Acts 10:1-4 ▼

1 Now at Caesarea [Maritima] there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Regiment,

2 a devout man and one who, along with all his household, feared God. He made many charitable donations to the Jewish people, and prayed to God always.

3 About the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had come to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4 Cornelius was frightened and stared intently at him and said, “What is it, lord (sir)?” And the angel said to him, “Your prayers and gifts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God [an offering made in remembrance of His past blessings].