1Now there was a man at 1CaesareanamedCornelius, a centurion of what was 2called the Italiancohort,
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a devoutman and 3one who fearedGod with all his household, and 4gavemanyalms to the Jewish people and prayed to Godcontinually*.
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About*5the ninthhour of the day he clearlysaw6in a vision7an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!"
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And 8fixing his gaze on him and beingmuchalarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms9have ascended10as a memorialbeforeGod.
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"Nowdispatch some men to 11Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also calledPeter;
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he is staying with a tanner named 12Simon, whosehouse is by the sea."
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When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summonedtwo of his servants and a devoutsoldier of those who were his personalattendants,
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and after he had explainedeverything to them, he sent them to 13Joppa.
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On the nextday, as they were on their way and approaching the city, 14Peterwent up on 15the housetopabout16the sixthhour to pray.
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But he becamehungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were makingpreparations, he 17fell into a trance;
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and he saw18the skyopened up, and an objectlike a greatsheetcomingdown, lowered by fourcorners to the ground,
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and there were in it all kinds of four-footedanimals and crawlingcreatures of the earth and birds of the air.
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A voicecame to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!"
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But Petersaid, "By nomeans, 19Lord, for 20I have nevereatenanythingunholy and unclean."
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Again a voice came to him a secondtime, "21WhatGod has cleansed, no longer considerunholy."
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Thishappenedthreetimes, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.
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NowwhilePeter was greatlyperplexed in mind as to what22the visionwhich he had seen might be, behold, 23the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having askeddirections for Simon'shouse, appeared at the gate;
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and calling out, they were askingwhetherSimon, who was also calledPeter, was stayingthere.
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While Peter was reflecting on 24the vision, 25the Spiritsaid to him, "Behold, threemen are looking for you.
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"But get up, godownstairs and 26accompany* them withoutmisgivings, for I have sent them Myself."
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Peterwentdown to the men and said, "Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?"
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They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and 27God-fearingmanwellspoken of by the entirenation of the Jews, 28was divinely directed by a 29holyangel to send for you to come to his house and hear30a message from you."
So he invited them in and gave them lodging.
Peter at Caesarea
23 And on the nextday he got up and wentaway with them, and 31some of 32the brethren from 33Joppaaccompanied him.
Peter at Caesarea
24 On the followingday he entered34Caesarea. NowCornelius was waiting for them and had calledtogether his relatives and closefriends.
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WhenPeterentered, Corneliusmet him, and fell at his feet and 35worshiped him.
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But Peterraised him up, saying, "36Stand up; I tooam just a man."
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As he talked with him, he entered and found37manypeopleassembled.
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And he said to them, "You yourselvesknowhow38unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigneror to visit him; and yet 39God has shown me that I should not callanymanunholyorunclean.
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"That is why I camewithoutevenraising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for whatreason you have sent for me."
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Corneliussaid, "40Fourdaysago to thishour, I was praying in my house during 41the ninthhour; and behold, 42a manstoodbefore me in shininggarments,
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and he said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been rememberedbeforeGod.
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'Thereforesend to 43Joppa and inviteSimon, who is also calledPeter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.'
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"So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kindenough to come. Nowthen, we are allherepresentbeforeGod to hearall that you have been commanded by the Lord."
Gentiles Hear Good News
3444Opening his mouth, Petersaid: "I mostcertainly*understand now that 45God is not one to showpartiality,
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but 46in everynation the man who 47fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.
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"The wordwhich He sent to the sons of Israel, 48preaching49peacethroughJesusChrist (He is 50Lord of all )-
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you yourselvesknow the thing which tookplacethroughoutallJudea, starting from Galilee, after the baptismwhichJohnproclaimed.
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"You know of 51Jesus of Nazareth, howGod52anointed Him with the HolySpirit and with power, 53and how He wentaboutdoinggood and healingall who were oppressed by the devil, for 54God was with Him.
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"We are 55witnesses of all the things He didboth in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also56put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross.
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"57Godraised Him up on the thirdday and granted that He becomevisible,
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58not to all the people, but to 59witnesses who were chosenbeforehand by God, that is, to us 60whoate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
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"And He 61ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to 62testify that this is the One who has been 63appointed by God as 64Judge of the living and the dead.
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"Of Him 65all the prophetsbearwitness that through66His nameeveryone who believes in Him receivesforgiveness of sins."
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While Peter was stillspeakingthesewords, 67the HolySpiritfell upon allthose who were listening to the message.
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68All the circumcisedbelieverswhocame with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the HolySpirit had been 69poured out on the Gentilesalso.
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For they were hearing them 70speaking with tongues and exaltingGod. ThenPeteranswered,
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"71Surelynoonecanrefuse the water for these to be baptizedwho72have received the HolySpiritjust as we did, can he?"
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And he 73ordered them to be baptized74in the name of JesusChrist. Then they asked him to stay on for a fewdays.