Berean Study Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.

1Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort,

2He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.

2a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.

3One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

3About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!"

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.

4And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

5Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.

5"Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;

6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

6he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea."

7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.

7When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants,

8He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.

8and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

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.

9On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.

10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

10But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;

11He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.

11and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,

12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.

12and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.

13Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”

13A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!"

14“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

14But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean."

15The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

15Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy."

16This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.

16This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

17While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.

17Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon's house, appeared at the gate;

18They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.

18and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.

19As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.

19While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you.

20So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”

20"But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself."

21So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”

21Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?"

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.”

22They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you."

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.

23So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

24The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

24On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.

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

26But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

26But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man."

27As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.

27As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled.

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.

28And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.

29So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”

29"That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me."

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

30Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments,

31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.

31and he said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.

32Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’

32Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.'

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.”

33"So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,

34Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,

35but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.

35but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.

36He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

36"The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)--

37You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed:

37you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed.

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.

38"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

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,

39"We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross.

40God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—

40"God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible,

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.

41not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

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.

42"And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.

43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

43"Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message.

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.

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.

45All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

46For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,

46For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,

47“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”

47"Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"

48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

48And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

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