Lockman - Bible questions and answers

		Acts 10:1 Now at Caesarea [Maritima] there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Regiment,
		Acts 10:2 a devout man and one who, along with all his household, feared God. He made many charitable donations to the Jewish people, and prayed to God always.
		Acts 10:3 About the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had come to him and said, "Cornelius!"
		Acts 10:4 Cornelius was frightened and stared intently at him and said, "What is it, lord (sir)?" And the angel said to him, "Your prayers and gifts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God [an offering made in remembrance of His past blessings].
		Acts 10:5 "Now send men to Joppa and have them call for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter [and invite him here];
		Acts 10:6 he is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."
		Acts 10:7 When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his own personal attendants;
		Acts 10:8 and after explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
		Acts 10:9 ¶ The next day, as they were on their way and were approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof of the house about the sixth hour (noon) to pray,
		Acts 10:10 but he became hungry and wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared he fell into a trance;
		Acts 10:11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet descending, lowered by its four corners to the earth,
		Acts 10:12 and it contained all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.
		Acts 10:13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!"
		Acts 10:14 But Peter said, "Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean."
		Acts 10:15 And the voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy)."
		Acts 10:16 This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven.
		Acts 10:17 ¶ Now Peter was still perplexed and completely at a loss as to what his vision could mean when the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon's house, arrived at the gate.
		Acts 10:18 And they called out to ask whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.
		Acts 10:19 While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Now listen, three men are looking for you.
		Acts 10:20 "Get up, go downstairs and go with them without hesitating or doubting, because I have sent them Myself."
		Acts 10:21 Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. For what reason have you come?"
		Acts 10:22 They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man well spoken of by all the Jewish people, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear what you have to say."
		Acts 10:23 So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging [for the night]. The next day Peter got up and left with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.
		Acts 10:24 ¶ On the following day he [and the others] entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.
		Acts 10:25 When Peter arrived, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
		Acts 10:26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am only a man."
		Acts 10:27 As Peter talked with him, he entered [the house] and found a large group of people assembled.
		Acts 10:28 He said to them, "You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with or befriend a Gentile, or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I am not to call anyone common or [ceremonially] unclean.
		Acts 10:29 "Therefore when I was sent for, I came without raising an objection. So I ask for what reason have you sent for me?"
		Acts 10:30 ¶ Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour (3:00-4:00 p.m.); and a man [dressed] in bright, dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me,
		Acts 10:31 and he said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered before God [so that He is about to help you].
		Acts 10:32 'Therefore send word to Joppa 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.'
		Acts 10:33 "So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to listen to everything that you have been instructed by the Lord [to say]."
		Acts 10:34 ¶ Opening his mouth, Peter said: "Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God's blessing],
		Acts 10:35 ¶ but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him.
		Acts 10:36 "You know the message which He sent to the sons of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all--
		Acts 10:37 you know the things that have taken place throughout Judea, starting in Galilee after the baptism preached by John--
		Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with great power; and He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. [Is 61:1-3; Luke 4:18-21]
		Acts 10:39 "We are [personally] eyewitnesses of everything that He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem [in particular]. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross;
		Acts 10:40 God raised Him [to life] on the third day and caused Him to be plainly seen,
		Acts 10:41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen and designated beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank together with Him after He rose from the dead. [Luke 24:42, 43; John 21:12-15]
		Acts 10:42 "He commanded us to preach to the people [both Jew and Gentile], and to solemnly testify that He is the One who has been appointed and ordained by God as Judge of the living and the dead.
		Acts 10:43 "All the prophets testify about Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him [whoever trusts in and relies on Him, accepting Him as Savior and Messiah] receives forgiveness of sins."
		Acts 10:44 ¶ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were listening to the message [confirming God's acceptance of Gentiles].
		Acts 10:45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
		Acts 10:46 For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and exalting and magnifying and praising God. Then Peter said,
		Acts 10:47 "Can anyone refuse water for these people to be baptized, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?"
		Acts 10:48 And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay there for a few days.

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