Cornelius is received into the church. Peter’s vision.
10:1. And there was a certain man in Cæsarea, named Cornelius, a
centurion of that which is called the Italian band:
10:2. A religious man, and fearing God with all his house, giving much
alms to the people and always praying to God.
10:3. This man saw in a vision manifestly, about the ninth hour of the
day, an angel of God coming in unto him and saying to him: Cornelius.
10:4. And he, beholding him, being seized with fear, said: What is it,
Lord? And he said to him: Thy prayers and thy alms are ascended for a
memorial in the sight of God.
10:5. And now send men to Joppe: and call hither one Simon, who is
surnamed Peter.
10:6. He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea
side. He will tell thee what thou must do.
10:7. And when the angel who spoke to him was departed, he called two
of his household servants and a soldier who feared the Lord, of them
that were under him.
10:8. To whom when he had related all, he sent them to Joppe.
10:9. And on the next day, whilst they were going on their journey and
drawing nigh to the city, Peter went up to the higher parts of the
house to pray, about the sixth hour.
10:10. And being hungry, he was desirous to taste somewhat. And as they
were preparing, there came upon him an ecstasy of mind.
10:11. And he saw the heaven opened and a certain vessel descending, as
it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from heaven to
the earth:
10:12. Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts and creeping
things of the earth and fowls of the air.
10:13. And there came a voice to him: Arise, Peter. Kill and eat.
10:14. But Peter said: Far be it from me. For I never did eat any thing
that is common and unclean.
10:15. And the voice spoke to him again the second time: That which God
hath cleansed, do not thou call common.
10:16. And this was done thrice. And presently the vessel was taken up
into heaven.
10:17. Now, whilst Peter was doubting within himself what the vision
that he had seen should mean, behold the men who were sent from
Cornelius, inquiring for Simon’s house, stood at the gate.
10:18. And when they had called, they asked if Simon, who is surnamed
Peter, were lodged there.
10:19. And as Peter was thinking of the vision, the Spirit said to him:
Behold three men seek thee.
10:20. Arise, therefore: get thee down and go with them, doubting
nothing: for I have sent them.
10:21. Then Peter, going down to the men, said: Behold, I am he whom
you seek. What is the cause for which you are come?
10:22. Who said: Cornelius, a centurion, a just man and one that
feareth God, and having good testimony from all the nation of the Jews,
received an answer of an holy angel, to send for thee into his house
And to hear words of thee.
10:23. Then bringing them in, he lodged them. And the day following, he
arose and went with them: and some of the brethren from Joppe
accompanied him.
10:24. And the morrow after, he entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius
waited for them, having called together his kinsmen and special
friends.
10:25. And it came to pass that when Peter was come in, Cornelius came
to meet him and falling at his feet adored.
10:26. But Peter lifted him up, saying: Arise: I myself also am a man.
10:27. And talking with him, he went in and found many that were come
together.
10:28. And he said to them: you know how abominable it is for a man
that is a Jew to keep company or to come unto one of another nation:
but God hath shewed to me, to call no man common or unclean.
10:29. For which cause, making no doubt, I came when I was sent for. I
ask, therefore, for what cause you have sent for me?
10:30. And Cornelius said: Four days ago, unto this hour, I was praying
in my house, at the ninth hour and behold a man stood before me in
white apparel and said:
10:31. Cornelius, thy prayer is heard and thy alms are had in
remembrance in the sight of God.
10:32. Send therefore to Joppe: and call hither Simon, who is surnamed
Peter. He lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.
10:33. Immediately therefore I sent to thee: and thou hast done well in
coming. Now, therefore, all we are present in thy sight to hear all
things whatsoever are commanded thee by the Lord.
10:34. And Peter opening his mouth, said: in very deed I perceive that
God is not a respecter of persons.
10:35. But in every nation, he that feareth him and worketh justice is
acceptable to him.
In every nation, etc.... That is to say, not only Jews, but Gentiles
also, of what nation soever, are acceptable to God, if they fear him
and work justice. But then true faith is always to be presupposed,
without which (saith St. Paul, Heb. 11. 6) it is impossible to please
God. Beware then of the error of those, who would infer from this
passage, that men of all religions may be pleasing to God. For since
none but the true religion can be from God, all other religions must be
from the father of lies, and therefore highly displeasing to the God of
truth.
10:36. God sent the word to the children of Israel, preaching peace by
Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all).
10:37. You know the word which hath been published through all Judea:
for it began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached.
10:38. Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Ghost and
with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were
oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
10:39. And we are witnesses of all things that he did in the land of
the Jews and in Jerusalem: whom they killed, hanging him upon a tree.
10:40. Him God raised up the third day and gave him to be made
manifest,
10:41. Not to all the people, but to witnesses preordained by God, even
to us, who did eat and drink with him, after he arose again from the
dead.
10:42. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that
it is he who was appointed by God to be judge of the living and of the
dead.
10:43. To him all the prophets give testimony, that by his name all
receive remission of sins, who believe in him.
10:44. While Peter was yet speaking these words, the Holy Ghost fell on
all them that heard the word.
10:45. And the faithful of the circumcision, who came with Peter, were
astonished for that the grace of the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the
Gentiles also.
10:46. For they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God.
10:47. Then Peter answered: Can any man forbid water, that these should
not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we?
10:48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Then they desired him to tarry with them some days.