Peter and Cornelius
1 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, who was a captain in the Roman army regiment called “The Italian Regiment.” 2 He was a religious man; he and his whole family worshiped God. He also did much to help the Jewish poor people and was constantly praying to God. 3 It was about three o'clock one afternoon when he had a vision, in which he clearly saw an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius!”
4 He stared at the angel in fear and said, “What is it, sir?”
The angel answered, “God is pleased with your prayers and works of charity, and is ready to answer you. 5 And now send some men to Joppa for a certain man whose full name is Simon Peter. 6 He is a guest in the home of a tanner of leather named Simon, who lives by the sea.” 7 Then the angel went away, and Cornelius called two of his house servants and a soldier, a religious man who was one of his personal attendants. 8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.
9 The next day, as they were on their way and coming near Joppa, Peter went up on the roof of the house about noon in order to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; while the food was being prepared, he had a vision. 11 He saw heaven opened and something coming down that looked like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and wild birds. 13 A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat!”
14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten anything ritually unclean or defiled.”
15 The voice spoke to him again, “Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.” 16 This happened three times, and then the thing was taken back up into heaven.
17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius had learned where Simon's house was, and they were now standing in front of the gate. 18 They called out and asked, “Is there a guest here by the name of Simon Peter?”
19 Peter was still trying to understand what the vision meant, when the Spirit said, “Listen! Three men are here looking for you. 20 So get ready and go down, and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 21 So Peter went down and said to the men, “I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22 “Captain Cornelius sent us,” they answered. “He is a good man who worships God and is highly respected by all the Jewish people. An angel of God told him to invite you to his house, so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Peter invited the men in and had them spend the night there.
The next day he got ready and went with them; and some of the believers from Joppa went along with him. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting for him, together with relatives and close friends that he had invited. 25 As Peter was about to go in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and bowed down before him. 26 But Peter made him rise. “Stand up,” he said, “I myself am only a man.” 27 Peter kept on talking to Cornelius as he went into the house, where he found many people gathered. 28 He said to them, “You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not allowed by his religion to visit or associate with Gentiles. But God has shown me that I must not consider any person ritually unclean or defiled. 29 And so when you sent for me, I came without any objection. I ask you, then, why did you send for me?”
30 Cornelius said, “It was about this time three days ago that I was praying in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man dressed in shining clothes stood in front of me 31 and said: ‘Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity. 32 Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner of leather, who lives by the sea.’ 33 And so I sent for you at once, and you have been good enough to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God, waiting to hear anything that the Lord has instructed you to say.”
Peter's Speech
34 Peter began to speak: “I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. 35 Those who fear him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know of the great event that took place throughout the land of Israel, beginning in Galilee after John preached his message of baptism. 38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the Devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of everything that he did in the land of Israel and in Jerusalem. Then they put him to death by nailing him to a cross. 40 But God raised him from death three days later and caused him to appear, 41 not to everyone, but only to the witnesses that God had already chosen, that is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from death. 42 And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets spoke about him, saying that all who believe in him will have their sins forgiven through the power of his name.”
The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his message. 45 The Jewish believers who had come from Joppa with Peter were amazed that God had poured out his gift of the Holy Spirit on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speaking in strange tongues and praising God's greatness. Peter spoke up: 47 “These people have received the Holy Spirit, just as we also did. Can anyone, then, stop them from being baptized with water?” 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for a few days.
Pēteris un Kornēlijs
1 Cēzarejā bija kāds vīrs, vārdā Kornēlijs, centurions tā sauktajā itāliešu kohortā. 2 Viņš kopā ar visu savu namu bija ticīgs un dievbijīgs vīrs un darīja daudzus žēlsirdības darbus tautai, un pastāvīgi lūdza Dievu. 3 Ap dienas devīto stundu viņš parādībā skaidri redzēja Dieva eņģeli pie viņa ienākam un sakām: “Kornēlij!” 4 Baiļu pārņemts, viņš to uzlūkoja un teica: “Kas ir, Kungs?” Tad eņģelis sacīja: “Tavas lūgšanas un tavi žēlsirdības darbi ir nākuši Dieva priekšā un ir pieminēti. 5 Sūti tagad vīrus uz Jafu un liec ataicināt Sīmani, kam pievārds Pēteris. 6 Viņš mitinās pie kāda ādmiņa, vārdā Sīmanis, kura nams ir pie jūras.” 7 Kad eņģelis, kas ar viņu bija runājis, aizgāja, Kornēlijs pasauca divus kalpus un vienu dievbijīgu kareivi no tiem, kas pie viņa kalpoja, 8 un, visu tiem paskaidrojis, sūtīja tos uz Jafu. 9 Nākamajā dienā, kad viņi jau tuvojās pilsētai, Pēteris ap sesto stundu uzkāpa uz jumta lūgt Dievu. 10 Viņš bija izsalcis un gribēja ko iebaudīt, bet maltīti vēl tikai gatavoja. Pēkšņi viņš tapa garā aizgrābts. 11 Viņš redzēja debesis atveramies un kādu trauku it kā lielu palagu aiz četriem stūriem nolaistu zemē. 12 Tajā bija visi četrkājainie kustoņi un zemes rāpuļi, un debesu putni. 13 Un atskanēja balss: “Celies, Pēteri, kauj un ēd!” 14 Bet Pēteris sacīja: “Nemūžam, Kungs! Nekad neesmu ēdis neko nešķīstu un apgānītu.” 15 Bet balss sacīja viņam: “Ko Dievs ir šķīstījis, to nesauc par apgānītu.” 16 Tas atkārtojās trīs reizes, un tad trauks tūlīt tika pacelts debesīs. 17 Kamēr Pēteris vēl neizpratnē pārdomāja, kas tā varētu būt par parādību, ko viņš bija redzējis, lūk, Kornēlija sūtīti vīri, kas jautāja pēc Sīmaņa nama, bija apstājušies pie lieveņa 18 un skaļi klaušināja, vai šeit ir apmeties Sīmanis, kam pievārds Pēteris. 19 Pēteris vēl lauzīja galvu par šo parādību, bet Gars sacīja: “Redzi, trīs vīri tevi meklē. 20 Celies, kāp lejā un nešaubīdamies ej viņiem līdzi, jo es viņus esmu sūtījis.” 21 Tad Pēteris, nokāpis pie šiem vīriem, sacīja: “Redzi, es esmu tas, ko jūs meklējat. Kāda iemesla dēļ jūs esat atnākuši?” 22 Tie sacīja: “Mūs pie tevis, svētā eņģeļa pamudināts, ir sūtījis centurions Kornēlijs, lai tu nāktu viņa namā – viņš uzklausīs tavus vārdus, viņš ir taisns un dievbijīgs vīrs, kuru ciena visa jūdu tauta.” 23 Viņš aicināja tos ienākt namā un uzņēma kā viesus. Otrā dienā viņš cēlās un devās tiem līdzi, un daži brāļi, kas bija no Jafas, gāja kopā ar viņu. 24 Kad nākamajā dienā viņi iegāja Cēzarejā, Kornēlijs viņus jau gaidīja, saaicinājis savus radus un tuvākos draugus. 25 Pēterim ienākot, Kornēlijs devās viņam pretī un, viņu sveicinādams, metās pie viņa kājām. 26 Bet Pēteris viņu piecēla, sacīdams: “Celies augšā, arī es esmu tikai cilvēks.” 27 Runādamies viņi iegāja iekšā un ieraudzīja daudz sapulcējušos. 28 Pēteris tiem teica: “Jūs zināt, ka jūdiem nav atļauts saieties ar sveštautieti vai ieiet tā mājā. Bet Dievs man ir parādījis, ka nevienu cilvēku nevajag saukt par apgānītu vai nešķīstu. 29 Tādēļ es neiebildu, kad mani aicināja, un nācu šurp. Tad nu gribu zināt, kādēļ jūs mani aicinājāt.” 30 Kornēlijs atbildēja: “Pirms četrām dienām, kad es savā namā tāpat ap devīto stundu lūdzu Dievu, redzi, vīrs baltās drēbēs nostājās manā priekšā 31 un sacīja: Kornēlij, tava lūgšana ir uzklausīta un tavi žēlsirdības darbi ir pieminēti Dieva priekšā. 32 Tādēļ sūti kādu uz Jafu un liec ataicināt Sīmani, kam pievārds Pēteris un kas apmeties Sīmaņa ādmiņa namā pie jūras. 33 Tādēļ es tūlīt sūtīju pēc tevis, un tu darīji labi, ka atnāci. Tagad mēs visi esam Dieva priekšā, lai uzklausītu visu, ko Kungs tev ir pavēlējis.”
Pētera runa Kornēlija namā
34 Tad Pēteris tos uzrunāja: “Patiesi, es saprotu, ka Dievs cilvēku neskata pēc ārienes, 35 bet ikvienā tautā viņš pieņem katru, kas viņa bīstas un ir taisns savos darbos. 36 Viņš sūtīja israēliešiem vārdu, kas pasludina prieka vēsti – mieru caur Jēzu Kristu, kas ir Kungs pār visiem. 37 Jūs to zināt, kas noticis visā Jūdejā, jau no Galilejas, kad Jānis pasludināja kristību, – 38 ka Dievs Jēzu no Nācaretes ir svaidījis ar Svēto Garu un spēku, kā viņš gāja un darīja labus darbus un dziedināja visus velna kalpinātos, jo Dievs bija ar viņu. 39 Un mēs esam liecinieki visam, ko viņš darīja gan jūdu zemē, gan Jeruzālemē. Bet tie viņu nogalināja, piesizdami krustā. 40 Trešajā dienā Dievs viņu uzmodināja no mirušajiem un ļāva viņam parādīties – 41 gan ne visai tautai, bet Dieva iepriekš izraudzītajiem, mums, kas ar viņu kopā ēdām un dzērām pēc tam, kad viņš bija uzcēlies no mirušajiem. 42 Viņš mums pavēlēja sludināt un tautai it visur liecināt, ka viņš ir Dieva nolikts soģis pār dzīviem un mirušiem. 43 Par viņu visi pravieši liecina, ka ikviens, kas viņam tic, caur viņa vārdu saņem grēku piedošanu.”
Pagāni saņem Svēto Garu
44 Pēterim vēl runājot, Svētais Gars nāca pār visiem, kas klausījās viņa vārdus. 45 Un ticīgie apgraizītie, kas bija atnākuši Pēterim līdzi, bija pārsteigti, ka Dievs Svētā Gara dāvanu izlējis arī pār pagāniem. 46 Viņi dzirdēja tos runājam mēlēs un slavējam Dievu. Tad Pēteris atbildēja: 47 “Vai gan šiem, kas saņēmuši Svēto Garu tāpat kā mēs, kāds var liegt ūdeni un tos nekristīt?” 48 Un viņš pavēlēja tos kristīt Jēzus Kristus vārdā. Ļaudis viņu lūdza vēl dažas dienas uzkavēties.
