1There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian Band,
2a devout man and one who feared God with all his house, who gave many alms to the people and prayed to God always.
3He saw in a vision clearly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him and saying unto him, "Cornelius!"
4And when he looked on him, he was afraid and said, "What is it, lord?" And he said unto him, "Thy prayers and thine alms have risen up as a memorial before God.
5And now send men to Joppa and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.
6He lodgeth with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside; he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do."
7And when the angel who spoke unto Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from those who waited on him continually.
8And when he had related all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9On 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.
10And he became very hungry and would have eaten; but while they were making ready he fell into a trance,
11and saw heaven opened and a certain vessel descending unto him as though it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners and let down to the earth,
12wherein were all kinds of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the air.
13And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
14But Peter said, "Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."
15And the voice spoke unto him again the second time, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."
16This was done thrice, and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17Now while Peter wondered to himself what this vision which he had seen could mean, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house and stood before the gate,
18and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodged there.
19While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, "Behold, three men seek thee.
20Arise therefore, and get thee down and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them."
21Then Peter went down to the men who were sent unto him from Cornelius and said, "Behold, I am he whom ye seek. What is the cause for which ye have come?"
22And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man and one who feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house and to hear words from thee."
23Then Peter called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
26But Peter took him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself also am a man."
27And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together.
28And he said unto them, "Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to keep company with or to come unto one of another nation. But God hath shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying as soon as I was sent for. I ask therefore, with what intent ye have sent for me?"
30And 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,
31and said, `Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms have been remembered in the sight of God.
32Send therefore to Joppa and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter. He is lodged in the house of one Simon, a tanner, by the seaside. He, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.'
33Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast done well, that thou hast come. Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee from God."
34Then Peter opened his mouth and said, "In truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons,
35but in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness is accepted by Him.
36The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all) --
37that Word, I say, ye know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
39And we are witnesses of all things which He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem -- He whom they hanged on a tree and slew.
40Him God raised up the third day and showed Him openly,
41not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
42And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be the Judge of the quick and dead.
43To Him all the prophets bear witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins."
44While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all those who heard the Word.
45And those of the Circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Ghost was poured out also on the Gentiles.
46For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47"Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we?"
48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they entreated him to tarry certain days.