21
Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
22
The 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.”
Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter at Cornelius’s House
23 The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.
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The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
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As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.
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But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
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While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.
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He 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.
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So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
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Cornelius 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
31
and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.