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.
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.
