New King James Version

King James Bible

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

1There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

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

2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

3About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

3He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

4And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.

5And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

6He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”

6He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

7And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.

7And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

8And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.

9On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance

10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.

11And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

16This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

17Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,

18And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

18And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.

19While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

20Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

21Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

22And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.”

22And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

23Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

23Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

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

24And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

25As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.

25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

26But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”

26But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.

27And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

28Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

28And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

29Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

29Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

30So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

30And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.

31And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

32Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’

32Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

33So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

33Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

34Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

36The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—

36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

37that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who 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 Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

39And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.

39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

40Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,

40Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

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

41Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

42And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

42And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

43To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

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

44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

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

48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.