1. Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort.
2. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the people and prayed to God regularly.
3. About three o’clock one afternoon he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.”
4. Staring at him and becoming greatly afraid, Cornelius replied, “What is it, Lord?” The angel said to him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have gone up as a memorial before God.
5. Now send men to Joppa and summon a man named Simon, who is called Peter.
6. This man is staying as a guest with a man named Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7. When the angel who had spoken to him departed, Cornelius called two of his personal servants and a devout soldier from among those who served him,
8. and when he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9. About noon the next day, while they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
10. He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing the meal, a trance came over him.
11. He saw heaven opened and an object something like a large sheet descending, being let down to earth by its four corners.
12. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and wild birds.