The Spirit Falls Where the Gospel Goes

¹Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

²a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.

³At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

⁴He, fastening his eyes on him and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?”

⁵Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter.

⁶He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.

⁷When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.

⁸Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

⁹Now on the next day as they were on their journey and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.

¹⁰He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.

¹¹He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,

¹²in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.

¹³A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”

¹⁴But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

¹⁵A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”

¹⁶This was done three times, and immediately the thing was received up into heaven.

¹⁷Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate,

¹⁸and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you.

²⁰But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

²¹Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”

²²They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”

²³So he called them in and provided a place to stay.

²⁴On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.

²⁵When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.

²⁶But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”

²⁷As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.

²⁸He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.

²⁹Therefore I also came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?”

³⁰Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing

³¹and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.

³²Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’

³³Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”

³⁴Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;

³⁵but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

³⁶The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all—

³⁷you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

³⁹We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree.

⁴⁰God raised him up the third day and gave him to be revealed,

⁴¹not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

⁴²He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.

⁴³All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”

⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.

⁴⁵They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.

⁴⁶For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God.

⁴⁷“Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.”

⁴⁸He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.