Chapter 10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of
the band called the Italian Band, a devout man and one that feared God with
all his house, which gave much alms to the people and prayed to God always.
He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God
coming into him and saying unto him, Cornelius.
And when he looked on him, he was afraid and said, What is it, Lord?
And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial
before God.
And now send men to Joppa and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.
He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.
He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of
his household servants and a devout soldier of them that waited on him
continually.
And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
On the morrow, as they went on their journey and drew nigh unto the city,
Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour.
And he became very hungry and would have eaten.
But while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and a certain
vessel descending unto him as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners and
let down to the earth, wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth
and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air.
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter, kill and eat.
But Peter said, Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or
unclean.
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed,
that call not thou common.
This was done thrice, and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean,
behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's
house and stood before the gate, and called, and asked whether Simon,
which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold,
three men seek thee.
Arise, therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing,
for I have sent them.
Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius, and said,
Behold, I am he whom ye seek.
What is the cause wherefore ye are come?
And they said, Cornelius, the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God,
and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy
angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
Then called he them in, and lodged them.
And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa
accompanied him.
And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea.
And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and
near friends.
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet,
and worshipped him.
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up, I myself also am a man.
And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a
Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation.
But God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Therefore came I unto you without gain saying, as soon as I was sent for.
I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me.
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth
hour I prayed in my house.
And behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, Cornelius,
thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter.
He is lodged in the house of one Simon, a tanner by the seaside, who, when he
cometh, shall speak unto thee.
Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast well done that thou art
come.
Now therefore are we all here, present before God, to hear all things
that are commanded thee of God.
Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no
respecter of persons.
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted
with him.
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus
Christ, he is Lord of all, that word I say ye know, which was published throughout
all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power,
who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil,
for God was with him.
And we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews and
in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree.
Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly, not to all the
people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink
with him, after he rose from the dead.
And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which
was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead.
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth
in him shall receive remission of sins.
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which
heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came
with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized,
which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.