Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 91
10:24-48
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They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for
them and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter
pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” So
they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.
Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to
enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown
me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I
came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you
sent for me.”
Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this
same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling
clothes was standing in front of me. He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer
has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! Now
send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He
is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ So
I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here,
waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In
every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the
message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with
God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened
throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his
message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good
and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in
Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God
raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, not
to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be
his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose
from the dead. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that
Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the
dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone
who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all
who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with
Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out
on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and
praising God.
Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now
that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders
