Acts 10:1-23

Cornelius Calls for Peter

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

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

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!”

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.

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

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

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.

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

Peter’s Vision

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

10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, 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.

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

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

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

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

16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to 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.

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

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

20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, 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?”

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.

Cross References

• 1. S Acts 8:40
• 2. ver 22,35; Acts 13:16,26
• 3. Psalms 55:17; Acts 3:1
• 4. S Acts 9:10
• 5. S Acts 5:19
• 6. Psalms 20:3; S Matthew 10:42; Matthew 26:13
• 7. Revelation 8:4
• 8. S Acts 9:36
• 9. Acts 9:43
• 10. S Acts 9:36
• 11. S Matthew 24:17
• 12. Acts 22:17
• 13. S Matthew 3:16
• 14. Acts 9:5
• 15. Lev 11:4-8,13-20; Leviticus 20:25; Deuteronomy 14:3-20; Ezekiel 4:14
• 16. ver 28; Genesis 9:3; Matthew 15:11; Luke 11:41; Acts 11:9; Ro 14:14,17,20; 1 Corinthians 10:25; 1 Timothy 4:3,4; Titus 1:15
• 17. S Acts 9:10
• 18. ver 7,8
• 19. S Acts 9:10
• 20. S Acts 8:29
• 21. Acts 15:7-9
• 22. ver 2
• 23. Acts 11:14
• 24. S Acts 1:16
• 25. ver 45; Acts 11:12

Footnotes

• [a] One early manuscript "two" ; other manuscripts do not have the number.