Acts 10 : 1 (NLT)
In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment.
Acts 10 : 2 (NLT)
He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.
Acts 10 : 3 (NLT)
One afternoon about three o'clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. "Cornelius!" the angel said.
Acts 10 : 4 (NLT)
Cornelius stared at him in terror. "What is it, sir?" he asked the angel.And the angel replied, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering!
Acts 10 : 5 (NLT)
Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.
Acts 10 : 6 (NLT)
He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore."
Acts 10 : 7 (NLT)
As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants.
Acts 10 : 8 (NLT)
He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.
Acts 10 : 9 (NLT)
The next day as Cornelius's messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon,
Acts 10 : 10 (NLT)
and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
Acts 10 : 11 (NLT)
He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners.
Acts 10 : 12 (NLT)
In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds.
Acts 10 : 13 (NLT)
Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat them."
Acts 10 : 14 (NLT)
"No, Lord," Peter declared. "I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean. "
Acts 10 : 15 (NLT)
But the voice spoke again: "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean."
Acts 10 : 16 (NLT)
The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.
Acts 10 : 17 (NLT)
Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon's house. Standing outside the gate,
Acts 10 : 18 (NLT)
they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.
Acts 10 : 19 (NLT)
Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Three men have come looking for you.
Acts 10 : 20 (NLT)
Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don't worry, for I have sent them."
Acts 10 : 21 (NLT)
So Peter went down and said, "I'm the man you are looking for. Why have you come?"
Acts 10 : 22 (NLT)
They said, "We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message."
Acts 10 : 23 (NLT)
So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
Acts 10 : 24 (NLT)
They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
Acts 10 : 25 (NLT)
As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him.
Acts 10 : 26 (NLT)
But Peter pulled him up and said, "Stand up! I'm a human being just like you!"
Acts 10 : 27 (NLT)
So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.
Acts 10 : 28 (NLT)
Peter told them, "You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.
Acts 10 : 29 (NLT)
So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me."
Acts 10 : 30 (NLT)
Cornelius replied, "Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me.
Acts 10 : 31 (NLT)
He told me, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God!
Acts 10 : 32 (NLT)
Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.'
Acts 10 : 33 (NLT)
So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you."
Acts 10 : 34 (NLT)
Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.
Acts 10 : 35 (NLT)
In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.
Acts 10 : 36 (NLT)
This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel-- that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Acts 10 : 37 (NLT)
You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism.
Acts 10 : 38 (NLT)
And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
Acts 10 : 39 (NLT)
"And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross,
Acts 10 : 40 (NLT)
but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear,
Acts 10 : 41 (NLT)
not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Acts 10 : 42 (NLT)
And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all-- the living and the dead.
Acts 10 : 43 (NLT)
He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name."
Acts 10 : 44 (NLT)
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message.
Acts 10 : 45 (NLT)
The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too.
Acts 10 : 46 (NLT)
For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.Then Peter asked,
Acts 10 : 47 (NLT)
"Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?"
Acts 10 : 48 (NLT)
So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.
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