Shared Word Translation
Acts 10
Cornelius Sees a Vision
Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort. He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” Cornelius stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And the angel said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial before God.
Now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter; he is staying with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray about noon. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a great sheet coming down, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once into heaven.
The Spirit Sends Peter
Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, look—the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was staying there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look—three men are searching for you. Rise and go down and go with them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”
So Peter went down to the men and said, “Look—I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason you have come?”
And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, well spoken of by the whole Judean nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”
So he invited them in and lodged them.
The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the sisters and brothers from Joppa went with him.
Peter Meets Cornelius
And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am only a human being.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.
And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Judean to associate with or to visit someone from another people; but God has shown me that I should not call any human being common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now I ask, for what reason did you send for me?”
And Cornelius said, “Four days ago at this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and look—a man stood before me in shining clothes and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter; he is staying in the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that the Lord has commanded you.”
Peter Proclaims the Good News
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to God.
You know the message God sent to the children of Israel, proclaiming good news of peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— you know what happened throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Judeans and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
And he commanded us to proclaim to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who trusts in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said,
“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” So Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.