Acts 10:1-21

¹At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a captain in the regiment known as the ‘Italian Regiment,’

²A religious man and one who reverenced God, with all his household. He was liberal in his charities to the people, and prayed to God constantly.

³One afternoon, about three o'clock, he distinctly saw in a vision an angel from God come to him, and call him by name.

⁴Cornelius fixed his eyes on him and, in great alarm, said, “What is it, Lord?” “Your prayers and your charities,” the angel answered, “have been an acceptable offering to God.

⁵And now, send messengers to Jaffa and fetch a man called Simon, who is also known as Peter.

⁶He is lodging with a tanner named Simon, who has a house near the sea.”

⁷When the angel, who had spoken to him, had gone, Cornelius called two servants and a religious soldier, who was one of his constant attendants,

⁸and, after telling them the whole story, sent them to Jaffa.

⁹On the next day, while these men were on their way, just as they were nearing the town, Peter went up on the housetop about midday to pray.

¹⁰He became hungry and wanted something to eat; but while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance,

¹¹and saw that the heavens were open, and that something like a great sail was descending, let down by its four corners towards the earth.

¹²In it were all kinds of quadrupeds, reptiles, and birds.

¹³Then he was aware of a voice which said — “Stand up, Peter, kill something, and eat.”

¹⁴“No, Lord, I cannot,” answered Peter, “for I have never eaten anything defiled and unclean.”

¹⁵Again he was aware of a voice which said — “What God has pronounced clean, do not regard as defiled.”

¹⁶This happened three times, and then suddenly it was all taken up into the heavens.

¹⁷While Peter was still perplexed as to the meaning of the vision that he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius, having enquired the way to Simon's house, came up to the gate,

¹⁸and called out and asked if the Simon, who was also known as Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹Peter was still pondering over the vision, when the Spirit said to him, “There are two men looking for you at this moment.

²⁰Go down at once and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

²¹Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the person you are looking for. What is your reason for coming?”