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.
Peter and Cornelius
1 In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, who was the captain of a group of soldiers called “The Italian Unit.” 2 Cornelius was a very religious man. He worshiped God, and so did everyone else who lived in his house. He had given a lot of money to the poor and was always praying to God.
3 One afternoon at about three o'clock, Cornelius had a vision. He saw an angel from God coming to him and calling him by name. 4 Cornelius was surprised and stared at the angel. Then he asked, “What is this all about?”
The angel answered, “God has heard your prayers and knows about your gifts to the poor. 5 Now send some men to Joppa for a man named Simon Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the leather maker, who lives in a house near the sea.” 7 After saying this, the angel left.
Cornelius called in two of his servants and one of his soldiers who worshiped God. 8 He explained everything to them and sent them off to Joppa.
9 The next day about noon these men were coming near Joppa. Peter went up on the roof of the house to pray 10 and became very hungry. While the food was being prepared, he fell sound asleep and had a vision. 11 He saw heaven open, and something came down like a huge sheet held up by its four corners. 12 In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 A voice said to him, “Peter, get up! Kill these and eat them.”
14 But Peter said, “Lord, I can't do that! I've never eaten anything that is unclean and not fit to eat.”
15 The voice spoke to him again, “When God says that something can be used for food, don't say it isn't fit to eat.”
16 This happened three times before the sheet was suddenly taken back to heaven.
17 Peter was still wondering what all this meant, when the men sent by Cornelius came and stood at the gate. They had found their way to Simon's house 18 and were asking if Simon Peter was staying there.
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men are here looking for you. 20 Hurry down and go with them. Don't worry, I sent them.”
21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I am the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22 They answered, “Captain Cornelius sent us. He is a good man who worships God and is liked by the Jewish people. One of God's holy angels told Cornelius to send for you, so he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Peter invited them to spend the night.
The next morning, Peter and some of the Lord's followers in Joppa left with the men who had come from Cornelius. 24 The next day they arrived in Caesarea where Cornelius was waiting for them. He had also invited his relatives and close friends.
25 When Peter arrived, Cornelius greeted him. Then he knelt at Peter's feet and started worshiping him. 26 But Peter took hold of him and said, “Stand up! I am nothing more than a human.”
27 As Peter entered the house, he was still talking with Cornelius. Many people were there, 28 and Peter said to them, “You know that we Jews are not allowed to have anything to do with other people. But God has shown me that he doesn't think anyone is unclean or unfit. 29 I agreed to come here, but I want to know why you sent for me.”
30 Cornelius answered:
Four days ago at about three o'clock in the afternoon I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in bright clothes stood in front of me. 31 He said, “Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, and he knows about your gifts to the poor. 32 Now send to Joppa for Simon Peter. He is visiting in the home of Simon the leather maker, who lives near the sea.”
33 I sent for you at once, and you have been good enough to come. All of us are here in the presence of the Lord God, so that we can hear what he has to say.
34 Peter then said:
Now I am certain that God treats all people alike. 35 God is pleased with everyone who worships him and does right, no matter what nation they come from. 36 This is the same message that God gave to the people of Israel, when he sent Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, to offer peace to them.
37 You surely know what happened everywhere in Judea. It all began in Galilee after John had told everyone to be baptized. 38 God gave the Holy Spirit and power to Jesus from Nazareth. He was with Jesus, as he went around doing good and healing everyone who was under the power of the devil. 39 We all saw what Jesus did both in Israel and in the city of Jerusalem.
Jesus was put to death on a cross. 40 But three days later, God raised him to life and let him be seen. 41 Not everyone saw him. He was seen only by us, who ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. We were the ones God chose to tell others about him.
42 God told us to announce clearly to the people that Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the dead. 43 Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name.
44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit took control of everyone who was listening. 45 Some Jewish followers of the Lord had come with Peter, and they were surprised that the Holy Spirit had been given to Gentiles. 46 Now they were hearing Gentiles speaking unknown languages and praising God.
Peter said, 47 “These Gentiles have been given the Holy Spirit, just as we have! I am certain that no one would dare stop us from baptizing them.” 48 Peter ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and they asked him to stay on for a few days.
