the Fourth Week of Advent
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New American Standard Bible (1995)
Acts 10
Cornelius's Vision
1 Now there was a man at (C1)Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was (C2)called the Italian (F1)cohort,2 a devout man and (C1)one who feared God with all his household, and (C2)gave many (F1)alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.3 About (C1)the (F1)ninth hour of the day he clearly saw (C2)in a vision (C3)an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!"4 And (C1)fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and (F1)alms (C2)have ascended (C3)as a memorial before God.5 "Now dispatch some men to (C1)Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;6 he is staying with a tanner named (C1)Simon, whose house is by the sea."7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his (F1)servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants,8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to (C1)Joppa.
9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, (C1)Peter went up on (C2)the housetop about (C3)the (F1)sixth hour to pray.10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he (C1)fell into a trance;11 and he (*)saw (C1)the (F1)sky opened up, and an (F2)object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground,12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and (F1)crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the (F2)air.13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, (F1)kill and eat!"14 But Peter said, "By no means, (C1)Lord, for (C2)I have never eaten anything (F1)unholy and unclean."15 Again a voice came to him a second time, "(C1)What God has cleansed, no longer consider (F1)unholy."16 This happened three times, and immediately the (F1)object was taken up into the (F2)sky.
17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in (F1)mind as to what (C1)the vision which he had seen might be, behold, (C2)the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon's house, appeared at the gate;18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.19 While Peter was reflecting on (C1)the vision, (C2)the Spirit said to him, "Behold, (F1)three men are looking for you.20 "But get up, go downstairs and (C1)accompany them (F1)without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself."21 Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?"22 They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and (C1)God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, (C2)was divinely directed by a (C3)holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear (F1)(C4)a message from you."
23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.
30 Cornelius said, "(C1)Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during (C2)the (F1)ninth hour; and behold, (C3)a man stood before me in shining garments,31 and he (*)said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your (F1)alms have been remembered before God.32 'Therefore send to (C1)Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.'33 "So I sent for you immediately, and you have (F1)been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."
Gentiles Hear Good News
34 (C1)Opening his mouth, Peter said:
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, (C1)the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the (F1)message.45 (C1)All the (F1)circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been (C2)poured out on the Gentiles also.46 For they were hearing them (C1)speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered,47 "(C1)Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who (C2)have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"48 And he (C1)ordered them to be baptized (C2)in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation