1 There was a certain man in Ceserea, named Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian,
2 Devout, and fearing God with all his house, giving many alms to the people, and praying to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And stedfastly looking on him, and being much affrighted, he said, What is it, Lord?And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose sirname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
7 And when the angel who spake unto him, was departed, he called two of his houshold-servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually:
8 And when he had declared all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 On the morrow as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up to the upper room to pray, about the sixth hour.
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet, knit at the four corners, and let down from heaven to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.
14 But Peter said, By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time. What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now when Peter was come to himself, he doubted what this vision which he had seen should mean; And behold the men who were sent from Cornelius had asked for Simon's house, and stood before the gate.
18 And called, and asked whether Simon who was sirnamed Peter, logged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the spirit said unto him, Behold, men seek thee.
20 But arise and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
21 Then Peter went down to the men; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: What would ye have? or What [is] the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 They said unto him, One Cornelius a Centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel, to send for thee to his house, and to hear words of thee.
23 Then Peter brought them in, and lodged them, and on the morrow he rose up and went out with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 But on the morrow after he entered into Cesarea: and Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his kinsmen and staid for his near friends.
25 But as Peter drew nigh to Cesarea, one of the servants ran before, and told that he was come. But Cornelius leaped up, and met him: and falling at his feet, worshipped him.
26 But Peter raised him up, saying, What doest thou? I also am a man as thou art.
27 And as he talked with him, he both went in, and found many come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye well know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew, to join himself, or come to a man of another nation: but God hath shewed me, that I should call no man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for by you: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me.
30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour: At the ninth hour I was both praying in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance before God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon whose sirname is Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea; who when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee, beseeching thee to come to us. But thou hastwell done that thou art come quickly. Now lo we are all here present before thee, desiring to hear from thee the things that are commanded thee of God.
34 But Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 For the word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ; he is Lord of all.
37 That you know, which was throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 Jesus of Nazareth; whom God anointed with the Holy Ghost, and with power: He went about doing good, and healing all that were brought into subjection by the devil: for God was with him.
39 And we [are] his witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; and they slew [him,] and hanged [him] on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and granted him to be made manifest:
41 Not to all the people, but to witnesses, chosen before of God, to us, who did eat and drink and converse with him after [he] arose from the dead forty days.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he who was ordained of God the judge of quick and dead.
43 To him witness all the prophets, that through his name whosoever believeth in him, shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them who heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision who believed, were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the free gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speaking with other tongues, and magnifying God. But Peter said,
47 Can any one forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we?
48 Then he commanded them to be baptized, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry with them certain days.