The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 10 -

And there was a certain man in Caesarea, named Cornelius, a centurion of that which is called the Italian band;

A religious man, and fearing God with all his house, giving much alms to the people, and always praying to God.

This man saw in a vision manifestly, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him: Cornelius.

And he, beholding him, being seized with fear, said: What is it, Lord? And he said to him: Thy prayers and thy alms are ascended for a memorial in the sight of God.

And now send men to Joppe, and call hither one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:

He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. He will tell thee what thou must do.

And when the angel who spoke to him was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a soldier who feared the Lord, of them that were under him.

To whom when he had related all, he sent them to Joppe.

Peter’s Vision

(Leviticus 11:1–47; Deuteronomy 14:1–21)

And on the next day, whilst they were going on their journey, and drawing nigh to the city, Peter went up to the higher parts of the house to pray, about the sixth hour.

And being hungry, he was desirous to taste somewhat. And as they were preparing, there came upon him an ecstasy of mind.

And he saw the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth:

Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and fowls of the air.

And there came a voice to him: Arise, Peter; kill and eat.

But Peter said: Far be it from me; for I never did eat any thing that is common and unclean.

And the voice spoke to him again the second time: That which God hath cleansed, do not thou call common.

And this was done thrice; and presently the vessel was taken up into heaven.

Peter Called to Caesarea

Now, whilst Peter was doubting within himself, what the vision that he had seen should mean, behold the men who were sent from Cornelius, inquiring for Simon’s house, stood at the gate.

And when they had called, they asked, if Simon, who is surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

And as Peter was thinking of the vision, the Spirit said to him: Behold three men seek thee.

Arise, therefore, get thee down and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Then Peter, going down to the men, said: Behold, I am he whom you seek; what is the cause for which you are come?

Who said: Cornelius, a centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and having good testimony from all the nation of the Jews, received an answer of an holy angel, to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

Then bringing them in, he lodged them. And the day following he arose, and went with them: and some of the brethren from Joppe accompanied him.

Peter Visits Cornelius

And the morrow after, he entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, having called together his kinsmen and special friends.

And it came to pass, that when Peter was come in, Cornelius came to meet him, Cornelius came to meet him, and falling at his feet adored.

But Peter lifted him up, saying: Arise, I myself also am a man.

And talking with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

And he said to them: You know how abominable it is for a man that is a Jew, to keep company or to come unto one of another nation: but God hath shewed to me, to call no man common or unclean.

For which cause, making no doubt, I came when I was sent for. I ask, therefore, for what cause you have sent for me?

And Cornelius said: Four days ago, unto this hour, I was praying in my house, at the ninth hour, and behold a man stood before me in white apparel, and said:

Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thy alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Send therefore to Joppe, and call hither Simon, who is surnamed Peter: he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.

Immediately therefore I sent to thee: and thou hast done well in coming. Now therefore all we are present in thy sight, to hear all things whatsoever are commanded thee by the Lord.

Good News for the Gentiles

And Peter opening his mouth, said: In very deed I perceive, that God is not a respecter of persons.

But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh justice, is acceptable to him.

God sent the word to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all.)

You know the word which hath been published through all Judea: for it began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached,

Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Ghost, and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

And we are witnesses of all things that he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed, hanging him upon a tree.

Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest,

Not to all the people, but to witnesses preordained by God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he arose again from the dead;

And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he who was appointed by God, to be judge of the living and of the dead.

To him all the prophets give testimony, that by his name all receive remission of sins, who believe in him.

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

(Acts 19:1–7)

While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word.

And the faithful of the circumcision, who came with Peter, were astonished, for that the grace of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the Gentiles also.

For they heard them speaking with tongues, and magnifying God.

Then Peter answered: Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we?

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they desired him to tarry with them some days.

Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.

At about the ninth hour of the day,(a) he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

He, fastening his eyes on him and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.

Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter.

He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.(b)

When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.

Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

(Leviticus 11:1–47; Deuteronomy 14:1–21)

Now on the next day as they were on their journey and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.

He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.

He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,

in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.

A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”

But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”

This was done three times, and immediately the thing was received up into heaven.

Peter Called to Caesarea

Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate,

and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there.

While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three(c) men seek you.

But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”

They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”

So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter Visits Cornelius

On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.

But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”

As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.

He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.

Therefore I also came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?”

Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour,(d) I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing

and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.

Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’

Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”

Good News for the Gentiles

Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;

but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all—

you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also (e) killed, hanging him on a tree.

God raised him up the third day and gave him to be revealed,

not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.

All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit

(Acts 19:1–7)

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.

They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.

For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,

“Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.”

He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.

Footnotes

(a)10:3 p.m.

(b)10:6 TR adds “This one will tell you what it is necessary for you to do.”

(d)10:30 p.m.

(e)10:39 TR omits “also”