10:1 Now there was a man in Caesarea 1 named Cornelius, a centurion 2 of what was known as the Italian Cohort. 3 10:2 He 4 was a devout, God-fearing man, 5 as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the people 6 and prayed to God regularly. 10:3 About three o’clock one afternoon 7 he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God 8 who came in 9 and said to him, “Cornelius.” 10:4 Staring at him and becoming greatly afraid, Cornelius 10 replied, 11 “What is it, Lord?” The angel 12 said to him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity 13 have gone up as a memorial 14 before God. 10:5 Now 15 send men to Joppa 16 and summon a man named Simon, 17 who is called Peter. 10:6 This man is staying as a guest with a man named Simon, a tanner, 18 whose house is by the sea.” 10:7 When the angel who had spoken to him departed, Cornelius 19 called two of his personal servants 20 and a devout soldier from among those who served him, 21 10:8 and when he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
10:9 About noon 22 the next day, while they were on their way and approaching 23 the city, Peter went up on the roof 24 to pray. 10:10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing the meal, a trance came over him. 25 10:11 He 26 saw heaven 27 opened 28 and an object something like a large sheet 29 descending, 30 being let down to earth 31 by its four corners. 10:12 In it 32 were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles 33 of the earth and wild birds. 34 10:13 Then 35 a voice said 36 to him, “Get up, Peter; slaughter 37 and eat!” 10:14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, Lord, for I have never eaten anything defiled and ritually unclean!” 38