Acts 10:1-33 - Jon B

Acts 10:1–33 (ESV)

Acts 10:1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,
Acts 10:2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.
Acts 10:3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”
Acts 10:4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
Acts 10:5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.
Acts 10:6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Acts 10:7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,
Acts 10:8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Acts 10:9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
Acts 10:10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance
Acts 10:11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.
Acts 10:12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
Acts 10:13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
Acts 10:14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
Acts 10:15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”
Acts 10:16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
Acts 10:17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate
Acts 10:18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.
Acts 10:19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
Acts 10:20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”
Acts 10:21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”
Acts 10:22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”
Acts 10:23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
Acts 10:24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
Acts 10:25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
Acts 10:26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”
Acts 10:27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered.
Acts 10:28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
Acts 10:29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
Acts 10:30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing
Acts 10:31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.
Acts 10:32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’
Acts 10:33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”