Había en Cesarea^a un hombre llamado Cornelio, centurión de la cohorte¹ llamada la Italiana^b, 2 piadoso y temeroso de Dios^a con toda su casa, que daba muchas limosnas al pueblo judío^b y oraba a Dios continuamente. 3 Como a la hora novena^1a del día, vio claramente en una visión^b a un ángel de Dios^c que entraba a donde él estaba y le decía: Cornelio. 4 Mirándolo fijamente^a y atemorizado, Cornelio dijo: ¿Qué quieres¹, Señor? Y él le dijo: Tus oraciones y limosnas² han ascendido^b como memorial delante de Dios^c. 5 Despacha ahora algunos hombres a Jope^a, y manda traer a un hombre llamado Simón, que también se llama Pedro. 6 Este se hospeda con un curtidor llamado Simón^a, cuya casa está junto al mar¹. 7 Y después que el ángel que le hablaba se había ido, Cornelio llamó a dos de los criados¹ y a un soldado piadoso de los que constantemente le servían, 8 y después de explicarles todo, los envió a Jope^a.

9 Al día siguiente, mientras ellos iban por el camino y se acercaban a la ciudad, Pedro^a subió a la azotea^b a orar como a la hora sexta^1c. 10 Tuvo hambre y deseaba comer; pero mientras le preparaban algo de comer, le sobrevino un éxtasis^a; 11 y vio* el cielo abierto^a y un objeto¹ semejante a un gran lienzo que descendía, bajado a la tierra por las cuatro puntas; 12 había en él toda clase de cuadrúpedos y reptiles de la tierra, y aves del cielo. 13 Y oyó una voz¹: Levántate, Pedro, mata² y come. 14 Mas Pedro dijo: De ninguna manera, Señor^a, porque yo jamás he comido nada impuro¹ o inmundo^b. 15 De nuevo, por segunda vez, llegó a él una voz: Lo que Dios ha limpiado^a, no lo llames tú impuro¹. 16 Y esto sucedió tres veces, e inmediatamente el lienzo¹ fue recogido al cielo.

17 Mientras Pedro estaba perplejo pensando en lo que significaría la visión^a que había visto, he aquí, los hombres que habían sido enviados por Cornelio^b, después de haber preguntado por la casa de Simón, aparecieron a la puerta; 18 y llamando, preguntaron si allí se hospedaba Simón, el que también se llamaba Pedro. 19 Y mientras Pedro meditaba sobre la visión^a, el Espíritu le dijo^b: Mira, tres hombres te buscan. 20 Levántate, pues, desciende y no dudes^a en acompañarlos, porque yo los he enviado. 21 Pedro descendió a donde estaban los hombres, y les dijo: He aquí, yo soy el que buscáis; ¿cuál es la causa por la que habéis venido? 22 Y ellos dijeron: A Cornelio el centurión, un hombre justo y temeroso de Dios, y que es muy estimado por toda la nación de los judíos^a, le fue ordenado^1b por un santo ángel^c que te hiciera venir a su casa para oír tus palabras^d. 23 Entonces los invitó a entrar y los hospedó.

Al día siguiente se levantó y fue con ellos, y algunos de los hermanos^a de Jope^b lo acompañaron^c.

24 Al otro día entró en Cesarea^a. Cornelio los estaba esperando y había reunido a sus parientes y amigos íntimos. 25 Y sucedió que cuando Pedro iba a entrar, Cornelio salió a recibirlo, y postrándose a sus pies, lo adoró^a. 26 Mas Pedro lo levantó, diciendo: Ponte de pie; yo también soy hombre^a. 27 Y conversando con él, entró y halló* mucha gente reunida^a. 28 Y les dijo: Vosotros sabéis cuán ilícito es para un judío asociarse con un extranjero o visitarlo^a, pero Dios me ha mostrado que a ningún hombre debo llamar impuro¹ o inmundo^b; 29 por eso, cuando fui llamado, vine sin poner ninguna objeción. Pregunto, pues, ¿por qué causa me habéis enviado a llamar? 30 Y Cornelio dijo: A esta misma hora, hace cuatro días^a, estaba yo orando en mi casa a la hora novena^1b; y he aquí, un hombre^c con vestiduras resplandecientes, se puso delante de mí, 31 y dijo*: «Cornelio, tu oración ha sido oída, y tus obras de caridad¹ han sido recordadas delante de Dios. 32 Envía, pues, a Jope, y haz llamar a Simón, que también se llama Pedro; él está hospedado en casa de Simón el curtidor, junto al mar^1a». 33 Por tanto, envié por ti al instante, y has hecho bien en venir. Ahora, pues, todos nosotros estamos aquí presentes delante de Dios, para oír todo lo que el Señor te ha mandado. 34 Entonces Pedro, abriendo la boca^a, dijo:

Ciertamente ahora entiendo que Dios no hace acepción de personas^b, 35 sino que en toda nación el que le teme¹ y hace lo justo^2a, le es acepto^3b. 36 El mensaje¹ que Él envió a² los hijos de Israel, predicando^3a paz por medio de Jesucristo^b, que Él es Señor de todos^c; 37 vosotros mismos sabéis lo que ocurrió en toda Judea, comenzando desde Galilea, después del bautismo que Juan predicó. 38 Vosotros sabéis cómo Dios ungió^a a Jesús de Nazaret^b con el Espíritu Santo y con poder, el cual anduvo haciendo bien y sanando a todos los oprimidos por el diablo^c; porque Dios estaba con Él^d. 39 Y nosotros somos testigos de todas las cosas^a que hizo en la tierra¹ de los judíos y en Jerusalén. Y también le dieron muerte, colgándole en una cruz^2b. 40 Aeste Dios le resucitó^a al tercer día e hizo que se manifestara¹, 41 no a todo el pueblo^a, sino a los testigos^b que fueron escogidos de antemano por Dios, es decir, a nosotros que comimos y bebimos con Él después que resucitó de los muertos^c. 42 Y nos mandó^a predicar al pueblo, y testificar^b con toda solemnidad que este Jesús¹ es el que Dios ha designado^c como Juez de los vivos y de los muertos^d. 43 Deeste dan testimonio todos los profetas^a, de que por su nombre^b, todo el que cree en Él recibe el perdón de los pecados.

44 Mientras Pedro aún hablaba estas palabras, el Espíritu Santo cayó sobre todos los que escuchaban el mensaje^1a. 45 Y todos los creyentes que eran de la circuncisión¹, que habían venido con Pedro^a, se quedaron asombrados, porque el don del Espíritu Santo había sido derramado^b también sobre los gentiles, 46 pues les oían hablar en lenguas^a y exaltar a Dios. Entonces Pedro dijo¹: 47 ¿Puede acaso alguien negar el agua para que sean bautizados^aestos que han recibido el Espíritu Santo lo mismo que nosotros^b? 48 Y mandó que fueran bautizados^a en el nombre de Jesucristo^b. Entonces le pidieron que se quedara con ellos unos días.

Now there was a man in ^aCaesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was ^bcalled the Italian ¹cohort, 2 a devout man and ^aone who feared God with all his household, and ^bmade many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About ^athe ¹ninth hour of the day he clearly saw ^bin a vision ^can angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And he ^alooked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts ^bhave ascended ^cas a memorial offering before God. 5 Now dispatch some men to ^aJoppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6 he is staying with a tanner named ^aSimon, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who *spoke to him left, he summoned two of his ¹servants and a devout soldier from his personal attendants, 8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to ^aJoppa.

9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, ^aPeter went up on ^bthe ¹housetop about ^2cthe sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and wanted to eat; but while they were making preparations, he ^afell into a trance; 11 and he *saw ^athe sky opened up, and an ¹object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and on it were all kinds of four-footed animals and ¹crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the sky. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, ¹kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, ^aLord, for ^bI have never eaten anything ¹unholy and unclean.” 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “^aWhat God has cleansed, no longer ¹consider unholy.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the ¹object was taken up into the sky.

17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in ¹mind as to what ^athe vision which he had seen might ²mean, behold, ^bthe men who had been sent by Cornelius had asked directions to Simon’s house, and they appeared at the gate; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was reflecting on ^athe vision, ^bthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, ¹three men are looking for you. 20 But get up, go downstairs and ^aaccompany them ¹without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” 21 Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and ^aGod-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, ^bwas divinely directed by a ^choly angel to send for you to come to his house and hear ^1da message from you.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.Peter in Caesarea

Now on the next day he got ready and went away with them, and ^asome of ^bthe brothers from ^cJoppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day he entered ^aCaesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and ^1aworshiped him. 26 But Peter helped him up, saying, “^aStand up; I, too, am just a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he entered and *found ^amany people assembled. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is ^aforbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a ¹foreigner; and yet ^bGod has shown me that I am not to call any person ²unholy or unclean. 29 That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask, for what reason did you send for me?”

30 Cornelius said, “^aFour days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during ^bthe ¹ninth hour; and behold, ^ca man stood before me in shining clothing, 31 and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send some men to ^aJoppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent men to you immediately, and you have ¹been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

34 ^aOpening his mouth, Peter said:“I most certainly understand now that ^bGod is not one to show partiality, 35 but ^ain every nation the one who ^1bfears Him and ²does what is right is acceptable to Him. 36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, ^apreaching ^1bpeace through Jesus Christ (He is ^cLord of all)— 37 you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 ¹You know of ^aJesus of Nazareth, how God ^banointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, ^2cand how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for ^dGod was with Him. 39 We are ^awitnesses of all the things that He did both in the ¹country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on ^2ba cross. 40 ^aGod raised Him up on the third day and granted that He ¹be revealed, 41 ^anot to all the people, but to ^bwitnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us ^cwho ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He ^aordered us to ¹preach to the people, and to ^btestify solemnly that this is the One who has been ^cappointed by God as ^dJudge of the living and the dead. 43 ^aAll the prophets testify of Him, that through ^bHis name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, ^athe Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the ¹message. 45 ^aAll the ¹Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been ^bpoured out on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them ^aspeaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter responded, 47 “^aSurely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who ^bhave received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ^aordered them to be baptized ^bin the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

Now there was a man at ^aCaesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was ^bcalled the Italian ¹cohort, 2 a devout man and ^aone who feared God with all his household, and ^bgave many ¹alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About ^athe ¹ninth hour of the day he clearly saw ^bin a vision ^can angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And ^afixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and ¹alms ^bhave ascended ^cas a memorial before God. 5 Now dispatch some men to ^aJoppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6 he is staying with a tanner named ^aSimon, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his ¹servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to ^aJoppa.

9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, ^aPeter went up on ^bthe housetop about ^cthe ¹sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he ^afell into a trance; 11 and he *saw ^athe ¹sky opened up, and an ²object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and ¹crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the ²air. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, ¹kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, ^aLord, for ^bI have never eaten anything ¹unholy and unclean.” 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “^aWhat God has cleansed, no longer consider ¹unholy.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the ¹object was taken up into the ²sky.

17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in ¹mind as to what ^athe vision which he had seen might be, behold, ^bthe men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was reflecting on ^athe vision, ^bthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, ¹three men are looking for you. 20 But get up, go downstairs and ^aaccompany them ¹without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” 21 Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” 22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and ^aGod-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, ^bwas divinely directed by a ^choly angel to send for you to come to his house and hear ^1da message from you.” 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging.Peter at Caesarea

And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and ^asome of ^bthe brethren from ^cJoppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day he entered ^aCaesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and ^1aworshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, “^aStand up; I too am just a man.” 27 As he talked with him, he entered and *found ^amany people assembled. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how ^aunlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet ^bGod has shown me that I should not call any man ¹unholy or unclean. 29 That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”

30 Cornelius said, “^aFour days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during ^bthe ¹ninth hour; and behold, ^ca man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he *said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your ¹alms have been remembered before God. 32 Therefore send to ^aJoppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and you have ¹been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

34 ^aOpening his mouth, Peter said:“I most certainly understand now that ^bGod is not one to show partiality, 35 but ^ain every nation the man who ^1bfears Him and ²does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, ^apreaching ^1bpeace through Jesus Christ (He is ^cLord of all)— 37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 ¹You know of ^aJesus of Nazareth, how God ^banointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, ^2cand how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for ^dGod was with Him. 39 We are ^awitnesses of all the things He did both in the ¹land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also ^bput Him to death by hanging Him on a ²cross. 40 ^aGod raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 ^anot to all the people, but to ^bwitnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us ^cwho ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He ^aordered us to ¹preach to the people, and solemnly to ^btestify that this is the One who has been ^cappointed by God as ^dJudge of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him ^aall the prophets bear witness that through ^bHis name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, ^athe Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the ¹message. 45 ^aAll the ¹circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been ^bpoured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them ^aspeaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “^aSurely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who ^bhave received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ^aordered them to be baptized ^bin the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.