1Now a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, giving much alms to the people, and praying to God always,
3saw in a vision plainly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius!
4And he, looking steadily at him, and becoming affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thine alms have come up for a memorial before God.
5And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, who is surnamed Peter;
6he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.
7And when the angel that spoke to him had departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of those who waited on him,
8and having told them every thing sent them to Joppa.
9On the morrow, as they were on their journey, and were drawing near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.
10And he became very hungry and wished to eat; but while they were making ready, a trance came upon him,
11and he beheld heaven opened, and a sort of vessel descending, as it were a large sheet having cords at the four corners, and let down upon the earth;
12wherein were all the four-footed beasts and creeping things of the earth, and birds of the air.
13And there came a voice to him, Arise, Peter; slay, and eat.
14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common and unclean.
15And a voice came to him again, the second time, That which God hath cleansed, call not thou common.
16This was done three times; and the vessel was immediately taken up into heaven.
17Now, while Peter was doubting within himself what the vision which he had seen meant, lo! the men who were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate;
18and they called, and asked whether Simon, surnamed Peter, lodged there.
19And while Peter was meditating on the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, men are seeking thee;
20but arise, and go down, and go with them, without scruple; for I have sent them.
21And Peter went down to the men and said, Behold, I am he whom ye are seeking; for what cause have ye come?
22And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee to his house, and to hear words from thee.
23Then he called them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24And the morrow after, he came into Caesarea. And Cornelius was expecting them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25And as Peter came in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and did him reverence.
26But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27And while talking with him, he went in, and found many who had come together.
28And he said to them, Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a Jew to keep company with one of another nation, or to come near him; but God showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29Wherefore I came without objection, when sent for. I ask therefore, for what reason did ye send for me?
30And Cornelius said, Four days ago, I was fasting till this hour; and at the ninth hour was praying in my house; and lo! a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31and said, Cornelius, thy prayer hath been heard, and thine alms have been remembered before God.
32Send therefore to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea-side; and he, when he cometh, will speak to thee.
33I therefore sent to thee immediately; and thou hast done well in coming here. Now therefore we are all present before God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee from the Lord.
34And Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons,
35but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is acceptable to him—
36the word which he sent to the sons of Israel, publishing glad tidings of peace through Jesus Christ; he is Lord of all men.
37Ye yourselves know what was spoken of through the whole of Judaea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached,
38relating to Jesus of Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were overpowered by the Devil; for God was with him.
39And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also slew by hanging him on a cross.
40Him God raised up on the third day, and caused him to be manifested,
41not to all the people, but to witnesses before appointed by God, to ourselves, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead;
42and he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he who hath been appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.
43To him all the prophets bear witness, that through his name every one that believeth in him shall receive forgiveness of sins.
44While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all that heard the word.
45And those of the circumcision who believed, as many as came with Peter, were astonished that on the gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit;
46for they heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God. Then answered Peter,
47Can any one forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?
48And he commanded that they should be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they entreated him to remain some days.