Acts 10:2-20

²a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, giving much alms to the people, and praying to God always,

³saw in a vision plainly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius!

⁴And he, looking steadily at him, and becoming affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thine alms have come up for a memorial before God.

⁵And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, who is surnamed Peter;

⁶he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.

⁷And when the angel that spoke to him had departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of those who waited on him,

⁸and having told them every thing sent them to Joppa.

⁹On the morrow, as they were on their journey, and were drawing near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.

¹⁰And he became very hungry and wished to eat; but while they were making ready, a trance came upon him,

¹¹and he beheld heaven opened, and a sort of vessel descending, as it were a large sheet having cords at the four corners, and let down upon the earth;

¹²wherein were all the four-footed beasts and creeping things of the earth, and birds of the air.

¹³And there came a voice to him, Arise, Peter; slay, and eat.

¹⁴But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common and unclean.

¹⁵And a voice came to him again, the second time, That which God hath cleansed, call not thou common.

¹⁶This was done three times; and the vessel was immediately taken up into heaven.

¹⁷Now, while Peter was doubting within himself what the vision which he had seen meant, lo! the men who were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate;

¹⁸and they called, and asked whether Simon, surnamed Peter, lodged there.

¹⁹And while Peter was meditating on the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, men are seeking thee;

²⁰but arise, and go down, and go with them, without scruple; for I have sent them.