After a Vision, a Gentile Named Cornelius Sends Men To Joppa To Get Peter
10 Now a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name— a centurion[a] from the cohort[b] being called “Italian[c]”, 2 a devout one, and one fearing God with all his household, doing many acts-of-almsgiving to the [Jewish] people, and praying to God continually— 3 saw in a vision[d] clearly[e], as-if [f] it were around the ninth[g] hour of the day, an angel of God having come-in[h] to him, and having said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And the one— having looked-intently at him, and having become terrified— said, “What is it, sir[i]?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your acts-of-almsgiving went up for a memorial before God. 5 And now, send men to Joppa, and send-for a certain Simon who is called Peter. 6 This one is lodging with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is beside the sea”. 7 And when the angel speaking to him departed, having called two of his household-servants and a devout soldier from the ones attaching-themselves[j] to him, 8 and having described everything to them, he sent them forth to Joppa.
Before They Arrive, Peter Has a Vision To Treat As Clean What God Has Made Clean
9 Now on the next day, while those ones were journeying and drawing-near to the city, Peter went up on the housetop around the sixth[k] hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and was wanting to eat. And while they were preparing it, a trance came upon him. 11 And he sees the heaven having been opened and a certain object like a large sheet coming down, being let down by four corners on the ground— 12 in which were all the four-footed-animals and reptiles of the earth, and birds of the heaven. 13 And a voice came to him, “Having arisen, Peter, slaughter and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, because I never ate anything defiled and unclean”. 15 And a voice again came to him for a second time, “The things which God made-clean[l], don’t you be making-defiled[m]”. 16 And this[n] took place three-times, and immediately the object was taken-up into heaven.
The Spirit Tells Peter He Has Sent Three Men, And He Is To Go With Them
17 Now while Peter was being greatly-perplexed within himself as to what the vision which he saw might mean, behold— the men having been sent-forth by Cornelius, having asked-repeatedly as to the house of Simon, stood at the gate. 18 And having called, they were inquiring, “Is Simon, the one being called Peter, lodging here?” 19 And while Peter was pondering about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold— three men are seeking you. 20 But[o] having arisen, go down and proceed with them not doubting[p] at all, because I have sent them forth”. 21 And Peter, having gone down to the men, said, “Behold— I am the one whom you are seeking. What is the reason for which you are-here?” 22 And the ones said, “Cornelius— a centurion, a righteous man, and one fearing God, and one being attested by the whole nation of the Jews— was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to listen-to words from you”. 23 Then having invited them in, he gave-them-lodging.
Peter Goes To Cornelius. Peter Now Understands That His Vision Pertained To Gentiles
And on the next day, having arisen, he went forth with them. And some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. 24 And on the next day, he entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was expecting them, having called together his relatives and close friends. 25 And when Peter’s entering the house came about, Cornelius— having met him, having fallen at his feet— paid-homage. 26 But Peter raised him, saying, “Stand up. I myself also am a man”. 27 And while conversing-with him, he went in and finds many having come-together. 28 And he said to them, “You know how it is unlawful for a Jewish man to be joining[q] or coming-to[r] a foreigner. And-yet God showed me that I should be calling no person defiled or unclean. 29 Therefore, having been sent-for, I indeed came without-objection. So I ask, for what reason did you send-for me?” 30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago at this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth[s] hour, and behold— a man stood before me in shining clothing. 31 And he says, ‘Cornelius, your prayer was heard, and your acts-of-almsgiving were remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is called Peter. This one is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, beside the sea’. 33 Therefore I sent to you at-once, and you did[t] well, having come. So now we are all here before God to hear all the things having been commanded you by the Lord”.
Peter Begins Proclaiming The Gospel To Cornelius
34 And Peter, having opened his mouth, said, “I understand, in accordance with [God’s] truth, that God is not a respecter-of-persons, 35 but in every nation, the one fearing Him and working righteousness is acceptable[u] to Him. 36 As to the message which He sent-forth to the sons of Israel announcing-the-good-news-of peace through Jesus Christ, this One is Lord of all[v]. 37 You know the matter[w] having taken place throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed[x], 38 as to Jesus from Nazareth— how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power; Who went about doing-good and healing all the ones being oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of everything which He did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; Whom indeed they killed, having hung Him on a cross. 40 God raised this One on the third day, and granted that He become visible— 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses having been chosen-beforehand by God; to us, who ate with and drank with Him after He rose-up from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to proclaim to the people, and to solemnly-warn that this One is the One having been designated[y] by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify concerning[z] this One, that everyone believing in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name”.
While Peter Is Speaking, The Spirit Falls On These Gentiles Just Like At Pentecost
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all the ones hearing the message. 45 And the believers of the circumcision— all-who came with Peter— were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured-out also on the Gentiles! 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter responded, 47 “No one is able to forbid[aa] the water so that these may not be baptized, is he?— who received the Holy Spirit as also we did. 48 And he commanded that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.
Footnotes
- Acts 10:1 That is, commander of 100 soldiers.
- Acts 10:1 That is, battalion of Roman soldiers, one tenth of a legion, and thus about 600 soldiers.
- Acts 10:1 This may mean it was made up of native Italians. Cornelius may have volunteered for this duty in order to come to Israel.
- Acts 10:3 Or, sight.
- Acts 10:3 Or, distinctly, plainly.
- Acts 10:3 That is, as if it were broad daylight inside his house. Some manuscripts simply say ‘about’.
- Acts 10:3 That is, 3 p.m.
- Acts 10:3 That is, come into his house.
- Acts 10:4 Or, lord, as in Rev 7:14.
- Acts 10:7 Or, devoting-themselves to him. That is, not ones merely ‘attached to’ his regiment, but ones attaching-themselves to him personally; friends; fellow God-fearers.
- Acts 10:9 That is, noon.
- Acts 10:15 Or, declared-clean, treated-as-clean.
- Acts 10:15 Or, declaring-defiled, treating-as-defiled. Note the change in tense.
- Acts 10:16 That is, this conversation.
- Acts 10:20 That is, in contrast to what your conscience will tell you.
- Acts 10:20 Or, hesitating, wavering.
- Acts 10:28 Or, associating with, keeping-company with.
- Acts 10:28 That is, coming to his home.
- Acts 10:30 That is, at my 3 o’clock prayers.
- Acts 10:33 Or, acted commendably.
- Acts 10:35 Or, welcome. That is, even non-Jews fearing and obeying the true God are welcome to Him. They do not have to become Jews first, a revolutionary idea to Peter.
- Acts 10:36 That is, Jews and Gentiles.
- Acts 10:37 Or, thing.
- Acts 10:37 Or, proclaimed: how God anointed Him— Jesus from Nazareth— with.
- Acts 10:42 Or, ordained, appointed.
- Acts 10:43 Or, to this.
- Acts 10:47 Or, withhold.