Cornelius Sends for Peter 3 RV He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto 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 RV And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before 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 RV And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter: BSB BSB: Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.
6 RV he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. BSB BSB: He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 RV And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 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 RV and having rehearsed all things unto 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 RV and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance; BSB BSB: He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
11 RV and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth: BSB BSB: He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
12 RV wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and fowls of the heaven. BSB BSB: It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.
13 RV And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. BSB BSB: Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”
14 RV But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean. BSB BSB: “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15 RV And a voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. BSB BSB: The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16 RV And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven. BSB BSB: This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven.
Peter Called to Caesarea 17 RV Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, 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 RV and called and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodging there. BSB BSB: They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.
19 RV And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. BSB BSB: As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
20 RV But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them. BSB BSB: So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.”
21 RV And Peter went down to the men, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 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 RV And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned of God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words from thee. 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 RV So he called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren 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 RV And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near 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 RV And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. BSB BSB: As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
26 RV But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. BSB BSB: But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 RV And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come together: BSB BSB: As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.
29 RV wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me. BSB BSB: So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”
30 RV And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, 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 RV and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance 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 RV Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side. 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 RV Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of 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 RV but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him. BSB BSB: but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
36 RV The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (he is 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 RV that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judaea, 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 RV even Jesus of Nazareth, how that God anointed him with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of 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 RV And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, 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 RV Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest, BSB BSB: God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—
41 RV not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose 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 RV And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he which is ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and 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 RV To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive 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 RV While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. BSB BSB: While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message.
45 RV And they of the circumcision which believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 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 RV For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, BSB BSB: For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said,
47 RV Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? BSB BSB: “Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!”
48 RV And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain 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.