Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Acts 10
Cornelius Sees a Vision
In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Cohort. He was devout and feared God along with his whole household. He gave generously to the poor among 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 to him and say, “Cornelius.” Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel said, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have gone up as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa and bring back Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him left, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier who regularly attended him. After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter Sees a Vision
The next day, while they were traveling and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof around the sixth hour to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat. While food was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles of the earth, and birds of the sky. A voice came to him: “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” The voice came to him again a second time: “What God has made clean, you must not call common.” This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into heaven.
The Spirit Sends Peter
While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision might mean, look—the men sent by Cornelius had found Simon’s house and were standing at the gate. They called out and asked whether Simon called Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look—three men are looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without making distinctions, because I have sent them.” Peter went down to the men and said, “Look—I am the one you are looking for. Why have you come?” They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you so that you could come to his house and he could hear what you have to say.” Peter invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers and sisters from Joppa went along.
Peter Enters Cornelius’ House
The following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and bowed before him. But Peter raised him up and said, “Stand up. I am only a human being too.” As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered. He said to them, “You yourselves know how improper it is for a Jewish man to associate closely with or visit someone from another people. But God has shown me that I should call no human being common or unclean. Therefore when I was sent for, I came without objection. So I ask: Why did you send for me?” Cornelius said, “Four days ago at this hour, at the ninth hour, I was praying in my house. Look—a man in shining clothing stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God. Therefore send to Joppa and call for Simon who is called Peter. He is staying in the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now we are all here before God to hear everything the Lord has commanded you to say.”
God Shows No Partiality
Peter began speaking: “Now I truly understand that God does not show partiality, but in every nation the person who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil, because God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did both in the land of the Jewish people and in Jerusalem. They killed him 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 witnesses chosen beforehand by God—to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to proclaim to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who trusts in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The Holy Spirit Falls on Gentiles
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone 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 other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.