1 There was a certain man in Cesarea, called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band] , 2 [A] devout [man] , and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 He saw in a vision evidently, about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying to him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said to him, Thy prayers and thy alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for [one] Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea-side: he will tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7 And when the angel who spoke to Cornelius had departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8 And when he had declared all [these] things to them, he sent them to Joppa. 9 On the morrow, as they were going on their journey, and drew nigh to the city, Peter went up upon the house-top to pray, about the sixth hour: 10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending to him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 In which were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping animals, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice [spoke] to him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received again into heaven. 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men who were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and were standing before the gate, 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, lodged there. 19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 Arise therefore, and go down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 Then Peter went down to the men who were sent to him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what [is] the cause for which ye have come? 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words from thee. 23 Then he called them in, and lodged [them] . And on the morrow Peter went with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the morrow they entered into Cesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshiped [him] . 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up: I myself also am a man. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that had come together. 28 And he said to them, Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come to one of another nation; but God hath shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came [to you] without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thy alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he lodgeth in the house of [one] Simon a tanner, by the sea-side: who, when he cometh, will speak to thee. 33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou hast come. Now therefore we are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee from God. 34 Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, In truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36 The word which [God] sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, [I say] , ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 That God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did, both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree. 40 Him God raised the third day, and showed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, [even] to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he who was ordained by God [to be] the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him give all the prophets testimony, that through his name whoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them who heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision who believed, were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. 46 For they heard them speak in languages and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they requested him to tarry certain days.
Acts · Noah Webster's Bible (1833)
Acts 10 Noah Webster's Bible (1833)
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
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)