Cornelius sends for Peter1Cornelius, a Roman centurion of the Italian Regiment, lived in Caesarea.2He and his household were God-fearing people. Cornelius gave generously to those in need and was a man of prayer.3At around three in the afternoon one day, he had a vision of an angel coming from God and calling his name: "Cornelius."4Cornelius was afraid but couldn't help staring intently at the angel: "What is it, Lord?" He asked. The angel replied: "God has heard your prayers and is aware of your gifts to the poor.5Send some men to Joppa to fetch a man called Simon Peter,6who is staying with Simon the leather-worker who lives by the sea."7When the angel had disappeared, Cornelius called two of his servants and also a devout soldier who was one of his personal staff.8He told them of the vision and sent them to Joppa.Peter's vision9Around noon on the following day, while they were making their way to Joppa, Peter was praying on the roof of the house where he was staying.10He was hungry and wanted something to eat but fell into a trance while his meal was being prepared.11In a vision he saw that the heavens were opened and what appeared to be like a large sheet was being let down to the ground by its four corners.12In the sheet were a variety of animals, reptiles and birds.13Then Peter heard a voice telling him: "Rise, Peter, kill and eat."14Shocked, Peter replied: "No way, Lord! Never have I eaten anything forbidden or considered ritually unclean."15The voice addressed him again: "Do not say that anything is unclean if I have made it clean."16This happened three times before the sheet was taken up into heaven.The Lord sends Peter to Cornelius' household17While Peter was wondering what this vision meant, those sent by Cornelius had found their way to the house and were at the gate.18They called out, enquiring if Simon Peter was staying there.19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him: "Simon, three men are calling for you.20Get up and go down to meet them. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."21So Peter went downstairs and told the men: "I am the one you want. Why have you come?"22The men replied: "The centurion Cornelius sent us. He is a good and God-fearing man, greatly respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to invite you to come to his house so he can hear whatever you have to say."23So Peter invited them in to stay as his guests. On the next day Peter, together with some of the brothers from Joppa, set out with the messengers for Caesarea, where they arrived on the following day.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)