Chapter 10

¹But a certain man in Caesarea, -- by name Cornelius, a centurion of the band called Italic, ²pious, and fearing God with all his house, [both] giving much alms to the people, and supplicating God continually, ³-- saw plainly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius. ⁴But he, having fixed his eyes upon him, and become full of fear, said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thine alms have gone up for a memorial before God. ⁵And now send men to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter. ⁶He lodges with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. ⁷And when the angel who was speaking to him had departed, having called two of his household and a pious soldier of those who were constantly with him, ⁸and related all things to them, he sent them to Joppa. ⁹And on the morrow, as these were journeying and drawing near to the city, Peter went up on the house to pray, about the sixth hour. ¹⁰And he became hungry and desired to eat. But as they were making ready an ecstasy came upon him: ¹¹and he beholds the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as a great sheet, [bound] by [the] four corners [and] let down to the earth; ¹²in which were all the quadrupeds and creeping things of the earth, and the fowls of the heaven. ¹³And there was a voice to him, Rise, Peter, slay and eat. ¹⁴And Peter said, In no wise, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common or unclean. ¹⁵And [there was] a voice again the second time to him, What God has cleansed, do not thou make common. ¹⁶And this took place thrice, and the vessel was straightway taken up into heaven. ¹⁷And as Peter doubted in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold also the men who were sent by Cornelius, having sought out the house of Simon, stood at the gate, ¹⁸and having called [some one], they inquired if Simon who was surnamed Peter was lodged there. ¹⁹But as Peter continued pondering over the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek thee; ²⁰but rise up, go down, and go with them, nothing doubting, because I have sent them. ²¹And Peter going down to the men said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause for which ye come? ²²And they said, Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man, and fearing God, and borne witness to by the whole nation of the Jews, has been divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for thee to his house, and hear words from thee. ²³Having therefore invited them in, he lodged them. And on the morrow, rising up he went away with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa went with him. ²⁴And on the morrow they came to Caesarea. But Cornelius was looking for them, having called together his kinsmen and [his] intimate friends. ²⁵And when Peter was now coming in, Cornelius met him, and falling down did [him] homage. ²⁶But Peter made him rise, saying, Rise up: I myself also am a man. ²⁷And he went in, talking with him, and found many gathered together. ²⁸And he said to them, Ye know how it is unlawful for a Jew to be joined or come to one of a strange race, and to me God has shewn to call no man common or unclean. ²⁹Wherefore also, having been sent for, I came without saying anything against it. I inquire therefore for what reason ye have sent for me. ³⁰And Cornelius said, Four days ago I had been [fasting] unto this hour, and the ninth [I was] praying in my house, and lo, a man stood before me in bright clothing, ³¹and said, Cornelius, thy prayer has been heard, and thy alms have come in remembrance before God. ³²Send therefore to Joppa and fetch Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea [who when he is come will speak to thee]. ³³Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast well done in coming. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God. ³⁴And Peter opening his mouth said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, ³⁵but in every nation he that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. ³⁶The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, (he is Lord of all things,) ³⁷ye know; the testimony which has spread through the whole of Judaea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached -- ³⁸Jesus who [was] of Nazareth: how God anointed him with [the] Holy Spirit and with power; who went through [all quarters] doing good, and healing all that were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. ³⁹We also [are] witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also slew, having hanged him on a cross. ⁴⁰This [man] God raised up the third day and gave him to be openly seen, ⁴¹not of all the people, but of witnesses who were chosen before of God, us who have eaten and drunk with him after he arose from among [the] dead. ⁴²And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he it is who was determinately appointed of God [to be] judge of living and dead. ⁴³To him all the prophets bear witness that every one that believes on him will receive through his name remission of sins. ⁴⁴While Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were hearing the word. ⁴⁵And the faithful of the circumcision were astonished, as many as came with Peter, that upon the nations also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out: ⁴⁶for they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷Can any one forbid water that these should not be baptised, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also [did]? ⁴⁸And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay some days.