20. Get up, and go downstairs. Don’t hesitate to go with these men. I have sent them.”
21. So Peter went to the men. He said, “I’m the man you’re looking for. Why are you here?”
22. The men replied, “Cornelius, a Roman army officer, sent us. He’s a man who has God’s approval and who respects God. Also, the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to summon you to his home to hear what you have to say.”
23. Peter asked the men to come into the house and had them stay overnight.The next day Peter left with them. Some disciples from Joppa went along.
24. The following day they arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called his relatives and close friends together.
25. When Peter was about to enter Cornelius’ house, Cornelius met him, bowed down, and worshiped Peter.
26. But Peter made him get up. He told him, “Stand up! I’m only a man.”
27. As Peter talked, he entered Cornelius’ house and found that many people had gathered.
28. He said to them, “You understand how wrong it is for a Jewish man to associate or visit with anyone of another race. But God has shown me that I should no longer call anyone impure or unclean.
29. That is why I didn’t object to coming here when you sent for me. I want to know why you sent for me.”
30. Cornelius answered, “Four days ago I was praying at home. It was at this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man dressed in radiant clothes stood in front of me.
31. He said to me, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and has remembered your gifts to the poor.
32. So send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man whose name is Simon Peter. He’s a guest in the home of Simon, a leatherworker who lives by the sea.’
33. So I sent for you immediately. Thank you for coming. All of us are here now in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has ordered you to say.”
34. Then Peter said, “Now I understand that God doesn’t play favorites.
35. Rather, whoever respects God and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation.
36. God sent his word to the people of Israel and brought them the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is everyone’s Lord.
37. You know what happened throughout Judea. Everything began in Galilee after John spread the news about baptism.
38. You know that God anointed Jesus from Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Jesus went everywhere and did good things, such as healing everyone who was under the devil’s power. Jesus did these things because God was with him.
39. We can testify to everything Jesus did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. People hung him on a cross and killed him,