Acts of the Apostles
Peter and Cornelius 
10 1There was in Caesarea a man named Cornelius, captain of what was called the Italian Battalion. 2He was a religious and God-fearing man together with his whole household. He gave generously to the people and constantly prayed to God.
3One afternoon at about three he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming towards him and calling him: 
—Cornelius! 
4He stared at the vision with awe and said: 
—What is it, sir? 
And the angel answered: 
—Your prayers and your alms have just been recalled before God. 5Now send some men to Joppa and summon a certain Simon also known as Peter; 6he is the guest of Simon, a tanner, who lives beside the sea.
7As soon as the angel who spoke to him departed, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those attached to his service, 8and after having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9The next day, while they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up to the roof at about noon to pray. 10He became hungry and wished to eat, but while they were preparing food, he fell into a trance. 11The heavens were opened to him and he saw an object that looked like a large sheet coming down, until it rested on the ground by its four corners. 12In it were all kinds of four-legged animals of the earth, reptiles and birds.
13Then a voice said to him: 
—Get up, Peter, kill and eat! 
14But Peter replied: 
—Certainly not, Lord! I have never eaten any defiled or unclean creature. 
15And again a second time the voice spoke: 
—What God has made clean, you must not call unclean. 16This happened three times and then the sheet was taken up again into the sky.
17While Peter was still puzzling over the meaning of the vision he had seen, the messengers of Cornelius arrived at the gate asking for the house of Simon. 18They called out to inquire whether Simon, also known as Peter, was staying there. 19At that moment, as Peter continued pondering on the vision, the Spirit spoke to him: 
—There are men looking for you; 20get up and go downstairs and follow them without hesitation, for I have sent them. 
21So Peter went and said to the men: 
—I am the one you are looking for. What brings you here? 
They answered: 
22—He who sent us is Captain Cornelius. He is an upright and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jewish people. He has been instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, so that he may listen to what you have to say. 
23So Peter invited them in and put them up for the night. The next day he went off with them and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him. 24The following day, he arrived in Caesarea where Cornelius was expecting them; he had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius went to him, fell on his knees and bowed low. 26But Peter lifted him up saying: 
—Stand up, for I too am a human being.

THE CONCISE BIBLE
Christian Community Bible 
Catholic Pastoral Edition

Copyright © 2002 by Claretian Publications
A division of Claretian Communications, Inc.
U.P. P.O. Box 4, diliman 1101 Quezon City, Philippines
TE: 921-3984 • FAX: 921-6502
Email mailto:: cci@claret.org Website: http://www.bible.claret.org/
Claretian Publications is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines. It aims to promote a renewed spirituality rooted in the process of total liberation and solidarity in response to the needs, challenges and pastoral demands of the Church today.

Originally published by
Ediciones Mensajero, Spain