Acts 10
1599 Geneva Bible
10 1 Cornelius 4 at the Angel’s commandment, 5 sendeth for Peter. 11 Who also by a vision, 15, 20 is taught not to despise the Gentiles. 34 He preacheth the Gospel to Cornelius and his household. 45 Who having received the holy Ghost, 47 are baptized.
1 Furthermore [a]there was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a captain of the band called the Italian band,
2 A [b]devout man, and one that feared God with [c]all his household, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed God continually.
3 He saw in a vision evidently (about the ninth hour of the day) an Angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 But when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, [d]What is it, Lord? and he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are [e]come up into [f]remembrance before God.
5 Now therefore send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a Tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
7 And when the Angel which spake unto Cornelius, was departed, he called two of his servants, and a soldier that feared God, one of them that waited on him,
8 And told them all things, and sent them to Joppa.
9 On the morrow as they went on their journey, and drew near unto the city, Peter went up upon the house to pray, about the sixth hour.
10 Then waxed he an hungered, and would have eaten: but while they made something ready, he fell into a [g]trance.
11 And he saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel come down unto him, as it had been a great sheet, knit at the [h]four corners, and was let down to the earth.
12 Wherein were [i]all manner of [j]four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts and [k]creeping things, and fowls of the heaven.
13 And there came a voice to him, Arise, Peter: kill, and eat.
14 [l]But Peter said, Not so, Lord: for I have never eaten anything that is polluted, or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, The things that God hath purified, [m]pollute thou not.
16 This was so done thrice: and the vessel was drawn up again into heaven.
17 ¶ Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen, meant, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius, had inquired for Simon’s house, and stood at the gate,
18 And called, and asked, whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, and doubt nothing: For I have sent them.
21 ¶ Then Peter went down to the men, which were sent unto him from Cornelius, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
22 And they said, Cornelius the captain, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from heaven by an holy Angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear thy words.
23 Then called he them in, and lodged them: and the next day, Peter went forth with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.
24 ¶ And the day after, they entered into Caesarea. Now Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen, and special friends.
25 [n]And it came to pass as Peter came in, that Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up: for even I myself am a man.
27 And as he talked with him, he came in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, Ye know that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew, to company, or come unto one of another nation: but God hath showed me, that I should not call any man polluted, or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without saying nay, when I was sent for. I ask therefore, for what intent have ye sent for me?
30 Then Cornelius said, Four days ago, about [o]this hour, I fasted, and at the ninth hour I prayed in mine house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 [p]And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 [q]Send therefore to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter (he is lodged in the house of Simon a Tanner by the Seaside) who when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.
33 Then sent I for thee immediately, and thou hast well done to come. Now therefore are we all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 [r]Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive, that (A)[s]God is no [respecter] of persons.
35 But in every nation he that [t]feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 Ye [u]know the word which God hath sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, which is Lord of all:
37 [v]Even the word which came through all Judea, (B)beginning in Galilee, after the Baptism which John preached:
38 To wit, how God [w]anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Ghost, and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil: for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, whom they slew, hanging him on a tree.
40 Him God raised up the third day, and caused that he was showed openly:
41 Not to all the people, but unto the witnesses [x]chosen before of God, even to us which did eat and drink with him, after he arose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify, that it is he that is ordained of God a judge of quick and dead.
43 To him also give all the (C)Prophets witness, that through his Name all that believe in him, shall receive remission of sins.
44 [y]While Peter yet spake these words, the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 So they of the circumcision, which believed, were astonied, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 [z]Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the holy Ghost, as well as we?
48 So he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Footnotes
- Acts 10:1 Peter consecrateth the firstfruits of the Gentiles to God by the means of two miracles.
- Acts 10:2 So that he worshipped one God, and was no idolater, and neither could be void of faith in Christ, because he was a devout man but as yet he knew not that he was come.
- Acts 10:2 This is a great commendation to this man, that he labored to have all his household and familiar friends and acquaintances to be religious and godly.
- Acts 10:4 What wilt thou with me, Lord? for he settleth himself to hear.
- Acts 10:4 This is a borrowed kind of speech, which the Hebrews use very much, taken from sacrifices, and applied to prayers: for it is said of whole burnt sacrifices, that the smoke and savor of them goeth up into God’s nostrils: so do our prayers as a sweet-smelling sacrifice which the Lord taketh great pleasure in.
- Acts 10:4 That is, insomuch that they will not suffer God as it were, to forget thee: for so doth the Scripture use oftentimes to prattle with us as nurses do with little children, when they frame their tongues to speak.
- Acts 10:10 For though Peter stand not amazed as one that is tongue tied, but talketh with God, and is instructed in his mysteries, yet his mind was far otherwise than it was wont to be, but shortly returned to the old bent.
- Acts 10:11 So that it seemed to be a foursquare sheet.
- Acts 10:12 Here is this word (All) which is general, plainly put for an indefinite and uncertain, that is to say, for some of all sorts, not for all of every sort.
- Acts 10:12 That is, such as were meet for men’s use.
- Acts 10:12 What is meant by the creeping things, see Lev. 11.
- Acts 10:14 Peter profiteth daily in the knowledge of the benefit of Christ, yea, after that he had received the holy Ghost.
- Acts 10:15 Do not thou hold them as unprofitable.
- Acts 10:25 Religious adoration or worship agreeth only to God: but civil worship is given to the Ministers of the word, although not without danger.
- Acts 10:30 He meaneth not the selfsame hour, but the like, that is, about nine of the clock the other day, as it was then nine when he spake to Peter.
- Acts 10:31 Cornelius’s faith showeth forth itself by prayer and charity.
- Acts 10:32 As faith cometh by hearing, so is it nourished and groweth up by the same.
- Acts 10:34 Distinction of nations is taken away by the coming of Christ: And it is evidently seen by faith and righteousness, who is agreeable to him, or whom he accepteth.
- Acts 10:34 That God judgeth not after the outward appearance.
- Acts 10:35 By the fear of God, the Hebrews understand the whole service of God: whereby we perceive that Cornelius was not void of faith, no more than they were which lived before Christ’s time: and therefore they deal foolishly, which build preparative works and free will upon this place.
- Acts 10:36 God gave the Israelites to understand, that whosover liveth godly, is acceptable to God, of what nation soever he be, for he preached peace to men through Jesus Christ, who is Lord not of one nation only, that is, of the Jews, but of all.
- Acts 10:37 The sum of the Gospel (which shall be made manifest at the latter day when Christ himself shall sit as judge both of the quick and the dead) is this, that Christ promised to the Fathers, and exhibited in his time with the mighty power of God, (which was by all means showed) and at length crucified to reconcile us to God, did rise again the third day, that whosoever believeth in him should be saved through the remission of sins.
- Acts 10:38 This style is taken from an old custom of the Jews, who used to anoint their Kings and Priests, whereupon it grew, to call them anointed, upon whom God bestowed gifts and virtues.
- Acts 10:41 This choosing of the Apostles is properly given to God: for though God be president in the lawful election of ministers, yet there is in this place a secret opposition and setting of God’s choosing, and men voice the one against the other, for the Apostles are immediately appointed of God, and the Church Ministers by means.
- Acts 10:44 The Spirit of God sealeth that in the heart of the hearers, which the minister of the word speaketh by the commandment of God, as it appeareth by the effects.
- Acts 10:47 Baptism doth not sanctify or make them holy which receive it, but sealeth up and confirmeth their sanctification.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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