1. NOW [living] at Caesarea there was a man whose name was Cornelius, a centurion (captain) of what was known as the Italian Regiment,
2. A devout man who venerated God and treated Him with reverential obedience, as did all his household; and he gave much alms to the people and prayed continually to God.
3. About the ninth hour (about 3:00 p.m.) of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God entering and saying to him, Cornelius!
4. And he, gazing intently at him, became frightened and said, What is it, Lord? And the angel said to him, Your prayers and your [generous] gifts to the poor have come up [as a sacrifice] to God and have been remembered by Him.
5. And now send men to Joppa and have them call for and invite here a certain Simon whose surname is Peter;
6. He is lodging with Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.
7. When the angel who spoke to him had left, Cornelius called two of his servants and a God-fearing soldier from among his own personal attendants.