¹Now there was a certain man in Caesarea by the name of Cornelius, a centurion from the so-called Italian cohort, ²who was devout and god-fearing, along with all his household, who gave many alms to the people, and who was continually beseeching God. ³He saw clearly in a vision, at about the ninth hour of the day, the angel of God who came to him, and he said to him, “Cornelius.” ⁴And he looked at him intently and became fearful and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have gone up as a memorial in the presence of God. ⁵And now, send men to Joppa and send for Simon, who is surnamed Peter. ⁶He is lodging with a certain Simon, a tanner, who has a house by the sea.” ⁷And when the angel who was speaking to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household slaves and a devout soldier from among those who continued resolutely with him, ⁸and he explained everything to them, and he sent them to Joppa. ⁹Then on the next day those men made their way, and as they approached the city, Peter went up onto the roof to pray, at about the sixth hour. ¹⁰And he became very hungry and wanted a taste of food. And as they made their preparations, a trance came over him. ¹¹And he saw heaven opened, and a certain object descending on him, like a large sheet, tied at the four corners and being lowered down to the earth, ¹²in which were all the quadrupeds of the earth, and wild animals and reptiles and birds of the sky. ¹³And a voice came to him and said, “Arise, Peter, slaughter and eat.” ¹⁴But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything profane or unclean.” ¹⁵And the voice came to him again, a second time, and it said, “Don't you call profane what God has declared clean.” ¹⁶And this happened three times, and then the object was taken up into heaven again. ¹⁷Now while Peter was at a loss in himself as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, along came the men who had been sent from Cornelius and had asked for Simon's house, and they stood at the gateway, ¹⁸and they called out and were inquiring whether Simon surnamed Peter was lodging there. ¹⁹And while Peter was reflecting on the vision, the spirit said to him, “Look, some men are looking for you. ²⁰But get up and go down and go with them, not doubting in any way, because I have sent them.” ²¹So Peter went down to the men and said, “Look, I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason you are here?” ²²And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and god-fearing man, respected by the whole nation of the Jews, was oracularly instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and for him to hear words from you.” ²³So he invited them inside and put them up. Then on the next day Peter went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. ²⁴And on the next day they went to Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends together. ²⁵But when it came to Peter going in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. ²⁶But Peter made him get up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a man.” ²⁷Then he talked with him, and he went in, and he found many gathered together. ²⁸And he said to them, “You understand that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with or approach someone of a different race. But God has shown me not to say that any man is common or unclean. ²⁹That is why I came without arguing against it when I was sent for. So I inquire now for what reason you have sent for me.” ³⁰And Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour I was praying in my house, and behold, a man stood opposite me in shining clothing, ³¹and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered in the presence of God. ³²So send men to Joppa and call for Simon who is surnamed Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea, and when he has arrived, he will speak to you.’ ³³So I immediately sent men to you, and you have done well in coming. So now all of us are present in God's sight to hear all the things that have been commanded you by God.” ³⁴Then Peter opened his mouth and said, “In truth I understand that God is not one who shows partiality, ³⁵but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. ³⁶You know the word which he sent to the sons of Israel, as he preached peace through Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all – ³⁷and you know the course of events which took place throughout all Judaea, beginning with Galilee after the baptism which John preached ³⁸– Jesus from Nazareth – how God anointed him with holy spirit and power, who went about doing good works and healing all those who were being overpowered by the devil, because God was with him. ³⁹And we are witnesses of everything he did in the Jews' country area and in Jerusalem, whom they also killed by hanging him on wood. ⁴⁰Him God raised on the third day, and he appointed him to become manifest, ⁴¹not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴²And he commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that he is the one who has been designated by God as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³All the prophets testify to him, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” ⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking these words, the holy spirit fell on all of those who were listening to the word. ⁴⁵And those believers of the circumcision who had come with Peter were amazed that the gift of the holy spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles, ⁴⁶for they were hearing them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷“Surely no-one can refuse water, so preventing these people from being baptized – those who have received the holy spirit, as we for our part have.” ⁴⁸And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.