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and he arrived at Caesarea the day after that. Cornelius was expecting them - he had already called together his relatives and close friends.
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As Kefa entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell prostrate at his feet.
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But Kefa pulled him to his feet and said, "Stand up! I myself am just a man."
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As he talked with him, Kefa went inside and found many people gathered.
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He said to them, "You are well aware that for a man who is a Jew to have close association with someone who belongs to another people, or to come and visit him, is something that just isn't done. But God has shown me not to call any person common or unclean;
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so when I was summoned, I came without raising any questions. Tell me, then, why did you send for me?"
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Cornelius answered, "Three days ago around this time, I was at minchah prayers in my house, when suddenly a man in shining clothes stood in front of me
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and said, 'God has heard your prayer and remembered your acts of charity.
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Now send to Yafo and ask for Shim'on, known as Kefa; he is staying in the house of Shim'on, a leather-tanner, by the sea.'
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So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now all of us are here in the presence of God to hear everything the Lord has ordered you to say."
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Then Kefa addressed them: "I now understand that God does not play favorites,