1 在该撒利亚有一个人, 名叫哥尼流, 是意大利营的百夫长。

2 他是一个虔诚的人, 他和全家都敬畏 神, 对人民行过许多善事, 常常向 神祷告。

3 有一天, 大约下午三点钟, 他在异象中, 清清楚楚看见 神的一位天使来到他那里, 对他说: "哥尼流! "

4 他定睛一看, 害怕起来, 说: "主啊, 什么事?"天使说: "你的祷告和善行, 已经达到 神面前, 蒙他记念了。

5 现在你要派人到约帕去, 请那个名叫彼得的西门来。

6 他在一个制皮工人西门的家里作客, 房子就在海边。"

7 和他说话的天使走了之后, 他就叫了两个家仆和侍候他的一个虔诚的士兵来,

8 把一切事向他们讲明, 然后派他们到约帕去。

9 第二天, 大约正午, 他们走近那座城的时候, 彼得上了房顶去祷告。

10 那家人正在预备饭的时候, 彼得觉得饿了, 很想吃饭。这时候他魂游象外,

11 看见天开了, 有一件东西, 好像一块大布, 绑着四角, 降在地上。

12 里面有地上的各样四足牲畜, 还有昆虫和天空的飞鸟。

13 有声音对他说: "彼得, 起来, 宰了吃! "

14 彼得说: "主啊, 千万不可! 我从来不吃俗物和不洁的东西。"

15 第二次又有声音对他说: " 神所洁净的, 你不可当作俗物。"

16 这样一连三次, 那件东西就立刻收回天上去了。

17 彼得犹豫不定, 不明白所看见的异象是什么意思, 恰好哥尼流派来的人, 找到西门的家, 站在门口,

18 大声问: "有没有一个名叫彼得的西门在这里作客?"

19 彼得还在思量那异象, 圣灵对他说: "你看, 有三个人来找你!

20 起来, 下去吧, 跟他们一起去, 不要疑惑, 因为是我差他们来的。"

21 于是彼得下楼到他们那里, 说: "看, 我就是你们所要找的人。你们是为什么来的?"

22 他们说: "百夫长哥尼流是个义人, 敬畏 神, 全犹太族都称赞他。他得到一位圣天使的指示, 请你到他家里, 要听你的话。"

23 彼得就请他们进去, 留他们住下。第二天, 彼得动身跟他们一同去, 另有约帕的几位弟兄同行。

24 第三天, 他们到了该撒利亚。哥尼流已经招聚了自己的亲戚好友在恭候他们。

25 彼得一进去, 哥尼流就迎接他, 俯伏在他脚前叩拜。

26 彼得扶起他, 说: "起来, 我也是人。"

27 彼得和他说了话, 就进去, 看见许多人聚集在那里,

28 就对他们说: "你们知道, 犹太人本来是不准和外国人接近来往的, 但 神已经指示了我, 不可把任何人当作凡俗或不洁的。

29 所以我一被邀请, 就毫不推辞地来了。现在请问: 你们请我来是为什么事?"

30 哥尼流说: "四天以前下午三点钟, 我在家里祷告的时候, 忽然有一位身穿光明衣服的人, 站在我面前,

31 说: ‘哥尼流, 你的祷告已蒙垂听, 你的善行在 神面前已蒙记念。

32 你要派人到约帕去, 请那个名叫彼得的西门来。他在海边一个制皮工人西门的家作客。’

33 所以我立刻派人去请你, 现在你来了, 好极了! 我们都在 神面前, 要听主吩咐你的一切话。"

34 彼得就开口说: "我实在看出 神是不偏待人的。

35 原来在各民族中, 凡敬畏他而行义的, 都蒙他悦纳。

36 神借着耶稣基督(他是万有的主)传和平的福音, 把这道传给以色列人。

37 你们知道: 在约翰传讲洗礼之后, 这道从加利利传遍了犹太,

38 并且知道 神怎样用圣灵和能力膏立拿撒勒人耶稣。他到各处行善事, 医好所有被魔鬼压制的人, 因为 神与他同在。

39 我们就是他在犹太人之地和耶路撒冷所行一切事的见证人; 他们竟然把他挂在木头上, 杀了他。

40 神叫他第三天复活, 并且使他显现,

41 不是显现给所有的人看, 而是给 神预先拣选的见证人看, 就是我们这些在他从死人中复活之后, 与他一同吃喝的人。

42 他吩咐我们向人民传讲, 郑重证明他是 神所立, 审判活人死人的主。

43 所有先知都为他作见证: 所有信他的, 都必借着他的名, 罪得赦免。"

44 彼得还在说话的时候, 圣灵降在所有听道的人身上,

45 那些受了割礼、跟彼得一同来的信徒, 因为圣灵的恩赐也浇灌在外族人的身上, 都很惊讶;

46 原来听见他们讲方言, 尊 神为大。于是彼得说:

47 "这些人既然领受了圣灵, 跟我们一样, 谁能禁止他们受水的洗礼呢?"

48 就吩咐他们奉耶稣基督的名受洗。后来, 他们请彼得住了几天。

1 Now there was a certain man in Cæsarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius. 4 And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter: 6 he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. 7 And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; 8 and having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour: 10 and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance; 11 and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth: 12 wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean. 15 And a voice came unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. 16 And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven.

17 Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, 18 and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, were lodging there. 19 And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20 But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them. 21 And Peter went down to the men, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? 22 And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned of God by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words from thee. 23 So he called them in and lodged them.

And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the morrow they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends. 25 And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come together: 28 and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean: 29 wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me. 30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, 31 and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side. 33 Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord. 34 And Peter opened his mouth, and said,

Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him. 36 The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)— 37 that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judæa, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree. 40 Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest, 41 not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, even to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.