Acts 10:1-14 ▼

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

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

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

4 Cornelius 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 Now send men to Joppa to call for Simon who is called Peter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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