Acts 10:23b-48
So
he invited them in and gave them lodging.
And
on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren
from Joppa accompanied him. On the following day he entered Caesarea .
Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and
close friends. When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and
worshiped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a
man." As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled.
And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who
is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown
me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. "That is why I came
without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what
reason you have sent for me."
Cornelius
said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the
ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, and he said,
'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered
before God. 'Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called
Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the
sea.' "So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to
come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have
been commanded by the Lord."
Opening
his mouth, Peter said:
"I
most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in
every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.
"The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through
Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)— you yourselves know the thing which took
place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John
proclaimed. "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the
Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all
who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
"We are witnesses
of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem . They also put Him to death by
hanging Him on a cross. "God raised Him up on the third day and granted
that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen
beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose
from the dead. "And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to
testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the
living and the dead. "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through
His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."
While
Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who
were listening to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with
Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on
the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and
exalting God. Then Peter answered, "Surely no one can refuse the water for
these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?"
And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked
him to stay on for a few days. (NASB)
This
reading is taken from 30 Scripture Readings
New
American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
(www.Lockman.org)
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