Acts of the Apostles 10

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 One of the centurions of the Italica cohort stationed in Caesarea was cal ed Cornelius.	1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort which is called Italian,
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 a devout man, fearing God with all his house, giving many alms to the people, and praying to God continually.
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 This man saw in a vision clearly, at about the ninth hour of the day, the Angel of God entering to him and saying 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 And he, gazing at him, was seized by fear, and he said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him: “Your prayers and your almsgiving have ascended as a memorial in the sight of God.
5 Now you must send some men to Jaffa and fetch a man cal ed Simon, known as Peter,	5 And now, send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon, who is surnamed Peter.
6 who is lodging with Simon the tanner whose house is by the sea.'	6 This man is a guest with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is beside the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”
7 When the angel who said this had gone, Cornelius cal ed two of the slaves and a devout soldier of hisstaff,	7 And when the Angel who was speaking to him had departed, he called, out of those who were subject to him, two of his household servants and a soldier who feared the Lord.
8 told them al that had happened, and sent them off to Jaffa.	8 And when he had explained everything to them, he 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 Then, on the following day, while they were making the journey and approaching the city, Peter ascended to the upper rooms, so that he might pray, at about the sixth hour.
10 He felt hungry and was looking forward to his meal, but before it was ready he fel into a trance	10 And since he was hungry, he wanted to enjoy some food. Then, as they were preparing it, an ecstasy of mind fell over him.
11 and saw heaven thrown open and something like a big sheet being let down to earth by its fourcorners;	11 And he saw heaven opened, and a certain container descending, as if a great linen sheet were let down, by its four corners, from heaven to earth,
12 it contained every kind of animal, reptile and bird.	12 on which were all four-footed beasts, and the crawling things of the earth and the flying things of the air.
13 A voice then said to him, 'Now, Peter, kil and eat!'	13 And a voice came to him: “Rise up, Peter! Kill and eat.”
14 But Peter answered, 'Certainly not, Lord; I have never yet eaten anything profane or unclean.'	14 But Peter said: “Far be it from me, lord. For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
15 Again, a second time, the voice spoke to him, 'What God has made clean, you have no right to callprofane.'	15 And the voice, again a second time to him: “What God has purified, you shall not call common.”
16 This was repeated three times, and then suddenly the container was drawn up to heaven again.	16 Now this was done three times. And immediately the container was taken up to heaven.
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 Now while Peter was still hesitant within himself as to what the vision, which he had seen, might mean, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius stood at the gate, inquiring about Simon’s house.
18 cal ing out to know if the Simon known as Peter was lodging there.	18 And when they had called out, they asked if Simon, who is surnamed Peter, was a guest in that place.
19 While Peter's mind was stil on the vision, the Spirit told him, 'Look! Some men have come to see you.	19 Then, as Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you.
20 Hurry down, and do not hesitate to return with them; it was I who told them to come.'	20 And so, rise up, descend, and go with them, doubting nothing. For 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, descending to the men, said: “Behold, I am the one whom you seek. What is the reason for which you have arrived?”
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 And they said: “Cornelius, a centurion, a just and God-fearing man, who has good testimony from the entire nation of the Jews, received a message from a holy Angel to summon you to his house and to listen to words from you.”
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 Therefore, leading them in, he received them as guests. Then, on following the day, rising up, he set out with them. And some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied 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 And on the next day, he entered Caesarea. And truly, Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his family and closest friends.
25 and as Peter reached the house Cornelius went out to meet him, fel at his feet and did himreverence.	25 And it happened that, when Peter had entered, Cornelius went to meet him. And falling before his feet, he reverenced.
26 But Peter helped him up. 'Stand up,' he said, ' after al , I am only a man!'	26 Yet truly, Peter, lifting him up, said: “Rise up, for I also am only a man.”
27 Talking together they went in to meet all the people assembled there,	27 And speaking with him, he entered, and he found many who had 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 he said to them: “You know how abominable it would be for a Jewish man to be joined with, or to be added to, a foreign people. But God has revealed to me to call no man common 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 Because of this and without doubt, I came when summoned. Therefore, I ask you, for what reason have 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 And Cornelius said: “It is now the fourth day, to this very hour, since I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in a white vestment, and he 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 has been remembered in the sight of 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 Therefore, send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. This man is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, near 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 And so, I promptly sent for you. And you have done well in coming here. Therefore, all of us are now present in your sight to hear all the things that were taught to you by the Lord.”
34 Then Peter addressed them, 'I now real y understand', he said, 'that God has no favourites,	34 Then, Peter, opening his mouth, said: “I have concluded in truth that God is not a respecter of persons.
35 but that anybody of any nationality who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.	35 But within every nation, whoever fears him and works justice 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 the Word to the sons of Israel, announcing the peace through Jesus Christ, for he is the Lord of all.
37 You know what happened al over Judaea, how Jesus of Nazareth began in Galilee, after John hadbeen preaching baptism.	37 You know that the Word has been made known throughout all Judea. For beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which 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 Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, traveled around 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 And we are witnesses of all that he did in the region of Judea and in Jerusalem, he whom they killed by hanging him on a tree.
40 yet on the third day God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen,	40 God raised him up on the third day and permitted him to be made manifest,
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 the witnesses preordained by God, to those of us who ate and drank with him after he rose again 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 instructed us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the One who was appointed by God to be the judge of the living and of 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 offer testimony that through his name all who believe in him receive the remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was stil speaking the Holy Spirit came down on al the listeners.	44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell over all of those 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 And the faithful of the circumcision, who had arrived with Peter, were astonished that the grace of the Holy Spirit was also poured out upon the Gentiles.
46 since they could hear them speaking strange languages and proclaiming the greatness of God. Peterhimself then said,	46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God.
47 'Could anyone refuse the water of baptism to these people, now they have received the Holy Spiritjust as we have?'	47 Then Peter responded, “How could anyone prohibit water, so that those who have received the Holy Spirit would not be baptized, just as we also have been?”
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 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to remain with them for some days.