Study Desk

The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

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

But Peter helped him up and said, "Stand up! I myself am also a man."^(o)

While talking with him, he went on in and found that many had come together there.

Peter said to them, "You know it's forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner.^(p) But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean.^(q)

That's why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So I ask: Why did you send for me?"

Cornelius replied, "Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon,^[d] I was^[e] praying in my house. Just then a man in a dazzling robe stood before me^(r)

and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God's sight.

Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanner's house by the sea.'^[f]

Therefore I immediately sent for you, and you did the right thing in coming. So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord."

Then Peter began to speak: "Now I really understand that God doesn't show favoritism,^(s)

but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him.

He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all.^(t)

You know the events^[g] that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached:

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him.^(u)

We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree.^(v)

God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen,

not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.^(w)

He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.^(x)

All the prophets testify^(y) about Him that through His name^(z) everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins."^(aa)

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down^(ab) on all those who heard the message.

The circumcised believers^[h] who had come with Peter were astounded because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.^(ac)

For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of^[i] God. Then Peter responded,

"Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"^(ad)

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.^(ae) Then they asked him to stay for a few days.