Acts
Chapter 10: 24-48
Peter at Cornelius' House
The next day Peter started out
with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24The
following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together
his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the
house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But
Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27Talking
with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He
said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate
with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or
unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any
objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30Cornelius
answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the
afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and
said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in
the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33So
I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the
presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34Then
Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what
is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of
Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in
Galilee after the baptism that John preached– 38how God
anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing
good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39“We
are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They
killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him
from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He
was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen–by us
who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He
commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed
as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets
testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through
his name.”
44While
Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were
astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47“Can
anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy
Spirit just as we have.” 48So he ordered that they be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few
days.
