1 There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band , 2 A devout man , and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 ¶ On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 ¶ While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them . And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And the morrow after they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him . 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say , ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 ¶ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain 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.
