| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | Berean Study Bible |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment. |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly. |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God. |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray. |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate. |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there. |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.” |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?” |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.” |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa. |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. |
| 29[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 29So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?” |
| 30[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 30Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me |
| 31[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God. |
| 32[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 32Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ |
| 33[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 33So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.” |
| 34[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 34Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, |
| 35[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 35but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. |
| 36[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 36He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. |
| 37[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 37You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed: |
| 38[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. |
| 39[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 39We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, |
| 40[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 40God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen— |
| 41[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 41not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. |
| 42[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 42And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. |
| 43[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” |
| 44[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. |
| 45[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 45All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. |
| 46[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said, |
| 47[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 47“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” |
| 48[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days. |
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