²⁴ The next day they came to the city of Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them and had already gathered his relatives and close friends at his house.

²⁵ When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him. He fell down at Peter’s feet and worshiped him. ²⁶ But Peter told him to get up. Peter said, “Stand up! I am only a man like you.” ²⁷ Peter continued talking with Cornelius. Then Peter went inside and saw a large group of people gathered there.

²⁸ Peter said to the people, “You understand that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit anyone who is not a Jew. But God has shown me that I should not consider anyone unfit or say they are not pure. ²⁹ That’s why I didn’t argue when your men asked me to come here. Now, please tell me why you sent for me.”

³⁰ Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was praying in my house. It was at this same time—three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly there was someone standing before me wearing bright, shiny clothes. ³¹ He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and has seen your gifts to the poor. He remembers you and all you have done. ³² So send some men to the city of Joppa and tell Simon Peter to come. He is staying with another man named Simon, a leatherworker who has a house beside the sea.’ ³³ So I sent for you immediately. It was very good of you to come here. Now we are all here before God to hear everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

Peter Speaks in the House of Cornelius

³⁴ Peter began to speak: “I really understand now that God does not consider some people to be better than others. ³⁵ He accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right. It is not important what nation they come from. ³⁶ God has spoken to the people of Israel. He sent them the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ, the Lord of all people.

³⁷ “You know what has happened all over Judea. It began in Galilee after John told the people they needed to be baptized. ³⁸ You know about Jesus from Nazareth. God made him the Messiah by giving him the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went everywhere doing good for people. He healed those who were ruled by the devil, showing that God was with him.

³⁹ “We saw all that Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem. But he was killed. They put him on a cross made of wood. ⁴⁰ But on the third day after his death, God raised him to life and let him be seen openly. ⁴¹ He was not seen by everyone, but only by us, the ones God had already chosen to be witnesses. We ate and drank with him after he was raised from death.

⁴² “Jesus told us to go and speak to the people. He told us to tell them that he is the one God chose to be the Judge of all who are living and all who have died. ⁴³ Everyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. All the prophets agree that this is true.”

God Shows That He Accepts All People

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his speech. ⁴⁵ The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the Holy Spirit had been poured out as a gift also to people who were not Jews. ⁴⁶ They heard them speaking different languages and praising God. Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “How can anyone object to these people being baptized in water? They have received the Holy Spirit the same as we did!” ⁴⁸ So Peter told them to baptize Cornelius and his relatives and friends in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.