Acts 10
Peter and Cornelius
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of awhat was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man awho feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 aAbout the ninth hour of the day bhe saw clearly in a vision can angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms ahave ascended bas a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging awith one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, aPeter went up bon the housetop about cthe sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into aa trance 11 and saw athe heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; afor I have never eaten anything that is bcommon or cunclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, a“What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what athe vision that he had seen might mean, behold, bthe men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering athe vision, bthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and aaccompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and aGod-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by ba holy angel to send for you to come to his house and cto hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.
The next day he rose and went away with them, and asome of bthe brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and afell down at his feet and bworshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, a“Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew ato associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but bGod has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
30 And Cornelius said, a“Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at bthe ninth hour, and behold, ca man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, ayour prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Gentiles Hear the Good News
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that aGod bshows no partiality, 35 but ain every nation anyone who fears him and bdoes what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for athe word that he sent to Israel, bpreaching good news of cpeace through Jesus Christ (dhe is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, abeginning bfrom Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how aGod anointed Jesus of Nazareth bwith the Holy Spirit and with cpower. He went about doing good and healing all dwho were oppressed by the devil, efor God was with him. 39 And awe are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. bThey put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but aGod raised him on bthe third day and made him to cappear, 41 anot to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as bwitnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And ahe commanded us to preach to the people and to testify bthat he is the one appointed by God to be judge cof the living and the dead. 43 aTo him ball the prophets bear witness that ceveryone who believes in him receives dforgiveness of sins ethrough his name.”
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
44 While Peter was still saying these things, athe Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among athe circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because bthe gift of the Holy Spirit cwas poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them aspeaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 a“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit bjust as we have?” 48 And he acommanded them bto be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.