¹ And a certain man named Cornelius was in Caesarea, a centurion of the Italian cohort,

² one devout and fearing God, with all his household, both doing many merciful deeds to the people, and praying continually to God.

³ About the ninth hour of the day he saw plainly in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, Cornelius!

⁴ And he was gazing at him, and becoming terrified, he said, What is it, lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your merciful deeds have come up for a memorial before God.

⁵ And now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, whose last name is Peter.

⁶ He is staying with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside. He will tell you what you must do.

⁷ And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from those who waited on him continually.

⁸ And explaining all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

⁹ On the next day, as these went on the road, and drawing near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.

¹⁰ And he became very hungry and desired to eat. But while they made ready, an ecstasy fell on him.

¹¹ And he saw the heaven opened and a certain vessel like a sheet coming down to him, being bound at the four corners and let down to the earth;

¹² in which were all the four-footed animals of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the birds of the heaven.

¹³ And a voice came to him, saying, Rise, Peter! Kill and eat!

¹⁴ But Peter said, Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.

¹⁵ And the voice spoke to him again the second time, What God has made clean, you do not call common.

¹⁶ This happened three times, and the vessel was received up again into the heaven.

¹⁷ And while Peter doubted within himself what the vision which he had seen might be, even behold, the men who were sent from Cornelius had asked for Simon's house and stood on the porch.

¹⁸ And they called and asked if Simon whose last name is Peter was staying there.

¹⁹ And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are looking for you.

²⁰ Therefore arise and go down and go with them without doubting, for I have sent them.

²¹ And going down to the men, those sent to him from Cornelius, Peter said, Behold, I am the one you are seeking. For what reason have you come?

²² And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man and one who fears God, and one of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear words from you.

²³ Then he called them in and lodged them. And on the next day Peter went away with them, and certain brothers from Joppa went with him.

²⁴ And the next day they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

²⁵ And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped.

²⁶ But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up! I also am a man myself.

²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.

²⁸ And he said to them, You know that it is an unlawful thing for a man, a Jew to keep company with or to come near to one of another nation. But God has shown me not to call any man common or unclean.

²⁹ Therefore I came without complaint, being sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me.

³⁰ And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour. And at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing.

³¹ And he said, Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your merciful deeds have been remembered before God.

³² Therefore send to Joppa and call here Simon whose last name is Peter, he is staying in the house of Simon, a tanner by the seaside; who, when he comes, shall speak to you.

³³ Therefore I immediately sent to you, and you have done well to come. Now therefore we are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded you by God.

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Truly I see that God is no respecter of persons;

³⁵ but in every nation he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him.

³⁶ You know the word which God sent to the sons of Israel, preaching the gospel of peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all!);

³⁷ that word which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed;

³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and He went about doing good, and healing all those who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with Him.

³⁹ And we are witnesses of all things which He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed Him and hanged Him on a tree;

⁴⁰ but God raised Him up the third day and showed Him openly,

⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses hand-picked before by God, even to us 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 that it is He who was ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.

⁴³ All the prophets give witness to Him, that through His name whoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins.

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those hearing the Word.

⁴⁵ And those of the circumcision, who believed (as many as came with Peter), were astonished because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the nations also.

⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

⁴⁷ Can anyone forbid water that these, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we, should not be baptized?

⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they begged him to stay certain days.