10:1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a Roman army captain of the Italian Division.

10:2 He and his household feared God and performed many acts of charity to people, praying to God continually.

10:3 One afternoon he had a vision and clearly saw a Messenger of God coming to him and saying, “Cornelius!”

10:4 He stared at him in fright and said, “What is it, sir?”“Your prayers and charitable acts have been noted and recorded by God,” the Messenger answered.

10:5 “Now send men to Joppa and have them ask for someone named Simon, who is also called Peter.

10:6 He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.”

10:7 When the Messenger who had spoken to him departed, he summoned two of his house servants and a devout soldier who was in his service.

10:8 He told them all about this and sent them off to Joppa.

10:9 The next day, as they were approaching the city, Peter went up onto the housetop around mid-day to pray.

10:10 He became very hungry and wanted something to eat. But while the food was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

10:11 He saw heaven open, and descending from it was a container like a large sheet being lowered to the ground by its four corners.

10:12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles of the earth and birds of the sky.

10:13 Then he heard a voice: “Get up, Peter! Slaughter and eat!”

10:14 “Absolutely not, Master!” Peter objected, “For I never ate anything lowly or unclean!”

10:15 He heard the voice again: “What God has cleansed, do not call ‘contaminated’.”

10:16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken up to heaven.

10:17 Now while Peter was completely baffled about the meaning of the vision he had seen, suddenly the men who had been sent to him by Cornelius had asked the way to the house of Simon and were standing at the door.

10:18 They inquired as to whether Simon, who was also known as Peter, was staying in that place.

10:19 As Peter continued to be engrossed in the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look! Three men are looking for you.

10:20 Now get up and go with them, without prejudice, for I have sent them.”

10:21 So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you’re looking for. Why are you here?”

10:22 They replied, “Cornelius, a Roman army captain and a God-fearing, righteous man with a good reputation among the whole Judaic nation, was told by a holy Messenger to have you come to his house, so he could hear what you have to proclaim.”

10:23 He invited them in for the night. Early the next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the fellow believers from Joppa.

10:24 The day after that he entered Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting with the relatives and close friends he had gathered there.

10:25 As Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship.

10:26 But Peter lifted him up and said, “Get up! I am only human!”

10:27 He spoke to him briefly and went inside, where he found a large gathering.

10:28 So Peter said to them, “You know very well that it is illegal for a Judean to associate or join with another nationality. But God showed me that I must not call anyone contaminated or unclean.

10:29 For that reason I came without prejudice when I was sent for. So now I need to know why you sent for me.”

10:30 Cornelius explained: “Four days ago at about this time, in the middle of the afternoon, I was fasting and praying in my house. Suddenly a man was standing in front of me, dressed in radiant clothing.

10:31 He said, ‘Cornelius! Your prayer has been heard and your charitable deeds have been noted and recorded before God.

10:32 So send people to Joppa to call for Simon who is known as Peter. He is staying at the house of a tanner named Simon, by the sea.’

10:33 I sent them to you right away, and you were good enough to come. So now, here we all are before God to hear everything you were ordered by the Master to say.”

10:34 Then Peter began to speak: “Now I truly understand that God is impartial.

10:35 Regardless of the nation, it is the one who fears him and acts righteously that he accepts.

10:36 “You are well aware of the word he sent to the people of Israel, bringing the Gospel of peace through Jesus the Anointed, who is Master of all.

10:37 You are aware of what happened throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the immersion proclaimed by John.

10:38 Jesus of Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and power, went around helping and healing all who were victimized by the Adversary, for God was with him.

10:39 “And we are witnesses of everything he did, throughout Judea and especially in Jerusalem, where they put him to death by crucifixion.

10:40 But God raised this One on the third day and allowed him to be seen—

10:41 not by all the people but by us, who were selected as witnesses beforehand by God, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

10:42 And he made us responsible for proclaiming to the people that we vouch for this One who was singled out by God to judge the living and the dead.

10:43 The prophets all testify about this One, and everyone who puts their trust in him will receive pardon for their failures through his name.”

10:44 While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the message.

10:45 Seeing that the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the non-Judeans amazed the Judean believers who had accompanied Peter,

10:46 for they heard them speaking in supernatural languages and praising God.Then Peter responded:

10:47 “Can anyone prevent these people from being immersed in water, since they received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”

10:48 So he had them immersed in the name of Jesus the Anointed. Then they asked him to stay a few days.