Acts 10:1-22 ▼

1 NOW there was a man at Cæsarea named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort called the Italic,

2 a man of piety, and who feared God with all his house, giving much alms to the people, and praying to God continually.

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

4 Then looking stedfastly on him, and being terrified, he said, What means this, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and inquire for Simon, who is surnamed Peter:

6 he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is near the sea: this man will tell thee what thou must do.

7 But when the angel departed who spake to Cornelius, he called two of his domestics, and a pious soldier, persons who constantly were in attendance upon him;

8 and relating all things to them, sent them to Joppa.

9 Then the next morning, as they were on their journey, and drew near to the city, Peter went up to the flat roof to pray about the sixth hour:

10 and he grew very hungry, and desired something to eat: but whilst they were getting it ready, a sacred ecstacy fell upon him.

11 And he saw heaven opened, and there descended to him a certain vessel, as a great sheet with chains at the four corners, and resting upon the earth:

12 in which were all the quadrupeds of the earth, and wild beasts, and reptiles, and birds of the air.

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

14 But Peter said, By no means, Lord for I have never at any time eaten of any thing common or unclean.

15 And the voice again a second time came to him, What God hath cleansed, call not thou unclean.

16 This was thrice repeated: and the vessel was again taken up into heaven.

17 But while Peter was perplexed in himself what was meant by the vision which he had seen, then, behold! the men which had been sent by Cornelius having inquired out the house of Simon, stood before the door,

18 and calling, asked if Simon, surnamed Peter, lodged there.

19 But while Peter was musing upon the vision, the Spirit said to him, Lo! three men are inquiring after thee.

20 Arise then, and go down, and go with them, entertaining no doubt, for I have sent them.

21 Then Peter went down to the men who were sent by Cornelius to him; and said, Lo! I am the person that ye ask for: what is the business on which ye are come hither?

22 Then they said, Cornelius a centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report with all the nation of the Jews, has been divinely admonished by a holy angel to send for thee to his house, to hear words from thee.