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While Peter is in Joppa, another story is developing a day’s journey to the north along the Mediterranean coast.

10 Cornelius, a Roman Centurion and a member of a unit called the Italian Cohort, lived in Caesarea. Cornelius was an outsider, but he was a devout man—a God-fearing fellow with a God-fearing family. He consistently and generously gave to the poor, and he practiced constant prayer to God. About three o’clock one afternoon, he had a vision of a messenger of God.

Messenger of God: Cornelius!

Cornelius (terrified): What is it, sir?

Messenger of God: God has heard your prayers, and He has seen your kindness to the poor. God has taken notice of you. 5-6 Send men south to Joppa, to the house of a tanner named Simon. Ask to speak to a guest of his named Simon, but also called Peter. You’ll find this house near the waterfront.

After the messenger departed, Cornelius immediately called two of his slaves and a soldier under his command—an especially devout soldier. He told them the whole story and sent them to Joppa.

Just as these men were nearing Joppa about noon the next day, Peter went up on the flat rooftop of Simon the tanner’s house. He planned to pray, 10 but he soon grew hungry. While his lunch was being prepared, Peter had a vision of his own—a vision that linked his present hunger with what was about to happen: 11 A rift opened in the sky, and a wide container—something like a huge sheet suspended by its four corners—descended through the torn opening toward the ground. 12 This container teemed with four-footed animals, creatures that crawl, and birds—pigs, bats, lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, and vultures.

A Voice: 13 Get up, Peter! Kill! Eat!

Peter: 14 No way, Lord! These animals are forbidden in the dietary laws of the Hebrew Scriptures! I’ve never eaten nonkosher foods like these before—not once in my life!

A Voice: 15 If God calls something permissible and clean, you must not call it forbidden and dirty!

16 Peter saw this vision three times; but the third time, the container of animals flew up through the rift in the sky, the rift healed, 17 and Peter was confused and unsettled as he tried to make sense of this strange vision.

At that very moment, Peter heard the voices of Cornelius’s delegation, who had asked for directions to Simon’s house, coming from the front gate.

Delegation: 18 Is there a man named Simon, also called Peter, staying at this house?

19-20 Peter’s mind was still racing about the vision when the voice of the Holy Spirit broke through his churning thoughts.

Holy Spirit: The three men who are searching for you have been sent by Me. So get up! Go with them. Don’t hesitate or argue.

21 Peter rushed downstairs to the men.

Peter: I’m the one you’re seeking. Can you tell me why you’ve come?

Delegation: 22 We’ve been sent by our commander and master, Cornelius. He is a Centurion, and he is a good, honest man who worships your God. All the Jewish people speak well of him. A holy messenger told him to send for you, so you would come to his home and he could hear your message.

23 Peter extended hospitality to them and gave them lodging overnight. When they departed together the next morning, Peter brought some believers from Joppa.

24 They arrived in Caesarea the next afternoon just before three o’clock. Cornelius had anticipated their arrival and had assembled his relatives and close friends to welcome them. 25 When Peter and Cornelius met, Cornelius fell at Peter’s feet in worship, 26 but Peter helped him up.

Peter: Stand up, man! I am just a human being!

27 They talked and entered the house to meet the whole crowd inside.

Peter: 28 You know I am a Jew. We Jews consider it a breach of divine law to associate, much less share hospitality, with outsiders. But God has shown me something in recent days: I should no longer consider any human beneath me or unclean. 29 That’s why I made no objection when you invited me; rather, I came willingly. Now let me hear the story of why you invited me here.

Cornelius: 30 It was about this time of day four days ago when I was here, in my house, praying the customary midafternoon prayer. Suddenly a man appeared out of nowhere. His clothes were dazzling white, and he stood directly in front of me 31 and addressed me: “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your kindness to the poor has been noticed by God. 32 God wants you to find a man in Joppa, Simon who is also called Peter, who is staying at the home of a tanner named Simon, near the seaside.” 33 I wasted no time, did just as I was told, and you have generously accepted my invitation. So here we are, in the presence of God, ready to take in all that the Lord has told you to tell us.

Peter: 34 It is clear to me now that God plays no favorites, 35 that God accepts every person whatever his or her culture or ethnic background, that God welcomes all who revere Him and do right. 36 You already know that God sent a message to the people of Israel; it was a message of peace, peace through Jesus the Anointed—who is King of all people. 37 You know this message spread through Judea, beginning in Galilee where John called people to be ritually cleansed through baptism.[a] 38 You know God identified Jesus as the uniquely chosen One by pouring out the Holy Spirit on Him, by empowering Him. You know Jesus went through the land doing good for all and healing all who were suffering under the oppression of the evil one, for God was with Him. 39 My friends and I stand as witnesses to all Jesus did in the region of Judea and the city of Jerusalem. The people of our capital city killed Him by hanging Him on a tree, 40 but God raised Him up on the third day and made it possible for us to see Him. 41 Not everyone was granted this privilege, only those of us whom God chose as witnesses. We actually ate and drank with Him after His resurrection. 42 He told us to spread His message to everyone and to tell them that He is the One whom God has chosen to be Judge, to make a just assessment of all people—both living and dead. 43 All the prophets tell us about Him and assert that every person who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

The true gospel is becoming increasingly clear as the church spreads and develops. What happens that day in Caesarea changes the face of Christianity forever. It builds a bridge from Jews to Gentiles, from insiders to outsiders, and sends the community of Jesus on a journey beyond the kind of religious and cultural barriers that all people erect. Through Peter’s short trip, the church makes an important journey toward reaching the ends of the earth because the message of Jesus is not for the Jews alone but for all people of all time. This is a hard lesson, and not everyone is eager to learn it.

44 Peter wasn’t planning to stop at this point, but the Holy Spirit suddenly interrupted and came upon all the people who were listening. 45-46 They began speaking in foreign languages (just as the Jewish disciples did on the Day of Pentecost), and their hearts overflowed in joyful praises to God. Peter’s friends from Joppa—all of them Jewish, all circumcised—were stunned to see that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on outsiders.

Peter: 47 Can anyone give any good reason not to ceremonially wash these people through baptism[b] as fellow disciples? After all, it’s obvious they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did on the Day of Pentecost.

48 So he had them baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. The new disciples asked him to stay for several more days.

Footnotes

  1. 10:37 Literally, immersed, to show repentance
  2. 10:47 Literally, immerse, in a rite of initiation and purification

Si Pedro ug si Cornelio

10 Didto sa Cesarea may tawo nga ginganlag Cornelio. Kining tawhana usa ka kapitan sa mga sundalong Romanhon sa batalyon nga gitawag ug Batalyong Italyano. Diosnon siya ug ang iyang tibuok pamilya. Daghan ang iyang natabang sa mga Judiong kabos, ug kanunay siyang nagaampo sa Dios. Usa niana ka adlaw, mga alas tres ang takna sa hapon, may nagpakita kaniya nga anghel sa Dios. Klaro kaayo ang iyang pagkakita sa anghel nga misulod sa iyang balay ug mitawag kaniya, “Cornelio!” Sa pagkakita niya sa anghel nahadlok siya ug miingon, “Unsa man ang imong tuyo?” Miingon ang anghel, “Gidungog sa Dios ang imong mga pag-ampo ug nalipay siya sa imong pagtabang sa mga kabos. Busa gihinumdoman ka sa Dios. Karon, pagsugo ug mga tawo nga moadto sa Jopa ug ipakuha si Simon nga gitawag ug Pedro. Atua siya magsak-anan kang Simon nga tigbulad ug panit sa mananap. Ang iyang balay anaa sa daplin sa baybayon.” Sa dihang mipahawa na ang anghel, gitawag ni Cornelio ang duha sa iyang mga sulugoon ug ang usa ka sundalo nga usa sa iyang mga luyo-luyo. Kini nga sundalo diosnon usab nga tawo. Gisultihan sila ni Cornelio sa tanang nahitabo, ug pagkahuman gisugo niya sila sa Jopa.

Nianang pagkasunod adlaw samtang nagkaduol na sila sa lungsod sa Jopa, misaka si Pedro sa pahulayanan didto sa patag nga atop sa balay aron mag-ampo. Udto kadto. 10 Gigutom si Pedro ug gusto niyang mokaon. Apan samtang giandam pa nila ang pagkaon may gipakita kaniya ang Dios. 11 Nakita niya ang langit nga naabli ug may nagapaubos nga sama sa lapad nga habol nga hiniktan ang upat ka eskina. 12 Ug sulod niining habol nakita niya ang tanang matang sa mga mananap—ang mga mananap nga nagalakaw, ang mga nagakamang, ug ang mga nagalupad. 13 Ug may tingog siyang nadungog nga nagaingon, “Tindog, Pedro! Pag-ihaw ug kaon!” 14 Mitubag si Pedro, “Dili mahimo, Ginoo, tungod kay sukad kaniadto wala gayod ako makakaon sa mga mananap nga sama niini, nga sumala sa Kasugoan hugaw ug gidili nga kaonon.” 15 Miingon pag-usab ang tingog kang Pedro, “Ayaw isipa nga hugaw ang bisan unsa nga butang nga gihinloan na sa Dios.” 16 Nahitabo kini sa makatulo, ug kadtong gipaubos nga sama sa habol gibira pagkalit balik ngadto sa langit.

17 Samtang naghunahuna pa si Pedro kon unsa ang kahulogan sa iyang nakita, miabot usab ang mga tawo nga gisugo ni Cornelio. Kay pagkahibalo nila kon asa ang balay ni Simon, midiretso dayon sila didto; ug sa pag-abot nila sa pultahan sa koral, 18 nanawag sila ug nangutana kon didto ba magsak-anan si Simon nga ginganlan usab ug Pedro. 19 Samtang naglibog pa si Pedro kon unsa ang kahulogan sa iyang nakita, miingon ang Espiritu Santo kaniya, “May tulo ka tawo nga nangita kanimo. 20 Kanaog ug uban kanila. Ayaw pagduhaduha sa pagkuyog kanila tungod kay ako mao ang nagsugo kanila.” 21 Busa nanaog si Pedro ug miingon sa mga tawo, “Ako mao ang inyong gipangita. Unsa may inyong tuyo kanako?” 22 Miingon sila, “Gisugo kami dinhi ni Kapitan Cornelio. Maayong tawo siya ug nagasimba sa Dios. Gitahod siya sa tanang mga Judio. Miingon kaniya ang anghel sa Dios nga imbitahon ka nga moadto didto sa iyang balay aron madunggan niya ang imong isulti.” 23 Gipadayon sila ni Pedro ug didto sila nakatulog niadtong gabhiona.

Pagkasunod nga adlaw miuban si Pedro kanila. May pipila usab ka mga magtutuo sa Jopa nga miuban kaniya. 24 Pagkaugma miabot sila sa Cesarea. Nagahulat kanila si Cornelio, ug ang iyang mga kaubanan ug mga silingan nga iyang giimbitar. 25 Sa pag-abot ni Pedro, gisugat siya ni Cornelio ug miluhod sa pagsimba kaniya. 26 Apan gipatindog siya ni Pedro ug giingnan, “Ayaw kana buhata, tawo lamang ako.” 27 Ug nagpadayon ang ilang panagsulti samtang nanulod sila sa balay. Didto nakita ni Pedro nga daghan ang mga tawo nga nagkatigom. 28 Misulti si Pedro kanila, “Nakahibalo kamo nga kaming mga Judio gidid-an sa among relihiyon nga mobisita o makig-uban sa mga dili Judio. Apan gipadayag sa Dios kanako nga dili ko angay isipon nga hugaw si bisan kinsa. 29 Busa sa dihang gipasugoan ninyo ako nga moanhi dinhi, wala ako mobalibad. Karon gusto kong mahibaloan kon nganong gipatawag ninyo ako.”

30 Mitubag si Cornelio, “Tulo na ka adlaw karon ang milabay sukad sa akong pag-ampo dinhi sa balay, ug ingon usab niining orasa, mga alas tres sa hapon. Samtang nagaampo ako, kalit lamang nagpakita kanako ang tawo nga sulaw ug bisti. 31 Ug miingon siya kanako, ‘Cornelio, gidungog sa Dios ang imong pag-ampo ug nahinumdoman niya ang imong pagtabang sa mga kabos. 32 Karon, pagsugo ug mga tawo nga moadto sa Jopa ug ipakuha si Simon nga gitawag ug Pedro. Didto siya magsak-anan sa balay ni Simon nga tigbulad ug panit sa mananap. Ang iyang balay anaa daplin sa baybayon.’ 33 Busa gipatawag ko ikaw dayon, ug salamat nga miabot ka. Ania na kaming tanan sa presensya sa Dios aron maminaw kon unsa ang gisugo sa Dios kanimo nga isulti kanamo.”

Nagwali si Pedro didto sa Balay ni Cornelio

34 Busa miingon si Pedro, “Karon nahibaloan ko na nga ang Dios walay pinalabi. 35 Kon ang tawo may kahadlok sa Dios ug matarong ang iyang binuhatan, bisan diin pa siya nga nasod maggikan dawaton siya sa Dios. 36 Nadunggan ninyo ang Maayong Balita nga gisulti sa Dios kanamong mga Israelinhon nga ang tawo makapasig-uli na ngadto kaniya pinaagi sa pagtuo kang Jesu-Cristo. Siya ang Ginoo sa tanan. 37-38 Nahibaloan usab ninyo ang mga nahitabo sa tibuok probinsya sa Judea mahitungod kang Jesus nga taga-Nazaret. Dili ba nagsugod kini sa Galilea human sa pagwali ni Juan mahitungod sa pagpabautismo? Gihatagan sa Dios si Jesus sa Espiritu Santo ug gahom. Ug tungod kay ang Dios kauban niya, giayo niya ang tanang mga gipaantos sa yawa. Miadto siya sa nagkalain-lain nga dapit ug naghimo sa mga maayong butang. 39 Kami gayod makapamatuod sa tanan niyang gipanghimo tungod kay nakita namo ang iyang mga gipangbuhat sa Jerusalem ug sa ubang mga lungsod sa mga Judio. Gipatay siya sa mga Judio pinaagi sa paglansang kaniya sa krus. 40 Apan gibanhaw siya sa Dios sa ikatulo ka adlaw ug gipakita kanamo nga siya buhi. 41 Wala siya gipakita ngadto sa tanan kondili kanamo lamang nga mga pinili sa Dios isip mga tigpamatuod mahitungod kaniya. Nakig-uban pa gani kami kaniya sa pagpangaon ug pag-inom human siya nabanhaw. 42 Gisugo niya kami sa pagwali sa Maayong Balita ngadto sa katawhan ug sa pagpamatuod nga siya mao gayod ang gipili sa Dios nga mahimong maghuhukom sa mga buhi ug sa mga patay. 43 Si Jesu-Cristo maoy giingon sa tanang mga propeta nga ang tanang motuo kaniya pasayloon sa ilang mga sala pinaagi sa iyang ngalan.”

Mikunsad ang Espiritu Santo ngadto sa mga Dili Judio

44 Samtang nagwali pa si Pedro mikunsad ang Espiritu Santo ug gigamhan ang tanang naminaw sa mensahe. 45 Ang mga magtutuo nga mga Judio nga miuban kang Pedro gikan sa Jopa natingala nga ang Dios mihatag usab sa Espiritu Santo sa mga dili Judio. 46 Tungod kay nadunggan nila sila nga nanagsulti sa nagkalain-lain nga mga pinulongan ug nagadayeg sa Dios. Busa miingon si Pedro, 47 Bisan dili sila mga Judio nadawat na nila ang Espiritu Santo ingon nga kita nakadawat usab niini. Busa wala nay makapugong kanila aron mabautismohan sila pinaagi sa tubig.” 48 Unya gisugo niya sila nga magpabautismo sa ngalan ni Jesu-Cristo. Human niadto gihangyo nila si Pedro nga magpabilin una uban kanila sulod sa pipila ka adlaw.

Cornelius Calls for Peter

10 At Caesarea(A) there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;(B) he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon(C) he had a vision.(D) He distinctly saw an angel(E) of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering(F) before God.(G) Now send men to Joppa(H) to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner,(I) whose house is by the sea.”

When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.(J)

Peter’s Vision(K)

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof(L) to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.(M) 11 He saw heaven opened(N) and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!”(O) Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”(P)

15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”(Q)

16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision,(R) the men sent by Cornelius(S) found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision,(T) the Spirit said(U) to him, “Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”(V)

21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man,(W) who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”(X) 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers(Y) from Joppa went along.(Z) 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea.(AA) Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”(AB)

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.(AC) 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.(AD) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.(AE) 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes(AF) stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism(AG) 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.(AH) 36 You know the message(AI) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news(AJ) of peace(AK) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.(AL) 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed(AM) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing(AN) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.(AO)

39 “We are witnesses(AP) of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,(AQ) 40 but God raised him from the dead(AR) on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people,(AS) but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate(AT) and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people(AU) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.(AV) 43 All the prophets testify about him(AW) that everyone(AX) who believes(AY) in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”(AZ)

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on(BA) all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter(BB) were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out(BC) even on Gentiles.(BD) 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b](BE) and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.(BF) They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”(BG) 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.(BH) Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 10:19 One early manuscript two; other manuscripts do not have the number.
  2. Acts 10:46 Or other languages