Acts of the Apostles 10

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 One of the centurions of the Italica cohort stationed in Caesarea was cal ed Cornelius.	1 Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Cohort called the Italica,
2 He and the whole of his household were devout and God-fearing, and he gave generously to Jewishcauses and prayed constantly to God.	2 devout and God-fearing along with his whole household, who used to give alms generously to the Jewish people and pray to God constantly.
3 One day at about the ninth hour he had a vision in which he distinctly saw the angel of God come intohis house and cal out to him, 'Cornelius!'	3 One afternoon about three o'clock, he saw plainly in a vision an angel of God come in to him and say to him, "Cornelius."
4 He stared at the vision in terror and exclaimed, 'What is it, Lord?' The angel answered, 'Your prayersand charitable gifts have been accepted by God.	4 He looked intently at him and, seized with fear, said, "What is it, sir?" He said to him, "Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
5 Now you must send some men to Jaffa and fetch a man cal ed Simon, known as Peter,	5 Now send some men to Joppa and summon one Simon who is called Peter.
6 who is lodging with Simon the tanner whose house is by the sea.'	6 He is staying with another Simon, a tanner, who has a house by the sea."
7 When the angel who said this had gone, Cornelius cal ed two of the slaves and a devout soldier of hisstaff,	7 When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from his staff,
8 told them al that had happened, and sent them off to Jaffa.	8 explained everything to them, and sent them to Joppa.
9 Next day, while they were still on their journey and had only a short distance to go before reaching thetown, Peter went to the housetop at about the sixth hour to say his prayers.	9 The next day, while they were on their way and nearing the city, Peter went up to the roof terrace to pray at about noontime.
10 He felt hungry and was looking forward to his meal, but before it was ready he fel into a trance	10 He was hungry and wished to eat, and while they were making preparations he fell into a trance.
11 and saw heaven thrown open and something like a big sheet being let down to earth by its fourcorners;	11 He saw heaven opened and something resembling a large sheet coming down, lowered to the ground by its four corners.
12 it contained every kind of animal, reptile and bird.	12 In it were all the earth's four-legged animals and reptiles and the birds of the sky.
13 A voice then said to him, 'Now, Peter, kil and eat!'	13 A voice said to him, "Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat."
14 But Peter answered, 'Certainly not, Lord; I have never yet eaten anything profane or unclean.'	14 But Peter said, "Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane and unclean."
15 Again, a second time, the voice spoke to him, 'What God has made clean, you have no right to callprofane.'	15 The voice spoke to him again, a second time, "What God has made clean, you are not to call profane."
16 This was repeated three times, and then suddenly the container was drawn up to heaven again.	16 This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into the sky.
17 Peter was still at a loss over the meaning of the vision he had seen, when the men sent by Corneliusarrived. They had asked where Simon's house was and they were now standing at the door,	17 While Peter was in doubt about the meaning of the vision he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius asked for Simon's house and arrived at the entrance.
18 cal ing out to know if the Simon known as Peter was lodging there.	18 They called out inquiring whether Simon, who is called Peter, was staying there.
19 While Peter's mind was stil on the vision, the Spirit told him, 'Look! Some men have come to see you.	19 As Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said (to him), "There are three men here looking for you.
20 Hurry down, and do not hesitate to return with them; it was I who told them to come.'	20 So get up, go downstairs, and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them."
21 Peter went down and said to them, 'I am the man you are looking for; why have you come?'	21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your being here?"
22 They said, 'The centurion Cornelius, who is an upright and God-fearing man, highly regarded by theentire Jewish people, was told by God through a holy angel to send for you and bring you to his house and tolisten to what you have to say.'	22 They answered, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, respected by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear what you have to say."
23 So Peter asked them in and gave them lodging. Next day, he was ready to go off with them,accompanied by some of the brothers from Jaffa.	23 So he invited them in and showed them hospitality. The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.
24 They reached Caesarea the following day, and Cornelius was waiting for them. He had asked hisrelations and close friends to be there,	24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 and as Peter reached the house Cornelius went out to meet him, fel at his feet and did himreverence.	25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage.
26 But Peter helped him up. 'Stand up,' he said, ' after al , I am only a man!'	26 Peter, however, raised him up, saying, "Get up. I myself am also a human being."
27 Talking together they went in to meet all the people assembled there,	27 While he conversed with him, he went in and found many people gathered together
28 and Peter said to them, 'You know it is forbidden for Jews to mix with people of another race and visitthem; but God has made it clear to me that I must not cal anyone profane or unclean.	28 and said to them, "You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with, or visit, a Gentile, but God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean.
29 That is why I made no objection to coming when I was sent for; but I should like to know exactly whyyou sent for me.'	29 And that is why I came without objection when sent for. May I ask, then, why you summoned me?"
30 Cornelius replied, 'At this time three days ago I was in my house saying the prayers for the ninth hour,when I suddenly saw a man in front of me in shining robes.	30 Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this hour, three o'clock in the afternoon, I was at prayer in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling robes stood before me and said,
31 He said, "Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have not been forgotten byGod;	31 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving remembered before God.
32 so now you must send to Jaffa and fetch Simon known as Peter who is lodging in the house of Simonthe tanner, by the sea."	32 Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest 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. Here we al are, assembled infront of you to hear al the instructions God has given you.'	33 So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to listen to all that you have been commanded by the Lord."
34 Then Peter addressed them, 'I now real y understand', he said, 'that God has no favourites,	34 Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
35 but that anybody of any nationality who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.	35 Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.
36 'God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace wasbrought by Jesus Christ -- he is the Lord of al .	36 You know the word (that) he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
37 You know what happened al over Judaea, how Jesus of Nazareth began in Galilee, after John hadbeen preaching baptism.	37 what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached,
38 God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesuswent about doing good and curing al who had fal en into the power of the devil.	38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39 Now we are witnesses to everything he did throughout the countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalemitself: and they kil ed him by hanging him on a tree,	39 We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and (in) Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.
40 yet on the third day God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen,	40 This man God raised (on) the third day and granted that he be visible,
41 not by the whole people but only by certain witnesses that God had chosen beforehand. Now we arethose witnesses -- we have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead-	41 not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42 and he has ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to bear witness that God has appointed himto judge everyone, alive or dead.	42 He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.
43 It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that al who believe in Jesus wil have their sinsforgiven through his name.'	43 To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name."
44 While Peter was stil speaking the Holy Spirit came down on al the listeners.	44 While Peter was still speaking these things, the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.
45 Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were al astonished that the gift of the Holy Spiritshould be poured out on gentiles too,	45 The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also,
46 since they could hear them speaking strange languages and proclaiming the greatness of God. Peterhimself then said,	46 for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded,
47 'Could anyone refuse the water of baptism to these people, now they have received the Holy Spiritjust as we have?'	47 "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?"
48 He then gave orders for them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterwards they begged himto stay on for some days.	48 He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
	49 Then they invited him to stay for a few days.