Peter and Cornelius
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At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of 1what was known as the Italian Cohort,
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a devout man 2who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
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3About the ninth hour of the daya4he saw clearly in a vision 5an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius."
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And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms 6have ascended 7as a memorial before God.
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And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.
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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,
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and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter's Vision
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The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, 9Peter went up 10on the housetop about 11the sixth hourb to pray.
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And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into 12a trance
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and saw 13the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.
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In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
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And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
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But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; 14for I have never eaten anything that is 15common or 16unclean."
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This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
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Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what 18the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, 19the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate
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and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.
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And while Peter was pondering 20the vision, 21the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you.
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And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?"
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And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and 23God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by 24a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and 25to hear what you have to say."
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So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and 26some of 27the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
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And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
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And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.
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And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew 31to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but 32God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
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So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."
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And Cornelius said, 33"Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at 34the ninth hour,c and behold, 35a man stood before me in bright clothing
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and said, 'Cornelius, 36your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.
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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.'
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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
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As for 41the word that he sent to Israel, 42preaching good news of 43peace through Jesus Christ (44he is Lord of all),
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you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, 45beginning 46from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:
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how 47God anointed Jesus of Nazareth 48with the Holy Spirit and with 49power. He went about doing good and healing all 50who were oppressed by the devil, 51for God was with him.
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And 52we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. 53They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,
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57not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as 58witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
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And 59he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify 60that he is the one appointed by God to be judge 61of the living and the dead.
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62To him 63all the prophets bear witness that 64everyone who believes in him receives 65forgiveness of sins 66through his name."
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
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And the believers from among 68the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because 69the gift of the Holy Spirit 70was poured out even on the Gentiles.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)