The Early Church

There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.

“Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and put away your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up,

and all who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which is translated as Dorcas), who was always occupied with works of kindness and charity.

At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples heard that Peter was there and sent two men to urge him, “Come to us without delay.”

So Peter got up and went with them. On his arrival, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood around him, weeping and showing him the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.

Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.

This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

And Peter stayed for several days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.

He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.

One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.

Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.

He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.

He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.

The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray.

He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.

It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air.

Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!”

“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”