The Early Church

and there is a voice again a second time unto him: `What God did cleanse, thou, declare not thou common;'

and this was done thrice, and again was the vessel received up to the heaven.

And as Peter was perplexed in himself what the vision that he saw might be, then, lo, the men who have been sent from Cornelius, having made inquiry for the house of Simon, stood at the gate,

and having called, they were asking if Simon, who is surnamed Peter, doth lodge here?

And Peter thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, `Lo, three men do seek thee;

but having risen, go down and go on with them, nothing doubting, because I have sent them;'

and Peter having come down unto the men who have been sent from Cornelius unto him, said, `Lo, I am he whom ye seek, what is the cause for which ye are present?'

And they said, `Cornelius, a centurion, a man righteous and fearing God, well testified to, also, by all the nation of the Jews, was divinely warned by a holy messenger to send for thee, to his house, and to hear sayings from thee.'

Having called them in, therefore, he lodged them, and on the morrow Peter went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa went with him,

and on the morrow they did enter into Caesarea; and Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kindred and near friends,

and as it came that Peter entered in, Cornelius having met him, having fallen at his feet, did bow before him ;

and Peter raised him, saying, `Stand up; I also myself am a man;'

and talking with him he went in, and doth find many having come together.

And he said unto them, `Ye know how it is unlawful for a man, a Jew, to keep company with, or to come unto, one of another race, but to me God did shew to call no man common or unclean;

therefore also without gainsaying I came, having been sent for; I ask, therefore, for what matter ye did send for me?'

And Cornelius said, `Four days ago till this hour, I was fasting, and at the ninth hour praying in my house, and, lo, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

and he said, Cornelius, thy prayer was heard, and thy kind acts were remembered before God;

send, therefore, to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter; this one doth lodge in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea, who having come, shall speak to thee;

at once, therefore, I sent to thee; thou also didst do well, having come; now, therefore, are we all before God present to hear all things that have been commanded thee by God.'

And Peter having opened his mouth, said, `Of a truth, I perceive that God is no respecter of persons,

but in every nation he who is fearing Him, and is working righteousness, is acceptable to Him;

the word that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming good news--peace through Jesus Christ (this one is Lord of all,)

ye--ye have known; --the word that came throughout all Judea, having begun from Galilee, after the baptism that John preached;

Jesus who is from Nazareth--how God did anoint him with the Holy Spirit and power; who went through, doing good, and healing all those oppressed by the devil, because God was with him;

and we--we are witnesses of all things that he did, both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, --whom they did slay, having hanged upon a tree.