Acts

Peter and Cornelius

There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, who was the captain of what was called the Italian Battalion.

He was a religious and God-fearing man, along with his entire household. He gave generously to people and prayed to God regularly.

One afternoon, around three o’clock, he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God approaching him and calling out:

“Cornelius!”

He looked at the vision with awe and asked:

“What is it, sir?”

The angel responded:

“Your prayers and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.

Now, send men to Joppa and bring back a man named Simon, who is called Peter;

he is staying with Simon, a tanner, who lives by the sea.”

As soon as the angel who spoke to him left, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who served him.

After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

The next day, as they were traveling toward the city, Peter went onto the roof around noon to pray.

He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing food, he fell into a trance.

The heavens were opened to him, and he saw an object that looked like a large sheet coming down until it rested on the ground by its four corners.

In it were all kinds of four-legged animals of the earth, reptiles, and birds.

Then a voice said to him:

“Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”

But Peter replied:

“Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten any defiled or unclean creature.”

And again a second time the voice spoke:

“What God has made clean you must not call unclean.”

This happened three times, and then the sheet was taken up again into the sky.

While Peter was still trying to understand the meaning of the vision he had seen, the messengers of Cornelius arrived at the gate, asking for the house of Simon.

They called out to find out if Simon, also known as Peter, was staying there.

At that moment, as Peter kept pondering the vision, the Spirit spoke to him:

“Men are looking for you;

get up and go downstairs and follow them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

So Peter went to the men and said:

“I am the one you are looking for. What brings you here?”

They replied:

“He who sent us is Captain Cornelius. He is an upright and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jewish people. He has been instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house so that he may listen to what you have to say.”

Then Peter invited them in and accommodated them for the night. The next day, he went with them, accompanied by some of the believers from Joppa.

On the following day, he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting him; he had gathered his relatives and close friends.

As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius approached him, fell to his knees, and bowed low.

Peter lifted him up, saying:

“Stand up, for I too am a human being.”

After talking with him, Peter entered and saw that many people had gathered there.

Then he said to them:

“You know that it is forbidden for Jews to associate with anyone from another nation or to enter their houses. But God has made it clear to me that no one should call any person common or unclean;

because of this, I came at once when I was sent for. Now, I would like to know why you sent for me.”

Cornelius replied:

“Just three days ago at this exact time, around three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house when a man dressed in shining clothes appeared before me

and said: ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer, and your gifts have been remembered before Him.

Send someone to Joppa and ask for Simon, also known as Peter, who is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’

So I immediately sent for you, and you have kindly come. Now we are all here in God’s presence, waiting to hear everything the Lord has commanded you to say.”

At Cornelius’ House

Peter then addressed them: “Truly, I realize that God does not show favoritism,

rather, in every nation, he listens to everyone who fears God and does what is right.

And this is the message he sent to the children of Israel—the good news of peace he proclaimed through Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all.

No doubt, you have heard about the event that happened throughout the entire country of the Jews, starting from Galilee, after the baptism that John preached.

You know how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went around doing good and healing all who were under the devil’s power because God was with him;

we are witnesses of everything he did throughout the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem itself.

Yet, they put him to death by hanging him on a wooden cross.

But God raised him to life on the third day and allowed him to manifest himself,

not to all the people, but to the witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God—to us who ate and drank with him after his resurrection from death.

And he commanded us to preach to the people and to bear witness that he is the one appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.

All the prophets say of him that everyone who believes in him has forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Peter was still speaking when the Holy Spirit came upon all who listened to the word.

And the believers of Jewish origin who had come with Peter were amazed: “Why! God gives and pours the Holy Spirit on foreigners also!”

For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter responded:

“Can we refuse to baptize these people with water who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

So he had them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. After that, they asked him to stay with them for some days.