Acts 9:32-10:23

New International Version

Aeneas and Dorcas

³² As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people^(A) who lived in Lydda. ³³ There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. ³⁴ “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you.^(B) Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. ³⁵ All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon^(C) saw him and turned to the Lord.^(D)

³⁶ In Joppa^(E) there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good^(F) and helping the poor. ³⁷ About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.^{(G) 38} Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples^(H) heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

³⁹ Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows^(I) stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out of the room;^(J) then he got down on his knees^(K) and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”^(L) She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. ⁴² This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.^{(M) 43} Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.^(N)

Cornelius Calls for Peter

10 At Caesarea^(O) there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. ² He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;^(P) he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. ³ One day at about three in the afternoon^(Q) he had a vision.^(R) He distinctly saw an angel^(S) of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

⁴ 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^(T) before God.^{(U) 5} Now send men to Joppa^(V) to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is staying with Simon the tanner,^(W) whose house is by the sea.”

⁷ 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. ⁸ He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.^(X)

Peter’s Vision^(Y)

⁹ About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof^(Z) to pray. ¹⁰ He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.^{(AA) 11} He saw heaven opened^(AB) 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!”^(AC) Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”^(AD)

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

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,^(AF) the men sent by Cornelius^(AG) 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,^(AH) the Spirit said^(AI) 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.”^(AJ)

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,^(AK) 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.”^{(AL) 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^(AM) from Joppa went along.^(AN)