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¹ Now [there was] a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a captain from the Italian Battalion,² a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.³ He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius.⁴ And he, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have gone up for a memorial before God.⁵ And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:⁶ he lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.⁷ And when the angel that spoke to him had departed, he called two of his household slaves, and a devout soldier of those that waited on him continually;⁸ and having rehearsed all things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

⁹ Now on the next day, as they were on their journey, and drew near to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour:¹⁰ and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance;¹¹ and he looks at heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners on the earth:¹² wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.¹³ And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.¹⁴ But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.¹⁵ And a voice [came] to him again the second time, What God has cleansed, don't make common.¹⁶ And this was done thrice: and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.¹⁷ Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, look, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate,¹⁸ and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹ And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said to him, Look, three men are seeking you.²⁰ But arise, and go down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.²¹ And Peter went down to the men, and said, Look, I am he whom you seek: what is the cause why you have come?²² And they said, Captain Cornelius, a righteous man and one that fears God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned [of God] by a holy angel to send for you into his house, and to hear words from you.²³ So he called them in and lodged them. And on the next day he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.²⁴ And on the next day he entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends.²⁵ And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.²⁶ But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.²⁷ And as he talked with him, he went in, and finds many come together:²⁸ and he said to them, You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation; and [yet] to me has God shown that I should not call any man common or unclean:²⁹ therefore also I came without opposing, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent you sent for me.³⁰ And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and look, a man stood before me in bright apparel,³¹ and says, Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.³² Send therefore to Joppa, and call to you Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside.³³ Forthwith therefore I sent to you; and you have well done that you have come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded you of the Lord.

³⁴ And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:³⁵ but in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is acceptable to him.³⁶ The word which he sent to the sons of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all.) -³⁷ that saying you yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;³⁸ [even] Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.³⁹ 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.⁴⁰ God raised him up on the third day, and gave him to be made manifest,⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses that were chosen before of God, [even] to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.⁴² And he charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that this is he who is appointed of God [to be] the Judge of the living and the dead.⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness, that through his name every one that believes on him shall receive remission of sins.

⁴⁴ While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those that heard the word.⁴⁵ And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then Peter answered,⁴⁷ Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they prayed him to tarry certain days.