CHAPTER VIII.
THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS, AND OTHER GENTILES.
1 10:1AND a certain man at Cæsarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort which was called the Italian, 10:2a pious man, and one fearing God with all his house, and bestowing many charities on the people, and praying to God always, 10:3saw clearly in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, Cornelius. 10:4And looking steadily at him and being afraid, he said, What is wanted, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and charities have come up as a memorial before God. 10:5And now send men to Joppa and call for a certain Simon who is called Peter; 10:6he lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea. 10:7And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of the house servants, and a pious soldier of those that attended constantly on him, 10:8and having related all things to them sent them to Joppa.
2 10:9And on the next day, as they were pursuing their journey and had come nigh to the city, Peter went upon the house to pray, about the sixth hour. 10:10And he was hungry and wished to eat; and while they were preparing a trance came upon him, 10:11and he beheld heaven opened, and a certain vessel like a great sheet descending, let down by four corners to the earth, 10:12in which were all the quadrupeds and reptiles of the earth, and birds of heaven. 10:13And a voice came to him, Arise, Peter, kill and eat. 10:14But Peter said, By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten any thing common and impure. 10:15And a voice came to him again, a second time, What God has purified, regard not common. 10:16And this was done thrice, and immediately the vessel was taken up to heaven.
3 10:17And while Peter doubted with himself what the vision which he had seen meant, behold, even [then] the men sent by Cornelius, having inquired for the house of Simon, stood at the gate, 10:18and calling aloud asked if Simon who was called Peter lodged there. 10:19And while Peter was considering of the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, men seek you; 10:20arise and go down and go with them without hesitation, for I have sent them. 10:21And Peter went down to the men and said, Behold, I am the man whom you seek; what is the cause for which you have come? 10:22And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man, and one that fears God, and esteemed by all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to his house and hear words from you. 10:23Then he called them in and entertained them.
4 And the next day he arose and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. 10:24And on the day following they came to Cæsarea; and Cornelius was expecting them, and had called together his relations and particular friends. 10:25And when Peter came in Cornelius met him, and falling down at his feet worshipped him. 10:26But Peter raised him up saying, Arise, I also am a man. 10:27And conversing with him he went in, and found many come together; 10:28and he said to them, You know that it is not lawful for a Jew to associate with a man of another nation, or come into his house; and God has taught me not to call any man common or impure; 10:29wherefore, being sent for I also came without objecting. I ask therefore for what reason you have sent for me? 10:30And Cornelius said, From the fourth hour of the day I fasted till this hour, and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in splendid clothing, 10:31and said, Cornelius, your prayer is heard and your charities are remembered before God. 10:32Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon who is called Peter; he lodges at the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea, who when he has come will speak to you. 10:33Immediately therefore I sent to you, and you have done well to come. Now therefore we are all present before God to hear all things which God has commanded you.
5 10:34And Peter opening his mouth said, Of a truth I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons, 10:35but in every nation he that fears him and does righteousness is acceptable to him. 10:36The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching the good news of peace by Jesus Christ,—he is Lord of all,— 10:37you know; the word which was [preached] through all Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism which John preached, 10:38Jesus from Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and curing all that were subjugated by the devil, for God was with him; 10:39and we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of Judea, and at Jerusalem, whom also they killed, hanging him on a cross. 10:40This [man] did God raise up on the third day, and permitted him to be made manifest, 10:41not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, to us, who eat and drank with him after he rose from the dead; 10:42and he commanded us to preach to the people and testify fully that he is appointed by God the judge of living and dead. 10:43To him all the prophets bear witness, that every one who believes in him has forgiveness of sins through his name.
6 10:44While Peter was yet speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 10:45And those of the circumcision who came with Peter were astonished, that on the gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out; 10:46for they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 10:47Can any forbid water that these should be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also have? 10:48And he commanded that they should be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they desired him to remain some days.