnesses having been chosen of God, to us, who ate and drank along with him after He arose from the dead: 42and He commanded us to preach to the people, and to witness that He is the One ordained of God the Judge of the living and the dead. 43And to Him give all the prophets witness, that every one believing on him receives the remission of sins through His name.

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
(Acts 19:1–7)

44Peter yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all those hearing the word. 45And the faithful ones who were of the circumcision, so many as came along with Peter, were astonished, because the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles also; 46for they were hearing them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God. 47Then Peter responded, Whether is any one able to forbid the water, that these shall not be baptized, whosoever received the Holy Ghost as we indeed? 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to tarry some days.