WEB

Acts 10

Two visions converge. In Caesarea, the centurion Cornelius — a God-fearing Gentile known for prayer and generosity — is told by an angel to send for Peter. In Joppa, Peter sees a sheet of "unclean" animals and hears "What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean" (v.15), repeated three times. The vision was never really about food. When Cornelius' men arrive, Peter grasps it: he goes to a Gentile's house, something a Jew considered unlawful, and says God has shown him to call no one unclean.

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Acts 10 (WEB)

1
Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,
2
a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.
3
At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
4
He, fastening his eyes on him and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.
5
Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter.
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He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.
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When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.
8
Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
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Now on the next day as they were on their journey and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.
10
He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.
11
He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,
12
in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.
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A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”
14
But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
15
A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.”
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This was done three times, and immediately the thing was received up into heaven.
17
Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate,
18
and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there.
19
While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you.
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But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”
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Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”
22
They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.”
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So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
24
On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.
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When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.
26
But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”
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As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.
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He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean.
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Therefore I also came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?”
30
Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing
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and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.
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Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’
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Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”
34
Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;
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but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.
36
The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all—
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you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
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how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
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We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree.
40
God raised him up the third day and gave him to be revealed,
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not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
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He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.
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All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
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While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.
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They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.
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For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,
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“Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.”
48
He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.

Atos 10 (WPB)

1
Havia em Cesareia um certo homem chamado Cornélio, centurião do que era chamado o Regimento Italiano,
2
homem piedoso e que temia a Deus com toda a sua casa, que dava generosas ofertas aos necessitados do povo e orava a Deus continuamente.
3
Por volta da hora nona do dia, ele viu claramente em uma visão um anjo de Deus aproximando-se dele e dizendo-lhe: “Cornélio!”
4
Ele, fixando os olhos nele e tomado de temor, disse: “O que é, Senhor?” O anjo lhe disse: “Suas orações e suas ofertas aos necessitados subiram como memorial diante de Deus.
5
Agora envie homens a Jope e mande chamar Simão, que também é chamado Pedro.
6
Ele está hospedado com um curtidor chamado Simão, cuja casa fica à beira-mar.
7
Quando o anjo que lhe falava se retirou, Cornélio chamou dois dos seus servos domésticos e um soldado piedoso dentre os que o serviam continuamente.
8
Tendo explicado tudo a eles, enviou-os a Jope.
9
No dia seguinte, enquanto eles estavam a caminho e se aproximavam da cidade, Pedro subiu ao terraço para orar, por volta do meio-dia.
10
Ele teve fome e quis comer; mas, enquanto preparavam a comida, ele caiu em êxtase.
11
Ele viu o céu aberto e um certo recipiente descendo até ele, como um grande lençol baixado à terra pelas quatro pontas,
12
no qual havia todos os tipos de animais quadrúpedes da terra, animais selvagens, répteis e aves do céu.
13
Uma voz veio a ele: “Levante-se, Pedro, mate e coma!”
14
Mas Pedro disse: “De modo nenhum, Senhor; pois nunca comi nada que seja comum ou impuro.”
15
Uma voz veio a ele novamente pela segunda vez: “O que Deus purificou, você não deve chamar de impuro.”
16
Isso aconteceu três vezes, e imediatamente o objeto foi recolhido ao céu.
17
Enquanto Pedro estava muito perplexo consigo mesmo sobre o que poderia significar a visão que tinha visto, eis que os homens que foram enviados por Cornélio, tendo perguntado pela casa de Simão, pararam diante do portão,
18
e chamaram e perguntaram se Simão, que também era chamado Pedro, estava hospedado ali.
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Enquanto Pedro refletia sobre a visão, o Espírito lhe disse: “Eis que três homens procuram por você.
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Portanto, levante-se, desça e vá com eles, sem duvidar de nada; pois eu os enviei.”
21
Pedro desceu até os homens e disse: “Eis que eu sou aquele a quem vocês procuram. Por que vocês vieram?”
22
Eles disseram: “Cornélio, um centurião, homem justo e que teme a Deus, e de quem toda a nação dos judeus dá bom testemunho, foi instruído por um santo anjo a convidá-lo à casa dele e a ouvir o que você tem a dizer.”
23
Então ele os convidou a entrar e lhes deu hospedagem. No dia seguinte, Pedro levantou-se e partiu com eles, e alguns dos irmãos de Jope o acompanharam.
24
No outro dia, eles entraram em Cesareia. Cornélio os esperava, tendo reunido seus parentes e amigos íntimos.
25
Quando Pedro entrou, Cornélio foi ao seu encontro, prostrou-se a seus pés e o adorou.
26
Mas Pedro o levantou, dizendo: “Levante-se! Eu mesmo também sou homem.”
27
Enquanto conversava com ele, entrou e encontrou muitos reunidos.
28
Ele lhes disse: “Vocês mesmos sabem como é ilícito para um homem que é judeu juntar-se ou aproximar-se de alguém de outra nação, mas Deus me mostrou que eu não deveria chamar nenhum homem de profano ou impuro.
29
Portanto, eu também vim sem reclamar quando mandaram me chamar. Pergunto, pois: por que mandaram me chamar?”
30
Cornélio disse: “Quatro dias atrás, eu estava jejuando até esta hora; e à hora nona, eu orava em minha casa, e eis que um homem se apresentou diante de mim com roupas resplandecentes
31
e disse: 'Cornélio, sua oração foi ouvida, e suas ofertas aos necessitados são lembradas diante de Deus.
32
Envie, portanto, a Jope e mande chamar Simão, que também é chamado Pedro. Ele está hospedado na casa de um curtidor chamado Simão, à beira-mar. Quando ele vier, falará com você.'
33
Portanto, mandei chamá-lo imediatamente, e você fez bem em vir. Agora, pois, estamos todos aqui presentes diante de Deus para ouvir todas as coisas que lhe foram ordenadas por Deus.”
34
Pedro abriu a boca e disse: “Verdadeiramente percebo que Deus não faz acepção de pessoas;
35
mas em todas as nações aquele que o teme e pratica a justiça é aceitável a ele.
36
A palavra que ele enviou aos filhos de Israel, pregando as boas-novas de paz por meio de Jesus Cristo — ele é o Senhor de todos —
37
vocês mesmos sabem o que aconteceu, o que foi proclamado por toda a Judeia, começando pela Galileia, após o batismo que João pregou;
38
como Deus ungiu a Jesus de Nazaré com o Espírito Santo e com poder, o qual andou por toda parte fazendo o bem e curando a todos os oprimidos pelo diabo, porque Deus estava com ele.
39
Nós somos testemunhas de tudo o que ele fez, tanto na terra dos judeus como em Jerusalém; a quem eles também mataram, pendurando-o num madeiro.
40
Deus o ressuscitou ao terceiro dia e concedeu que ele se manifestasse,
41
não a todo o povo, mas a testemunhas que foram escolhidas de antemão por Deus, a nós, que comemos e bebemos com ele depois que ele ressuscitou dos mortos.
42
Ele nos ordenou que pregássemos ao povo e testemunhássemos que é ele quem foi constituído por Deus como Juiz dos vivos e dos mortos.
43
Todos os profetas dão testemunho dele, de que por meio do seu nome todo aquele que nele crê receberá a remissão dos pecados.”
44
Enquanto Pedro ainda falava estas palavras, o Espírito Santo caiu sobre todos os que ouviam a palavra.
45
Os da circuncisão que creram ficaram maravilhados, todos os que vieram com Pedro, porque o dom do Espírito Santo também foi derramado sobre os gentios.
46
Pois eles os ouviam falando em outras línguas e engrandecendo a Deus. Então Pedro respondeu:
47
“Pode alguém proibir estas pessoas de serem batizadas com água? Eles receberam o Espírito Santo assim como nós.”
48
Ele ordenou que fossem batizados em nome de Jesus Cristo. Então eles lhe pediram que ficasse alguns dias.

The Spirit overruns the protocol

Peter is still mid-sermon — "While Peter was still speaking" (v.44) — when the Holy Spirit falls on the Gentiles before any baptism. The circumcised believers who came with him are "amazed" that the gift is poured out on outsiders.

Peter's only possible response is to ask who could refuse them water (v.47). The order of events matters: God acts first, the church catches up. This becomes the precedent the leaders debate in chapter 11 and again at the Jerusalem council.