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1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
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2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
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3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
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4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
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5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
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6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
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7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
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8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
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9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
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10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
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11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
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12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
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13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
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14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
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15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
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16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
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17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
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18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
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19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
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20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
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21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
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22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
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23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
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24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
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25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
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26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
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27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
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28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
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29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
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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,
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31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
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32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
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33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
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34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
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35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
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36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
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37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
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38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
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39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
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40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
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41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
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42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
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43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
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44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
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45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
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46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
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47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
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48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
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- 1 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort,
- 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the {Jewish people and prayed to God continually.
- 3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!”
- 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
- 5 “Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;
- 6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.”
- 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants,
- 8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
- 9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
- 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance;
- 11 and he *saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,
- 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.
- 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”
- 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.”
- 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”
- 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.
- 17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon's house, appeared at the gate;
- 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.
- 19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
- 20 “But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.”
- 21 Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?”
- 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.”
- 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
- 24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
- 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.
- 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.”
- 27 As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled.
- 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.
- 29 “That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”
- 30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments,
- 31 and he *said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.
- 32 'Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.'
- 33 “So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
- 34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,
- 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.
- 36 “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—
- 37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed.
- 38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
- 39 “We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross.
- 40 “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible,
- 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
- 42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
- 43 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”
- 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.
- 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
- 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,
- 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”
- 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
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