Acts 10:9-22

J.B. Phillips New Testament

Peter’s startling vision

^9-13 Next day, while these men were still on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up about mid-day on to the flat roof of the house to pray. He became very hungry and longed for something to eat. But while the meal was being prepared he fell into a trance and saw the heavens open and something like a great sheet descending upon the earth, let down by its four corners. In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds. Then came a voice which said to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”

¹⁴ But Peter said, “Never, Lord! For not once in my life have I ever eaten anything common or unclean.”

¹⁵ Then the voice spoke to him a second time, “You must not call what God has cleansed common.”

¹⁶ This happened three times, and then the thing was gone, taken back into heaven.

The meaning of the vision becomes apparent

^17-20 While Peter was still puzzling about the meaning of the vision which he had just seen, the men sent by Cornelius had arrived asking for the house of Simon. They were in fact standing at the very doorway of the house calling out to enquire if Simon, surnamed Peter, were lodging there. Peter was still thinking deeply about the vision when the Spirit said to him, “Three men are here looking for you. Get up and go downstairs. Go with them without any misgivings, for I myself have sent them.”

²¹ So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the man you are looking for; what brings you here?”

²² They replied, “Cornelius the centurion, a good-living and God-fearing man, whose character can be vouched for by the whole Jewish people, was commanded by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and to listen to your message.”