1 Now there was a certain man in the city of Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man, one who worshiped God with all his household; he gave much money to those in need, and he constantly prayed to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him. The angel said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at the angel and was very frightened and said, “What is it, sir?” The angel said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the poor have gone up as a memorial offering into God's presence. 5 Now send men to the city of Joppa to bring a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had left, Cornelius called two of his house servants, and a devout soldier from among those who served him. 8 Cornelius told them all that had happened and sent them to Joppa. 9 Now on the next day at about the sixth hour, as they were on their journey and were approaching the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray. 10 He then became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the people were cooking some food, he was given a vision, 11 and he saw the sky open and a certain container descending, something like a large sheet coming down to the earth, let down by its four corners. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals and things that crawled on the earth, and birds of the sky. 13 Then a voice spoke to him: “Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that was defiled and unclean.” 15 But the voice came to him again a second time: “What God has cleansed, do not call it defiled.” 16 This happened three times; then the container was immediately taken back up into the sky. 17 Now while Peter was very confused about what the vision that he had seen could mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius stood before the gate, after they had asked their way to the house. 18 They called out and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Arise and go down and go with them. Do not hesitate to go with them, because I have sent them.” 21 So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am he whom you are seeking. Why have you come?” 22 They said, “A centurion named Cornelius, a righteous man and one who worships God, and is well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was told by a holy angel of God to send for you to come to his house, so he could listen to a message from you.” 23 So Peter invited them to come in and stay with him. On the next morning he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them; he had called together his relatives and his close friends. 25 It came about that when Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet to worship him. 26 But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up! I too am a man.” 27 While Peter was talking with him, he went in and found many people gathered together. 28 He said to them, “You yourselves know that it is not lawful for a Jewish man to associate with or to visit someone from another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man defiled or unclean. 29 That is why I came without arguing, when I was sent for. So I ask you why you sent for me.” 30 Cornelius said, “Four days ago at this very hour, I was praying at the ninth hour in my house; and see, a man stood before me in bright clothing. 31 He said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard by God, and your gifts to the poor have reminded God about you. 32 So send someone to Joppa, and call to you a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside.' 33 So at once I sent for you. You are kind to have come. Now then, we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear everything that you have been instructed by the Lord to say.” 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly, I perceive that God does not take anyone's side. 35 Instead, in every nation anyone who worships and does righteous deeds is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message that he sent to the people of Israel, when he announced good news about peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all— 37 you yourselves know the events that took place, which occurred throughout all Judea, beginning in Galilee, after the baptism that John announced; 38 the events concerning Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of all the things Jesus did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but to the witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to proclaim to the people and to testify that this is the one who has been chosen by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 It is to him that all the prophets bear witness, so that everyone who believes in him shall receive forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all of those who were listening to his message. 45 The people who belonged to the circumcision group of believers—all of those who came with Peter—were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out also on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard these Gentiles speak in other languages and praising God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone keep water from these people so they should not be baptized, these people who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?” 48 Then he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for several days.
Acts 10 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Cornelius
A devout God-fearing centurion of the Italian Cohort at Caesarea; after an angelic vision he sent for Peter and he and his household received the Holy Spirit and were baptized.
Cited in the guide: Acts 10:1; Acts 10:25
Simon
A tanner at Joppa whose house by the sea hosted Peter during his stay.
Cited in the guide: Acts 9:43; Acts 10:6; Acts 10:32
Places
Caesarea Maritima
The Roman administrative capital of Judea. Peter brought the gospel to the Gentile Cornelius here, and Paul was imprisoned before appealing his case to Caesar.
Cited in the guide: Acts 10:1; Acts 23:23; Acts 25:11
Joppa
Judah's main seaport. Cedar for the Temple arrived here, Jonah fled from here, and Peter's rooftop vision here opened the gospel to the Gentiles.
Cited in the guide: Jonah 1:3; Acts 9:36; Acts 10:9
Cross references (47)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Acts 27:1; Acts 8:40; Matthew 27:27; Acts 27:43; Matthew 8:5–13
- 2 Matthew 7:7–8; Acts 10:4; Acts 10:22; Acts 13:16; Acts 10:35
- 3 Daniel 9:20–21; Acts 3:1; Acts 5:19; Acts 10:30; Acts 9:10
- 4 Philippians 4:6; Hebrews 6:10; Acts 10:31; Malachi 3:16; Psalm 141:2
- 5 Acts 9:38; Mark 3:16; Acts 9:36; John 1:42; Acts 16:9
- 6 Acts 9:43; Acts 9:6; Acts 11:13–14; John 7:17; Ephesians 4:8–12
- 7 Philemon 16; Luke 3:14; 1 Samuel 14:6–7; Judges 7:10; Matthew 8:9–10
- 8 Galatians 1:16; Acts 26:19; Acts 9:36; Psalm 119:59–60; Acts 10:33
- 9 Zephaniah 1:5; Psalm 55:17; Jeremiah 32:29; Acts 6:4; Acts 10:8–32
- 10 Acts 22:17; Ezekiel 11:24; 2 Corinthians 12:2–4; Numbers 24:4; Ezekiel 8:1–3
- 11 Ephesians 3:6; John 1:51; Romans 16:25–26; Isaiah 11:6–14; Revelation 4:1
- 12 Genesis 7:8–9; Isaiah 65:25; Isaiah 11:6–9; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11; John 7:37
- 13 John 4:31–34; Jeremiah 35:2–5; Acts 10:10
- 14 Leviticus 20:25; Ezekiel 4:14; Deuteronomy 14:1–29; Daniel 1:8; Leviticus 11:1–25
- 15 1 Corinthians 10:25; Matthew 15:11; Titus 1:15; Mark 7:19; 1 Timothy 4:3–5
- 16 Genesis 41:32; John 21:17; 2 Corinthians 13:1
- 17 Acts 25:20; Acts 10:3; 1 Peter 1:11; Acts 5:24; Acts 9:43
- 18 Acts 10:5–6; Acts 11:11
- 19 Acts 8:29; Acts 13:2; Acts 21:4; Acts 11:12; 1 Corinthians 12:11
- 20 Acts 15:7–9; Zechariah 2:9–11; Acts 9:17; Acts 9:15; Isaiah 48:16
- 21 Acts 10:29; John 1:38–39; Mark 10:51; John 18:4–8
- 22 Acts 11:14; Acts 22:12; Acts 10:2; 3 John 12; Acts 24:15
- 23 Acts 11:12; Acts 10:45; 1 Peter 4:9; Hebrews 13:2; Genesis 24:31–32
- 24 Isaiah 2:3; Luke 5:29; Acts 8:40; Matthew 9:9–10; John 4:28–29
- 25 Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8–9; Matthew 8:2; Daniel 2:46; Acts 14:11–13
- 26 Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8–9; Matthew 4:10; Acts 14:14–15; Isaiah 42:8
- 27 2 Corinthians 2:12; John 4:35; Acts 10:24; 1 Corinthians 16:9; Acts 14:27
- 28 John 4:9; Ephesians 3:6–7; Galatians 2:12–14; John 4:27; John 18:28
- 29 Psalm 119:60; 1 Peter 3:15; Acts 10:19–20
- 30 Acts 10:3; Daniel 9:20–21; Nehemiah 9:1–3; Ezra 9:4–5; Acts 10:23–24
- 31 Luke 1:13; Acts 10:4; Daniel 9:23; Isaiah 38:5; Daniel 10:12
- 33 Galatians 4:14; James 1:19; Proverbs 9:9–10; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Acts 17:11–12
- 34 Romans 2:11; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Deuteronomy 10:17; Colossians 3:25; Job 34:19
- 35 1 John 2:29; Acts 10:2; Romans 10:12–13; Acts 15:9; Colossians 3:11
- 36 Acts 2:36; Matthew 28:18; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 1:18; 1 Peter 3:22
- 37 Luke 4:14; Acts 2:22; Acts 28:22; John 4:1–3; Acts 26:26
- 38 Luke 4:18; Isaiah 61:1–3; Acts 2:22; Isaiah 11:2; John 3:34
- 39 Luke 24:48; Acts 10:41; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:32; 1 Peter 2:24
- 40 1 Peter 1:21; Acts 13:30–31; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Acts 2:24; 2 Corinthians 4:14
- 41 John 14:22; Acts 10:39; Acts 13:31; Acts 1:2–3; John 21:13
- 42 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 4:5; 2 Timothy 4:1; Romans 14:9–10; Acts 17:31
- 43 Zechariah 13:1; Acts 2:38; Isaiah 53:11; Jeremiah 31:34; Romans 10:11
- 44 Acts 11:15; Acts 19:6; Acts 15:8; Acts 4:31; Acts 2:2–4
- 45 Acts 10:23; Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:13–14; Colossians 2:13–14; Acts 11:15–18
- 46 Acts 2:4; Acts 19:6; Mark 16:17; 1 Corinthians 14:20–25; Acts 2:11
- 47 Acts 8:36; Romans 10:12; Acts 11:15–17; Acts 15:8–9; Genesis 17:24–26
- 48 Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Galatians 3:27; Acts 8:12; John 4:2
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
This man is not a Jew, nor of those under the Law, but he had already forestalled our manner of life. Observe, thus far, two persons, both of high rank, receiving the faith, the eunuch at Gaza and this man; and the pains taken on behalf of these men.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
He saw therefore, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying, Thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. Wherefore send to Simon, who is called Peter." But when Peter saw the vision, in which the voice from heaven said to him, "What God hath cleansed, that call not …
… and hath thundered: He shall judge the ends of the earth, for He is righteous." Throughout she holds to the order of the creed of Christians: For the Lord Christ has ascended into heaven, and is to come thence to judge the quick and dead. For, as saith the apostle, "Who hath ascended but He who hath also descended into …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
For "thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." This is more indispensable than virginity: for thus were those virgins cast out of the bridechamber; thus were the others brought in.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Peter came, and the Spirit was poured out upon them that believed, and they spake with other tongues, and prophesied: and after the grace of the Spirit the Scripture saith that Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; in order that, the soul having been born again by faith, the body also might by …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)