Acts 10:24-48 - Peter Speaks With Cornelius
24 and the day after that they reached Caesarea. There Cornelius was awaiting their arrival, and had invited all his relatives and intimate friends to be present. 25 When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him, and threw himself at his feet to do him homage.
26 But Peter lifted him up. "Stand up," he said; "I myself also am but a man." 27 So Peter went in and conversed with him, and found a large company assembled. 28 He said to them, "You know better than most that a Jew is strictly forbidden to associate with a Gentile or visit him; but God has taught me to call no one unholy or unclean. 29 So for this reason, when sent for, I came without raising any objection. I therefore ask why you sent for me."
30 "Just at this hour, three days ago," replied Cornelius, "I was offering afternoon prayer in my house, when suddenly a man in shining raiment stood in front of me, 31 who said, "'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your charities have been put on record before God. 32 Send therefore to Jaffa, and invite Simon, surnamed Peter, to come here. He is staying as a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, close to the sea.' 33 "Immediately, therefore, I sent to you, and I thank you heartily for having come. That is why all of us are now assembled here in God's presence, to listen to what the Lord has commanded you to say."
34 Then Peter began to speak. "I clearly see," he said, "that God makes no distinctions between one man and another; 35 but that in every nation those who fear Him and live good lives are acceptable to Him. 36 The Message which He sent to the descendants of Israel, when He announced the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ--He is Lord of all--that Message you cannot but know; 37 the story, I mean, which has spread through the length and breadth of Judaea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 It tells how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, so that He went about everywhere doing acts of kindness, and curing all who were being continually oppressed by the Devil--for God was with Jesus. 39 "And we are witnesses as to all that He did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. But they even put Him to death, by crucifixion. 40 That same Jesus God raised to life on the third day, and permitted Him to appear unmistakably, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses--men previously chosen by God--namely, to us, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42 And He has commanded us to preach to the people and solemnly declare that this is He who has been appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the Prophets bear witness, and testify that through His name all who believe in Him receive the forgiveness of their sins."
44 While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the Message. 45 And all the Jewish believers who had come with Peter were astonished that on the Gentiles also the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling the majesty of God. Then Peter said, 47 "Can any one forbid the use of water, and object to these persons being baptized--men who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?" 48 And he directed that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to remain with them for a time.