New American Standard Bible 1995

Holman Christian Standard Bible

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

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

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.

2He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God.

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!"

3About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, "Cornelius!"

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.

4Looking intently at him, he became afraid and said, "What is it, lord?" The angel told him, "Your prayers and your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God.

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

5Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter.

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

6He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea."

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,

7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household slaves and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him.

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

8After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

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.

9The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the housetop about noon.

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

10Then he became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he went into a visionary state.

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

11He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth.

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

12In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky.

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

13Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat!""

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

14No, Lord!" Peter said. "For I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean!"

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

15Again, a second time, a voice said to him, "What God has made clean, you must not call common."

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

16This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into heaven.

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;

17While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon's house, stood at the gate.

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

18They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there.

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

19While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, "Three men are here looking for you.

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

20Get up, go downstairs, and accompany them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them."

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?"

21Then Peter went down to the men and said, "Here I am, the one you're looking for. What is the reason you're here?"

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."

22They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you."

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.

23Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.

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

24The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

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

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

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

26But Peter helped him up and said, "Stand up! I myself am also a man."

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

27While talking with him, he went on in and found that many had come together there.

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.

28Peter said to them, "You know it's forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean.

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."

29That's why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So I ask: Why did you send for 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,

30Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in a dazzling robe stood before me

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

31and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God's sight.

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.'

32Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner's house by the sea.'

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."

33Therefore I immediately sent for you, and you did the right thing in coming. So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord."

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

34Then Peter began to speak: "Now I really understand that God doesn't show favoritism,

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

35but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him.

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

36He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all.

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

37You know the events that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached:

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.

38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him.

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.

39We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree.

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

40God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen,

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.

41not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from 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.

42He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.

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

43All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins."

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

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message.

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.

45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

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

46For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of God. Then Peter responded, "

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?"

47Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

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

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

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.