Acts of the Apostles 10

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW JERUSALEM
1 One of the centurions of the Italica cohort stationed in Caesarea was cal ed Cornelius.	1 One of the centurions of the Italica cohort stationed in Caesarea was cal ed Cornelius.
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 He and the whole of his household were devout and God-fearing, and he gave generously to Jewishcauses and prayed constantly to God.
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 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!'
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 stared at the vision in terror and exclaimed, 'What is it, Lord?' The angel answered, 'Your prayersand charitable gifts have been accepted by God.
5 Now you must send some men to Jaffa and fetch a man cal ed Simon, known as Peter,	5 Now you must send some men to Jaffa and fetch a man cal ed Simon, known as Peter,
6 who is lodging with Simon the tanner whose house is by the sea.'	6 who is lodging with Simon the tanner whose house is 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 said this had gone, Cornelius cal ed two of the slaves and a devout soldier of hisstaff,
8 told them al that had happened, and sent them off to Jaffa.	8 told them al that had happened, and sent them off to Jaffa.
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 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.
10 He felt hungry and was looking forward to his meal, but before it was ready he fel into a trance	10 He felt hungry and was looking forward to his meal, but before it was ready he fel into a trance
11 and saw heaven thrown open and something like a big sheet being let down to earth by its fourcorners;	11 and saw heaven thrown open and something like a big sheet being let down to earth by its fourcorners;
12 it contained every kind of animal, reptile and bird.	12 it contained every kind of animal, reptile and bird.
13 A voice then said to him, 'Now, Peter, kil and eat!'	13 A voice then said to him, 'Now, Peter, kil and eat!'
14 But Peter answered, 'Certainly not, Lord; I have never yet eaten anything profane or unclean.'	14 But Peter answered, 'Certainly not, Lord; I have never yet eaten anything profane or unclean.'
15 Again, a second time, the voice spoke to him, 'What God has made clean, you have no right to callprofane.'	15 Again, a second time, the voice spoke to him, 'What God has made clean, you have no right to callprofane.'
16 This was repeated three times, and then suddenly the container was drawn up to heaven again.	16 This was repeated three times, and then suddenly the container was drawn up to heaven again.
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 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,
18 cal ing out to know if the Simon known as Peter was lodging there.	18 cal ing out to know if the Simon known as Peter was lodging there.
19 While Peter's mind was stil on the vision, the Spirit told him, 'Look! Some men have come to see you.	19 While Peter's mind was stil on the vision, the Spirit told him, 'Look! Some men have come to see you.
20 Hurry down, and do not hesitate to return with them; it was I who told them to come.'	20 Hurry down, and do not hesitate to return with them; it was I who told them to come.'
21 Peter went down and said to them, 'I am the man you are looking for; why have you come?'	21 Peter went down and said to them, 'I am the man you are looking for; why have you come?'
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 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.'
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 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.
24 They reached Caesarea the following day, and Cornelius was waiting for them. He had asked hisrelations and close friends to be there,	24 They reached Caesarea the following day, and Cornelius was waiting for them. He had asked hisrelations and close friends to be there,
25 and as Peter reached the house Cornelius went out to meet him, fel at his feet and did himreverence.	25 and as Peter reached the house Cornelius went out to meet him, fel at his feet and did himreverence.
26 But Peter helped him up. 'Stand up,' he said, ' after al , I am only a man!'	26 But Peter helped him up. 'Stand up,' he said, ' after al , I am only a man!'
27 Talking together they went in to meet all the people assembled there,	27 Talking together they went in to meet all the people assembled there,
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 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.
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 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.'
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, '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.
31 He said, "Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have not been forgotten byGod;	31 He said, "Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have not been forgotten byGod;
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 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."
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 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.'
34 Then Peter addressed them, 'I now real y understand', he said, 'that God has no favourites,	34 Then Peter addressed them, 'I now real y understand', he said, 'that God has no favourites,
35 but that anybody of any nationality who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.	35 but that anybody of any nationality who fears him and does what is right 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 '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 .
37 You know what happened al over Judaea, how Jesus of Nazareth began in Galilee, after John hadbeen preaching baptism.	37 You know what happened al over Judaea, how Jesus of Nazareth began in Galilee, after John hadbeen preaching baptism.
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 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.
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 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,
40 yet on the third day God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen,	40 yet on the third day God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen,
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 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-
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 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.
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 It is to him that all the prophets bear this witness: that al who believe in Jesus wil have their sinsforgiven through his name.'
44 While Peter was stil speaking the Holy Spirit came down on al the listeners.	44 While Peter was stil speaking the Holy Spirit came down on al the listeners.
45 Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were al astonished that the gift of the Holy Spiritshould be poured out on gentiles too,	45 Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were al astonished that the gift of the Holy Spiritshould be poured out on gentiles too,
46 since they could hear them speaking strange languages and proclaiming the greatness of God. Peterhimself then said,	46 since they could hear them speaking strange languages and proclaiming the greatness of God. Peterhimself then said,
47 'Could anyone refuse the water of baptism to these people, now they have received the Holy Spiritjust as we have?'	47 'Could anyone refuse the water of baptism to these people, now they have received the Holy Spiritjust 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 then gave orders for them to be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterwards they begged himto stay on for some days.