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.
1 Cēzarejā bija kāds vīrs, vārdā Kornēlijs, virsnieks tā sauktajā itāļu rotā, 2 ticīgs un dievbijīgs ar visu savu namu. Viņš deva ļaudīm daudz dāvanu un pastāvīgi lūdza Dievu. 3 Tā ap devīto dienas stundu viņš parādībā skaidri redzēja Dieva eņģeli ienākam pie viņa un uz viņu sakām: "Kornēlij!" 4 To redzēdams, viņš pārbijās un sacīja: "Kas ir, Kungs?" Bet tas viņam atbildēja: "Dievs ir pieminējis tavas lūgšanas un dāvanas. 5 Tagad nosūti vīrus uz Jopi un ataicini Sīmani, kam pievārds Pēteris. 6 Tas dzīvo pie kāda ādmiņa Sīmaņa, kam ir nams jūrmalā." 7 Kad eņģelis, kas ar viņu runāja, bija aizgājis, viņš atsauca divi vergus un kādu dievbijīgu kareivi no tiem, kas pastāvīgi bija pie viņa, 8 un, tiem visu izstāstījis, sūtīja tos uz Jopi. 9 Nākamajā dienā, kad tie bija ceļā un tuvojās pilsētai, Pēteris ap sesto stundu uzkāpa uz jumta lūgt Dievu. 10 Būdams izsalcis, viņš gribēja ko baudīt. Kamēr tie gatavoja ēdienu, viņš kļuva garā aizrauts, 11 un viņš redz debesi atvērtu un kādu ietvaru nonākam, it kā lielu palagu, aiz četriem stūriem nolaistu zemē. 12 Tanī bija visādi četrkājaini dzīvnieki un rāpuļi virs zemes un putni zem debess. 13 Un balss runāja uz viņu: "Celies, Pēteri, kauj un ēd!" 14 Bet Pēteris sacīja: "Nemūžam, Kungs, jo es nekad neesmu ēdis neko, kas ir nesvēts un nešķīsts." 15 Vēl otrreiz balss uz viņu runāja: "Ko Dievs šķīstījis, to neturi par nešķīstu!" 16 Tas notika trīs reizes, un ietvars tūdaļ tika uzcelts debesīs. 17 Pēterim neziņā esot, ko nozīmē šī parādība, ko viņš bija redzējis, lūk, Kornēlija sūtītie vīri, uzmeklējuši Sīmaņa namu, stāvēja pie vārtiem 18 un stiprā balsī vaicāja, vai tur mājojot Sīmanis, ar pievārdu Pēteris. 19 Kad Pēteris šo parādību pārdomāja, Gars viņam sacīja: "Redzi, trīs vīri tevi meklē. 20 Celies, kāp zemē un ej nešaubīdamies tiem līdzi, jo Es tos esmu sūtījis!" 21 Pēteris, nokāpis pie šiem vīriem, sacīja: "Redzi, es esmu tas, ko jūs meklējat, kādā lietā jūs esat atnākuši?" 22 Bet tie atbildēja: "Virsnieks Kornēlijs, taisnīgs un dievbijīgs vīrs, kam visā jūdu tautā laba slava, svēta eņģeļa pamācīts, aicina tevi savā namā un grib dzirdēt, ko tu viņam teiksi." 23 Ieaicinājis, viņš tos uzņēma. Bet nākamajā dienā viņš devās ceļā kopā ar tiem, un daži brāļi, kas bija no Jopes, gāja viņam līdzi. 24 Otrā dienā viņi nonāca Cezarejā; Kornēlijs, saaicinājis savus radiniekus un tuvākos draugus, viņus jau gaidīja. 25 Pēterim ieejot, Kornēlijs viņam nāca pretim un godināja viņu, mezdamies pie viņa kājām. 26 Bet Pēteris viņu piecēla, sacīdams: "Celies, arī es esmu tikai cilvēks!" 27 Un, ar to sarunādamies, viņš gāja iekšā un redzēja daudz sapulcējušos. 28 Viņš tiem sacīja: "Jūs zināt, ka jūdam nav atļauts biedroties ar citas tautas cilvēku vai iet pie viņa mājās; bet man Dievs ir rādījis, ka nevienu cilvēku nevajag turēt par nesvētu vai nešķīstu. 29 Tāpēc aicināts es arī esmu nācis bez iebilduma. Tagad es vaicāju: kādēļ jūs mani esat aicinājuši?" 30 Kornēlijs sacīja: "Priekš četrām dienām ap šo laiku, devītajā stundā, man savā namā Dievu lūdzot, piepeši kāds vīrs spožās drēbēs stāvēja manā priekšā 31 un sacīja: Kornēlij, Dievs paklausījis tavas lūgšanas un pieminējis tavas dāvanas. 32 Sūti uz Jopi un ataicini Sīmani, kam pievārds Pēteris; tas mājo ādmiņa Sīmaņa namā pie jūras." 33 Tāpēc es tūdaļ sūtīju pie tevis, un labi, ka tu atnāci. Tagad mēs visi stāvam Dieva priekšā, lai uzklausītu visu, ko Tas Kungs tev pavēlējis. 34 Bet Pēteris sāka runāt, sacīdams: "Tiešām, es atzīstu, ka Dievs neuzlūko cilvēka vaigu, 35 bet ikvienā tautā Viņam ir tīkams, kas Viņu bīstas un taisnīgi dzīvo. 36 Šis ir tas vārds, ko viņš Israēla bērniem sūtījis, pasludinādams mieru caur Jēzu Kristu: Tas ir Kungs pār visiem. 37 Jūs zināt, kas noticis visā Jūdejā, sākot ar Galileju, pēc kristības, ko Jānis pasludinājis, 38 ka Dievs ar Svēto Garu un spēku svaidījis nacarieti Jēzu, kas gājis apkārt, labu darīdams un dziedinādams visus velna nomāktos, jo Dievs bija ar Viņu. 39 Mēs esam liecinieki visam, ko Viņš darījis jūdu zemē un Jeruzālemē. Viņu tie nonāvējuši, pakārdami pie krusta. 40 Dievs Viņu uzmodinājis trešajā dienā un Viņam licis parādīties 41 ne visiem ļaudīm, bet Dieva iepriekš izredzētajiem lieciniekiem, mums, kas ar Viņu esam ēduši un dzēruši pēc Viņa augšāmcelšanās no mirušiem. 42 Un Viņš mums pavēlējis tautai sludināt un apliecināt, ka Viņš ir Dieva iecelts soģis pār dzīviem un mirušiem. 43 Par Viņu liecina visi pravieši, ka ikviens, kas tic uz Viņu, Viņa Vārdā dabū grēku piedošanu." 44 Pēterim vēl runājot, Svētais Gars nāca pār visiem, kas šos vārdus dzirdēja. 45 Un ticīgie apgraizītie, kas Pēterim bija līdzi, izbijās, ka Svētā Gara dāvana bija izlieta arī pār pagāniem, 46 jo viņi tos dzirdēja mēlēs runājam un Dievu teicam. Tad Pēteris atbildēja: 47 "Kas gan varētu liegt ūdeni šo ļaužu kristīšanai, kas dabūjuši Svēto Garu tāpat kā mēs?" 48 Un viņš pavēlēja tos kristīt Jēzus Kristus Vārdā. Tad tie lūdza, lai viņš dažas dienas pie tiem paliktu.
