Cornelius Sends for Peter 3 CPDV This man saw in a vision clearly, at about the ninth hour of the day, the Angel of God entering to him and saying to him: “Cornelius!” BSB BSB: One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4 CPDV And he, gazing at him, was seized by fear, and he said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him: “Your prayers and your almsgiving have ascended as a memorial in the sight of God. BSB BSB: Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
5 CPDV And now, send men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon, who is surnamed Peter. BSB BSB: Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.
6 CPDV This man is a guest with a certain Simon, a tanner, whose house is beside the sea. He will tell you what you must do.” BSB BSB: He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 CPDV And when the Angel who was speaking to him had departed, he called, out of those who were subject to him, two of his household servants and a soldier who feared the Lord. BSB BSB: When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.
8 CPDV And when he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. BSB BSB: He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision (Leviticus 11:1–47; Deuteronomy 14:1–21)
10 CPDV And since he was hungry, he wanted to enjoy some food. Then, as they were preparing it, an ecstasy of mind fell over him. BSB BSB: He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
11 CPDV And he saw heaven opened, and a certain container descending, as if a great linen sheet were let down, by its four corners, from heaven to earth, BSB BSB: He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
12 CPDV on which were all four-footed beasts, and the crawling things of the earth and the flying things of the air. BSB BSB: It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.
13 CPDV And a voice came to him: “Rise up, Peter! Kill and eat.” BSB BSB: Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”
14 CPDV But Peter said: “Far be it from me, lord. For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” BSB BSB: “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15 CPDV And the voice, again a second time to him: “What God has purified, you shall not call common.” BSB BSB: The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16 CPDV Now this was done three times. And immediately the container was taken up to heaven. BSB BSB: This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.
Peter Called to Caesarea 17 CPDV Now while Peter was still hesitant within himself as to what the vision, which he had seen, might mean, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius stood at the gate, inquiring about Simon’s house. BSB BSB: While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate.
18 CPDV And when they had called out, they asked if Simon, who is surnamed Peter, was a guest in that place. BSB BSB: They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.
19 CPDV Then, as Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you. BSB BSB: As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
20 CPDV And so, rise up, descend, and go with them, doubting nothing. For I have sent them.” BSB BSB: So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”
21 CPDV Then Peter, descending to the men, said: “Behold, I am the one whom you seek. What is the reason for which you have arrived?” BSB BSB: So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22 CPDV And they said: “Cornelius, a centurion, a just and God-fearing man, who has good testimony from the entire nation of the Jews, received a message from a holy Angel to summon you to his house and to listen to words from you.” BSB BSB: “Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”
23 CPDV Therefore, leading them in, he received them as guests. Then, on following the day, rising up, he set out with them. And some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. BSB BSB: So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
Peter Visits Cornelius 24 CPDV And on the next day, he entered Caesarea. And truly, Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his family and closest friends. BSB BSB: The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 CPDV And it happened that, when Peter had entered, Cornelius went to meet him. And falling before his feet, he reverenced. BSB BSB: As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
26 CPDV Yet truly, Peter, lifting him up, said: “Rise up, for I also am only a man.” BSB BSB: But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 CPDV And speaking with him, he entered, and he found many who had gathered together. BSB BSB: As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.
29 CPDV Because of this and without doubt, I came when summoned. Therefore, I ask you, for what reason have you summoned me?” BSB BSB: So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”
30 CPDV And Cornelius said: “It is now the fourth day, to this very hour, since I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in a white vestment, and he said: BSB BSB: Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me
31 CPDV ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving has been remembered in the sight of God. BSB BSB: and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God.
32 CPDV Therefore, send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. This man is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, near the sea.’ BSB BSB: Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’
33 CPDV And so, I promptly sent for you. And you have done well in coming here. Therefore, all of us are now present in your sight to hear all the things that were taught to you by the Lord.” BSB BSB: So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”
Good News for the Gentiles 35 CPDV But within every nation, whoever fears him and works justice is acceptable to him. BSB BSB: but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
36 CPDV God sent the Word to the sons of Israel, announcing the peace through Jesus Christ, for he is the Lord of all. BSB BSB: He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
37 CPDV You know that the Word has been made known throughout all Judea. For beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached, BSB BSB: You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed:
38 CPDV Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power, traveled around doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil. For God was with him. BSB BSB: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.
39 CPDV And we are witnesses of all that he did in the region of Judea and in Jerusalem, he whom they killed by hanging him on a tree. BSB BSB: We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,
40 CPDV God raised him up on the third day and permitted him to be made manifest, BSB BSB: God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—
41 CPDV not to all the people, but to the witnesses preordained by God, to those of us who ate and drank with him after he rose again from the dead. BSB BSB: not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.
42 CPDV And he instructed us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the One who was appointed by God to be the judge of the living and of the dead. BSB BSB: And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.
43 CPDV To him all the Prophets offer testimony that through his name all who believe in him receive the remission of sins.” BSB BSB: All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1–7)
44 CPDV While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell over all of those who were listening to the Word. BSB BSB: While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message.
45 CPDV And the faithful of the circumcision, who had arrived with Peter, were astonished that the grace of the Holy Spirit was also poured out upon the Gentiles. BSB BSB: All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
46 CPDV For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. BSB BSB: For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
47 CPDV Then Peter responded, “How could anyone prohibit water, so that those who have received the Holy Spirit would not be baptized, just as we also have been?” BSB BSB: “Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”
48 CPDV And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to remain with them for some days. BSB BSB: So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.