New International Version NIV
American Standard Version ASV
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
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Now [there was] a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band],
2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
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a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.
3 One 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!”
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He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius.
4 Cornelius 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.
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And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God.
5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
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And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:
6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
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he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side.
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants.
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And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
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and having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
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Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour:
10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
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and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance;
11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
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and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth:
12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.
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wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.
13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
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And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.
14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
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But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.
15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
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And a voice [came] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.
16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
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And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven.
17 While 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.
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Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate,
18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
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and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, were lodging there.
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.
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And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
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But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them.
21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
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And Peter went down to the men, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are 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.”
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And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned [of God] by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words from thee.
23 Then 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.
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So he called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
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And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends.
25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.
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And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
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But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.
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And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come together:
28 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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and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and [yet] unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean:
29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
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wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me.
30 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
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And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel,
31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.
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and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’
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Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.
33 So 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.”
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Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord.
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
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And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
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but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him.
36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
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The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all.) --
37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—
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that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 how 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.
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[even] Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
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,
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And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree.
40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
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Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest,
41 He 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.
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not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, [even] to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
42 He 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.
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And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God [to be] the Judge of the living and the dead.
43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
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To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
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While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word.
45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.
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And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.
46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said,
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For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
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.”
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Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?
48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
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And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.