Cornelius’ Vision

10 Now at ^[a]Caesarea [Maritima] there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the ^[b]Italian Regiment, ² a devout man and one who, along with all his household, feared God. He made many charitable donations to the Jewish people, and prayed to God always. ³ About the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had come to him and said, “Cornelius!” ⁴ Cornelius was frightened and stared intently at him and said, “What is it, lord (sir)?” And the angel said to him, “Your prayers and gifts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God [an offering made in remembrance of His past blessings]. ⁵ Now send men to ^[c]Joppa and have them call for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter [and invite him here]; ⁶ he is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” ⁷ When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his own personal attendants; ⁸ and after explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

⁹ The next day, as they were on their way and were approaching the city, Peter went up on ^[d]the roof of the house about the sixth hour (noon) to pray, ¹⁰ but he became hungry and wanted something to eat. While ^[e]the meal was being prepared he fell into a trance; ¹¹ and he saw the sky opened up, and an ^[f]object like a great sheet descending, lowered by its four corners to the earth, ¹² and it contained all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. ¹³ A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy).” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

¹⁷ Now Peter was still perplexed and completely at a loss as to what his vision could mean when the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, arrived at the gate. ¹⁸ And they called out to ask whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. ¹⁹ While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Now listen, three men are looking for you. ²⁰ Get up, go downstairs and go with them without hesitating or doubting, because I have sent them Myself.” ²¹ Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. For what reason have you come?” ²² They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man well spoken of by all the Jewish people, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear what you have to say.” ²³ So Peter ^[g]invited them in and gave them lodging [for the night].

Peter at Caesarea

The next day Peter got up and left with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.