Acts 10 :: New International Version (NIV)

Cornelius Calls for Peter

Act 10:1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.

Act 10:2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

Act 10:3

Act 10:3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

Act 10:4

Act 10:4Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.

Act 10:5

Act 10:5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.

Act 10:6

Act 10:6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

Act 10:7

Act 10:7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants.

Act 10:8

Act 10:8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

Act 10:9

Act 10:9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.

Act 10:10

Act 10:10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

Act 10:11

Act 10:11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.

Act 10:12

Act 10:12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.

Act 10:13

Act 10:13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

Act 10:14

Act 10:14“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

Act 10:15

Act 10:15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

Act 10:16

Act 10:16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

Act 10:17

Act 10:17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate.

Act 10:18

Act 10:18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

Act 10:19

Act 10:19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three[fn] men are looking for you.

Act 10:20

Act 10:20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

Act 10:21

Act 10:21Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

Act 10:22

Act 10:22The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”

Act 10:23

Act 10:23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

Act 10:24

Act 10:24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Act 10:25

Act 10:25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.

Act 10:26

Act 10:26But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

Act 10:27

Act 10:27While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.

Act 10:28

Act 10:28He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.

Act 10:29

Act 10:29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

Act 10:30

Act 10:30Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me

Act 10:31

Act 10:31and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.

Act 10:32

Act 10:32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’

Act 10:33

Act 10:33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

Act 10:34

Act 10:34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism

Act 10:35

Act 10:35but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Act 10:36

Act 10:36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

Act 10:37

Act 10:37You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—

Act 10:38

Act 10:38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Act 10:39

Act 10:39“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,

Act 10:40

Act 10:40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

Act 10:41

Act 10:41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

Act 10:42

Act 10:42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

Act 10:43

Act 10:43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Act 10:44

Act 10:44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

Act 10:45

Act 10:45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.

Act 10:46

Act 10:46For they heard them speaking in tongues[fn] and praising God. Then Peter said,

Act 10:47

Act 10:47“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”

Act 10:48

Act 10:48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

NIV Footnotes

(10:19)

One early manuscript two; other manuscripts do not have the number.

(10:46)

Or other languages

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