A Devout Soldier Hears From Heaven
A Roman officer prays and is told to send for Peter. Peter, on a rooftop, sees a sheet of unclean animals and hears that what our Father has made clean is clean. He walks into a Gentile house, and the Spirit falls before he finishes speaking.
10 1There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort. 2He was devout, feared our Father with his whole household, gave many gifts to the people, and prayed to our Father constantly. 3About three in the afternoon he saw clearly in a vision an angel of our Father come to him and say, "Cornelius." a a v3 The ninth hour was about three in the afternoon — one of the set times of Jewish prayer.
4Staring at him, terrified, he said, "What is it, sir?" The angel replied, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have risen as a memorial before our Father."
5Now send men to Joppa and bring a man named Simon, who is called Peter. 6He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.
7When the angel who spoke to him left, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among his regular attendants, 8and after explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
The Father Opens Peter's Heart
9The next day, as they journeyed and neared the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray, about noon. 10He grew hungry and wanted to eat, but while they prepared food, a trance came over him, 11and saw heaven opened, and something like a large sheet coming down, lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12It held all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.
13And a voice came to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." b b v13 The voice is the risen Jesus — in v.15 the same voice speaks of what "our Father" has cleansed, naming the Father as distinct from himself.
14But Peter said, "Absolutely not, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common or unclean."
15The voice came to him again, a second time: "What I have made clean, don't call common."
16This happened three times, and at once the sheet was taken up to heaven.
17While Peter was puzzled over what the vision meant, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius, having asked the way to Simon's house, stood at the gate, 18and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.
19As Peter thought about the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, "Three men are looking for you. 20Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation, for I have sent them."
21Peter went down to the men and said, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"
22They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, upright, fears our Father, and respected by the whole Jewish nation, was told by a holy angel to summon you to his house and hear what you have to say." 23So he invited them in and hosted them. Next day he set out with them, joined by some brothers from Joppa.
24The next day he entered Caesarea. Cornelius, expecting them, had gathered his relatives and close friends. 25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up! I'm a man too. 27While talking with Cornelius, Peter went in and found many people gathered. 28He said to them, "You yourselves know it's unlawful for a Jew to associate with or visit someone of another nation. But our Father showed me I should call no one common or unclean. 29So, sent for, I came without objection. Now, why did you send for me?"
30Cornelius said, "Four days ago at this hour, three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house, and suddenly a man in bright clothing stood before me, 31and said, "Cornelius, your prayer was heard and your gifts to the poor remembered before our Father. 32So send to Joppa and call for Simon, known as Peter. He's staying in Simon the tanner's house, by the sea. 33So I sent for you at once, and you did well to come. Now we're all here before God, to hear all the Lord has commanded you."
34Peter spoke up: "I truly see our Father shows no favoritism, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36He sent his word to the Israelites, announcing good news of peace through Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all. c c v36 Peter calls Jesus "Lord of all" — the risen Son reigns over every nation, which is why the gospel now reaches the Gentiles. 37You yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38how our Father anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, how he went about doing good and healing all oppressed by the devil, for our Father was with him. d d v38 Here all three Persons appear together: our Father anoints Jesus the Son with the Holy Spirit and power. 39We are witnesses of all he did in the Jews' land and Jerusalem—they killed him, hanging him on a tree, 40but our Father raised him on the third day and made him appear, 41not to all the people but to us, witnesses whom our Father chose beforehand, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and testify: our Father appointed him judge of the living and the dead. 43To him all the prophets testify that everyone believing in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
44While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45The circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on Gentiles too. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising our Father. Then Peter declared,
47"Can anyone refuse water to baptize these people, who received the Holy Spirit as we did?" 48He ordered them baptized in Jesus Christ's name. Then they asked him to stay several days.
