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27 While he conversed with him, he went in and found many people gathered together 28 (A)and said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with, or visit, a Gentile, but God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean.[a] 29 And that is why I came without objection when sent for. May I ask, then, why you summoned me?”

30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago[b] at this hour, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was at prayer in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling robes stood before me and said, 31 ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to listen to all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Peter’s Speech.[c] 34 Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,[d] “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.(B) 35 Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. 36 [e]You know the word [that] he sent to the Israelites[f] as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,(C) 37 what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached,(D) 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth[g] with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.(E) 39 We are witnesses[h] of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and [in] Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. 40 This man God raised [on] the third day and granted that he be visible, 41 not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.(F) 42 He commissioned us(G) to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.[i] 43 To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

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Footnotes

  1. 10:28 Peter now fully understands the meaning of his vision; see note on Acts 10:17–23.
  2. 10:30 Four days ago: literally, “from the fourth day up to this hour.”
  3. 10:34–43 Peter’s speech to the household of Cornelius typifies early Christian preaching to Gentiles.
  4. 10:34–35 The revelation of God’s choice of Israel to be the people of God did not mean he withheld the divine favor from other people.
  5. 10:36–43 These words are more directed to Luke’s Christian readers than to the household of Cornelius, as indicated by the opening words, “You know.” They trace the continuity between the preaching and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth and the proclamation of Jesus by the early community. The emphasis on this divinely ordained continuity (Acts 10:41) is meant to assure Luke’s readers of the fidelity of Christian tradition to the words and deeds of Jesus.
  6. 10:36 To the Israelites: Luke, in the words of Peter, speaks of the prominent position occupied by Israel in the history of salvation.
  7. 10:38 Jesus of Nazareth: God’s revelation of his plan for the destiny of humanity through Israel culminated in Jesus of Nazareth. Consequently, the ministry of Jesus is an integral part of God’s revelation. This viewpoint explains why the early Christian communities were interested in conserving the historical substance of the ministry of Jesus, a tradition leading to the production of the four gospels.
  8. 10:39 We are witnesses: the apostolic testimony was not restricted to the resurrection of Jesus but also included his historical ministry. This witness, however, was theological in character; the Twelve, divinely mandated as prophets, were empowered to interpret his sayings and deeds in the light of his redemptive death and resurrection. The meaning of these words and deeds was to be made clear to the developing Christian community as the bearer of the word of salvation (cf. Acts 1:21–26). Hanging him on a tree: see note on Acts 5:30.
  9. 10:42 As judge of the living and the dead: the apostolic preaching to the Jews appealed to their messianic hope, while the preaching to Gentiles stressed the coming divine judgment; cf. 1 Thes 1:10.

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.(A) 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile.(B) But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.(C) 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes(D) stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism(E) 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.(F) 36 You know the message(G) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news(H) of peace(I) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.(J) 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed(K) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing(L) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.(M)

39 “We are witnesses(N) of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,(O) 40 but God raised him from the dead(P) on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people,(Q) but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate(R) and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people(S) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.(T) 43 All the prophets testify about him(U) that everyone(V) who believes(W) in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”(X)

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