Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem

Oppression and Luxury Condemned

¹⁶ Moreover the Lord says:

²⁴ And so it shall be:

Jerusalem’s Glorious Future

The Renewal of Zion

³ And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem ^(X)will be called holy—everyone who is ^(Y)recorded among the living in Jerusalem. ⁴ When ^(Z)the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the ^[r]blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, ⁵ then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, ^(AA)a cloud and smoke by day and ^(AB)the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a ^[s]covering. ⁶ And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, ^(AC)for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.

Aeneas Healed

³² Now it came to pass, as Peter went ^(A)through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. ³³ There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. ³⁴ And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, ^(B)Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. ³⁵ So all who dwelt at Lydda and ^(C)Sharon saw him and ^(D)turned to the Lord.

Dorcas Restored to Life

³⁶ At Joppa there was a certain disciple named ^[a]Tabitha, which is translated ^[b]Dorcas. This woman was full ^(E)of good works and charitable deeds which she did. ³⁷ But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in ^(F)an upper room. ³⁸ And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. ³⁹ Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. ⁴⁰ But Peter ^(G)put them all out, and ^(H)knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he ^(I)said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. ⁴² And it became known throughout all Joppa, ^(J)and many believed on the Lord. ⁴³ So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with ^(K)Simon, a tanner.

Cornelius Sends a Delegation

10 There was a certain man in ^(A)Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian ^[a]Regiment, ^2 (B)a devout man and one who ^(C)feared God with all his household, who gave ^[b]alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. ³ About ^[c]the ninth hour of the day ^(D)he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

⁴ And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”

So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. ⁵ Now ^(E)send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. ⁶ He is lodging with ^(F)Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. ^(G)He^[d] will tell you what you must do.” ⁷ And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. ⁸ So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

⁹ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, ^(H)Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about ^[e]the sixth hour. ¹⁰ Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and ^(I)saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³ And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! ^(J)For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

¹⁵ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, ^(K)“What God has ^[f]cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Summoned to Caesarea

¹⁷ Now while Peter ^[g]wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. ¹⁸ And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹ While Peter thought about the vision, ^(L)the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. ^20 (M)Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

²¹ Then Peter went down to the men ^[h]who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

²² And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and ^(N)has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” ²³ Then he invited them in and lodged them.

On the next day Peter went away with them, ^(O)and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.