New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Acts 10
1
A man named Cornelius lived in Caesarea. He was a Roman commander in the Italian Regiment.
Reference
People
2
Cornelius and all his family were faithful and worshiped God. He gave freely to people who were in need. He prayed to God regularly.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 10:35
Acts 10:7
Acts 8:2
Revelation 15:4
Acts 18:8
Prayer
Acts 10:4
References God
Acts 10:22
Acts 13:16
Acts 13:26
Daniel 6:16
3
One day about three o'clock in the afternoon he had a vision. He saw an angel of God clearly. The angel came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
Reference
4
Cornelius was afraid. He stared at the angel. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to poor people have come up like an offering to God. So he has remembered you.
Reference
Parallel theme
Matthew 26:13
Luke 1:29
2 Chronicles 6:33
Prayer
Philippians 4:6
Acts 10:31
Revelation 8:4
Psalm 141:2
References God
Hebrews 6:10
Philippians 4:18
References Lord
Malachi 3:16
5
Now send men to Joppa. Have them bring back a man named Simon. He is also called Peter.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 16:9
6
He is staying with another Simon, a man who works with leather. His house is by the sea."
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Parallel theme
Acts 9:43
7
The angel who spoke to him left. Then Cornelius called two of his servants. He also called a godly soldier who was one of his attendants.
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8
He told them everything that had happened. Then he sent them to Joppa.
9
It was about noon the next day. The men were on their journey and were approaching the city. Peter went up on the roof to pray.
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10
He became hungry. He wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared, Peter had a vision.
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Parallel theme
Acts 22:17
11
He saw heaven open up. There he saw something that looked like a large sheet. It was being let down to earth by its four corners.
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12
It had all kinds of four-footed animals in it. It also had reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.
13
Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
14
"No, Lord! I will not!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything that is not pure and 'clean.' "
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15
The voice spoke to him a second time. "Do not say anything is not pure that God has made 'clean,' " it said.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 10:25
Matthew 15:11
Titus 1:15
Mark 7:19
Romans 14:14
Acts 15:9
Acts 15:20
References God
Acts 10:28
Acts 11:9
Romans 14:20
16
This happened three times. Right away the sheet was taken back up to heaven.
17
Peter was wondering what the vision meant. At that very moment the men sent by Cornelius found Simon's house. They stopped at the gate
18
and called out. They asked if Simon Peter was staying there.
19
Peter was still thinking about the vision. The Holy Spirit spoke to him. "Simon," he said, "three men are looking for you.
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20
Get up and go downstairs. Don't let anything keep you from going with them. I have sent them."
21
Peter went down and spoke to the men. "I'm the one you're looking for," he said. "Why have you come?"
22
The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius, the Roman commander. He is a good man who worships God. All the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to invite you to his house. Cornelius wants to hear what you have to say."
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23
Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter went with the three men. Some of the believers from Joppa went along.
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24
The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them. He had called together his relatives and close friends.
25
When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him. As a sign of respect, he fell at Peter's feet.
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28
He said to them, "You know that it is against our law for a Jew to have anything to do with those who aren't Jews. But God has shown me that I should not say anyone is not pure and 'clean.'
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29
So when you sent for me, I came without asking any questions. May I ask why you sent for me?"
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Parallel theme
Psalm 119:60
30
Cornelius answered, "Four days ago at this very hour I was in my house praying. It was three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood in front of me.
Reference
31
He said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer. He has remembered your gifts to poor people.
Reference
Parallel theme
Daniel 9:23
Leviticus 5:12
Leviticus 2:2
Leviticus 2:9
Prayer
Acts 10:4
Luke 1:13
Revelation 5:8
Isaiah 38:5
References God
Daniel 10:12
Philippians 4:18
32
Send someone to Joppa to get Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of another Simon, who works with leather. He lives by the sea.'
33
So I sent for you right away. It was good of you to come. Now we are all here. And God is here with us. We are ready to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."
Reference
Parallel theme
James 1:19
Proverbs 1:5
Proverbs 25:12
1 Corinthians 3:18
Matthew 18:4
James 1:21
References God
Galatians 4:14
Acts 28:28
Mark 10:15
2 Chronicles 30:12
34
Then Peter began to speak. "I now realize how true it is that God treats everyone the same," he said.
Reference
Parallel theme
Colossians 3:25
Job 34:19
Ephesians 6:9
1 Peter 1:17
James 2:9
Colossians 3:11
References God
Romans 2:11
2 Chronicles 19:7
Deuteronomy 10:17
Luke 20:21
35
"He accepts people from every nation. He accepts all who have respect for him and do what is right.
Reference
Parallel theme
Acts 10:2
Acts 15:9
Colossians 3:11
2 Corinthians 7:1
Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 16:6
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Acts 9:31
Colossians 1:6
Righteousness
1 John 2:29
36
"You know the message God sent to the people of Israel. It is the good news of peace through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of all.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 1:18
1 Corinthians 15:27
References God
1 Peter 3:22
References Jesus
Matthew 28:18
Acts 2:36
References Lord
Revelation 17:14
Revelation 19:16
37
You know what has happened all through Judea. It started in Galilee after John preached about baptism.
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 4:14
38
You know how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went around doing good. He healed all who were under the devil's power. God was with him.
Reference
Evil
Psalm 45:7
Holy
Luke 3:22
References God
Hebrews 1:9
References Jesus
Acts 2:22
John 3:2
Spirit
Luke 4:18
Isaiah 11:2
John 3:34
Matthew 12:28
Isaiah 42:1
39
"We are witnesses of everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by nailing him to a cross.
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41
But he wasn't seen by all the people. He was seen only by us. We are witnesses whom God had already chosen. We ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
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42
"He commanded us to preach to the people. He told us to give witness that he is the one appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.
Reference
Judgment
2 Corinthians 5:10
1 Peter 4:5
2 Timothy 4:1
Acts 17:31
Parallel theme
Revelation 22:12
Acts 1:2
43
All the prophets give witness about him. They say that all who believe in him have their sins forgiven through his name."
Reference
Faith
Romans 10:11
Romans 5:1
Galatians 3:22
John 5:24
Parallel theme
Isaiah 53:11
1 Peter 1:11
Romans 8:1
Sin
Zechariah 13:1
Acts 2:38
Jeremiah 31:34
44
While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
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45
Some Jewish believers had come with Peter. They were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on those who weren't Jews.
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46
They heard them speaking in languages they had not known before. They also heard them praising God. Then Peter said,
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Chapter Summary
Acts 10 describes a major turning point in the growth of the early church, as God shows Peter that the Gospel is not only for Jewish people but also for Gentiles, and Cornelius becomes one of the first major examples of a Gentile household being openly welcomed into the Christian community.
The chapter begins with Cornelius, a Roman army officer living in Caesarea who is described as a God-fearing man who prays regularly and gives generously to people in need.
Although Cornelius is not a Jewish believer, his sincere search for God is noticed, and an angel tells him to send for Peter, who is staying in Joppa.
At almost the same time, Peter receives a vision while praying on a rooftop, in which a large sheet filled with different animals is lowered from heaven and he is told to eat.
Peter refuses because some of the animals are considered unclean under Jewish law, but God tells him not to call something impure if God has made it clean.
The vision is not mainly about food; it prepares Peter to understand that people from other nations should no longer be treated as spiritually unclean or outside God's invitation.
When Cornelius's messengers arrive, Peter goes with them even though this means crossing traditional Jewish boundaries, and when he reaches Cornelius's house, he finds a large group of Gentiles waiting to hear what God has commanded him to say.
Peter explains that he now understands that God does not show favoritism, and that people from every nation who turn toward God are welcome.
He then tells them about Jesus, explaining His ministry, His healing work, His death on the cross, His resurrection, and His command that the apostles preach forgiveness through His name.
While Peter is still speaking, something remarkable happens: the Holy Spirit comes upon the Gentiles who are listening.
The Jewish believers who came with Peter are amazed because they hear these Gentiles speaking in other languages and praising God, showing that God Himself has accepted them.
Peter therefore asks how anyone could refuse to baptize people who have already received the Holy Spirit just as the Jewish believers did.
Cornelius and the others are baptized, and they ask Peter to remain with them for several days so that they can continue learning from him.
The central message of Acts 10 is that God's salvation is for people from every nation, and human traditions must not be allowed to create barriers where God has opened the way.
Peter's vision changes his understanding of who can belong to God's people, while Cornelius's conversion shows that Gentiles do not have to become Jews first in order to receive the Holy Spirit and become followers of Jesus.
The chapter is especially important because it demonstrates that God Himself takes the initiative in bringing Jews and Gentiles together, preparing the Christian church for a mission that will eventually reach far beyond Israel.
Acts 10 also teaches that sincere religious interest is not the same as knowing the full Gospel, because Cornelius already prays, gives generously, and seeks God, but he still needs to hear the message about Jesus.
Peter, meanwhile, already believes in Jesus but still needs God to correct his understanding about other nations.
Both men therefore learn something important: Cornelius needs the Gospel, while Peter needs to understand the full reach of the Gospel.
By the end of the chapter, the barrier between Jewish and Gentile believers has begun to break down, and the church is taking a major step toward becoming a community made up of people from every nation, united by faith in Jesus rather than by ethnicity, nationality, or traditional religious boundaries.
The chapter begins with Cornelius, a Roman army officer living in Caesarea who is described as a God-fearing man who prays regularly and gives generously to people in need.
Although Cornelius is not a Jewish believer, his sincere search for God is noticed, and an angel tells him to send for Peter, who is staying in Joppa.
At almost the same time, Peter receives a vision while praying on a rooftop, in which a large sheet filled with different animals is lowered from heaven and he is told to eat.
Peter refuses because some of the animals are considered unclean under Jewish law, but God tells him not to call something impure if God has made it clean.
The vision is not mainly about food; it prepares Peter to understand that people from other nations should no longer be treated as spiritually unclean or outside God's invitation.
When Cornelius's messengers arrive, Peter goes with them even though this means crossing traditional Jewish boundaries, and when he reaches Cornelius's house, he finds a large group of Gentiles waiting to hear what God has commanded him to say.
Peter explains that he now understands that God does not show favoritism, and that people from every nation who turn toward God are welcome.
He then tells them about Jesus, explaining His ministry, His healing work, His death on the cross, His resurrection, and His command that the apostles preach forgiveness through His name.
While Peter is still speaking, something remarkable happens: the Holy Spirit comes upon the Gentiles who are listening.
The Jewish believers who came with Peter are amazed because they hear these Gentiles speaking in other languages and praising God, showing that God Himself has accepted them.
Peter therefore asks how anyone could refuse to baptize people who have already received the Holy Spirit just as the Jewish believers did.
Cornelius and the others are baptized, and they ask Peter to remain with them for several days so that they can continue learning from him.
The central message of Acts 10 is that God's salvation is for people from every nation, and human traditions must not be allowed to create barriers where God has opened the way.
Peter's vision changes his understanding of who can belong to God's people, while Cornelius's conversion shows that Gentiles do not have to become Jews first in order to receive the Holy Spirit and become followers of Jesus.
The chapter is especially important because it demonstrates that God Himself takes the initiative in bringing Jews and Gentiles together, preparing the Christian church for a mission that will eventually reach far beyond Israel.
Acts 10 also teaches that sincere religious interest is not the same as knowing the full Gospel, because Cornelius already prays, gives generously, and seeks God, but he still needs to hear the message about Jesus.
Peter, meanwhile, already believes in Jesus but still needs God to correct his understanding about other nations.
Both men therefore learn something important: Cornelius needs the Gospel, while Peter needs to understand the full reach of the Gospel.
By the end of the chapter, the barrier between Jewish and Gentile believers has begun to break down, and the church is taking a major step toward becoming a community made up of people from every nation, united by faith in Jesus rather than by ethnicity, nationality, or traditional religious boundaries.