Cornelius Has a Vision

¹ Now there was a certain man in Caesarea ⌞named⌟¹ Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Cohort,

1. Literally “by name”

² devout and fearing God together with all his household, doing many charitable deeds for the people and praying to God ⌞continually⌟.¹

1. Literally “through everything”

³ About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius.”

⁴ And he stared at him and became terrified and¹ said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your charitable deeds have gone up for a memorial offering before God.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“became”) has been translated as a finite verb

⁵ And now, send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon, who is also called Peter.

⁶ This man is staying as a guest with a certain Simon, a tanner,¹ whose house is by the sea.”

1. Or “with a certain Simon Berseus”; most modern English versions treat the word as Simon’s profession (“Simon the tanner”), but the word may actually be a surname (“Simon Berseus” or “Simon Tanner”)

⁷ And when the angel who spoke to him departed, he summoned two of the household slaves and a devout soldier from those who attended him,

⁸ and after he¹ had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

1. *Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had explained”) which is understood as temporal

Peter Has a Vision

⁹ And the next day, as¹ they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about the sixth hour.

1. *Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were on their way”)

¹⁰ And he became hungry and wanted to eat. But while¹ they were preparing the food,² a trance came over him.

1. *Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were preparing”)
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

¹¹ And he saw heaven opened and an object something like a large sheet coming down, being let down to the earth by its four corners,

¹² in which were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and birds of the sky.

¹³ And a voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, slaughter and eat!”

¹⁴ But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common and unclean!”

¹⁵ And the voice came again to him for the second time: “The things which God has made clean, you must not consider unclean!”

¹⁶ And this happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

¹⁷ Now while Peter was greatly perplexed within himself as to what the vision that he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having found the house of Simon by asking around, stood at the gate.

¹⁸ And they called out and¹ asked if Simon who was also called Peter was staying there as a guest.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“called out”) has been translated as a finite verb

¹⁹ And while¹ Peter was reflecting about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, men² are looking for you.

1. *Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was reflecting”)
2. Some manuscripts have “three men”

²⁰ But get up, go down, and go with them—not hesitating at all, because I have sent them.”

²¹ So Peter went down to the men and¹ said, “Behold, I am he whom you are looking for! What is the reason for which you have come?”

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“went down”) has been translated as a finite verb

²² And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man—and well spoken of by the whole nation of the Jews—was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear words from you.”

²³ So he invited them in and¹ entertained them as guests, and on the next day he got up and² went away with them. And some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“invited … in”) has been translated as a finite verb
2. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“got up”) has been translated as a finite verb

Peter Visits Cornelius

²⁴ And on the next day he entered into Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and¹ had called together his relatives and close friends.

1. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“waiting for”) has been translated as a finite verb

²⁵ So it happened that when Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his¹ feet, and² worshiped him.³

1. *Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
2. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“fell”) has been translated as a finite verb
3. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

²⁶ But Peter helped him up, saying, “Get up! I myself am also a man!”

²⁷ And as he¹ conversed with him, he went in and found many people gathered.

1. *Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“conversed with”) which is understood as temporal

²⁸ And he said to them, “You know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or to approach a foreigner. And to me God has shown that I should call no man common or unclean.

²⁹ Therefore—and without raising any objection—I came when I¹ was sent for. So I ask for what reason you sent for me.”

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was sent for”) which is understood as temporal

³⁰ And Cornelius said, “⌞Four days ago at this hour⌟,¹ the ninth, I was praying in my house. And behold, a man in shining clothing stood before me

1. Literally “from the fourth day until this hour”

³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your charitable deeds have been remembered before God.

³² Therefore send to Joppa and summon Simon who is also called Peter. This man is staying as a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner,¹ by the sea.

1. Or “of Simon Berseus”; most modern English versions treat the word as Simon’s profession (“Simon the tanner”), but the word may actually be a surname (“Simon Berseus” or “Simon Tanner”)

³³ Therefore I sent for you at once, and you ⌞were kind enough to come⌟.¹ So now we all are present before God to hear all the things that have been commanded to you by the Lord.”

1. Literally “have done rightly coming”

³⁴ So Peter opened his¹ mouth and² said, “In truth I understand that God is not one who shows partiality,

1. *Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
2. *Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“opened”) has been translated as a finite verb

³⁵ but in every nation the one who fears him and who does what is right is acceptable to him.

³⁶ As for¹ the message that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—this one is Lord of all—

1. *The words “As for” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied in the translation in keeping with English style

³⁷ you know the thing that happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism that John proclaimed:

³⁸ Jesus of Nazareth—how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.

³⁹ And we are witnesses of all the things that he did both in the land of the Judeans and in Jerusalem, whom they also executed by¹ hanging him² on a tree.

1. *Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“hanging”) which is understood as means
2. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

⁴⁰ God raised this one up on the third day and granted that he should become visible,

⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who had been chosen beforehand by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify solemnly that this one is the one appointed¹ by God as judge of the living and of the dead.

1. Or “one who is designated”

⁴³ To this one all the prophets testify, that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.”

The Holy Spirit Given to Gentiles

⁴⁴ While¹ Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message.

1. *Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was … speaking”)

⁴⁵ And those believers from the circumcision who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,

⁴⁶ for they heard them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter said,

⁴⁷ “Surely no one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did!”

⁴⁸ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.