1 Um homem em Cesaréia, por nome Cornélio, centurião de uma coorte chamada italiana,
2 piedoso e temente a Deus com toda a sua casa, e que fazia muitas esmolas ao povo e de contínuo orava a Deus,
3 viu em visão claramente, cerca da hora nona do dia, um anjo chegando e dizendo:
4 Cornélio. Este, fitando nele os olhos, e cheio de temor, perguntou: Que é, Senhor? O anjo acrescentou: As tuas orações e as tuas esmolas têm subido para lembrança diante de Deus.
5 Agora envia homens a Jope e manda chamar um certo Simão que tem por sobrenome Pedro;
6 este se acha hospedado em casa de um curtidor chamado Simão, a qual fica junto ao mar.
7 Logo que se retirou o anjo que lhe falava, chamou a dois dos seus domésticos e a um soldado piedoso dos que estavam ao seu serviço
8 e, havendo-lhes contado tudo, enviou-os a Jope.
9 Ao outro dia seguindo eles o seu caminho e estando já perto da cidade, subiu Pedro ao eirado para orar, cerca da hora sexta.
10 Teve ele fome e quis comer; mas enquanto lhe aprontavam a comida, veio-lhe um êxtase;
11 viu o céu aberto, e descer um objeto, como se fora uma grande toalha, o qual era baixado à terra pelas quatro pontas,
12 e nele havia de todos os quadrúpedes e répteis da terra e aves do céu.
13 Uma voz disse-lhe: Levanta-te, Pedro; mata e come.
14 Mas Pedro replicou: De nenhum modo, Senhor, porque jamais comi coisa alguma impura e imunda.
15 Segunda vez a voz lhe falou: Ao que Deus purificou, não faças tu impuro.
16 Sucedeu isto por três vezes, e logo o objeto foi recolhido ao céu.
17 Enquanto Pedro estava consigo perplexo sobre o que seria a visão que tinha tido, eis que os homens que haviam sido enviados por Cornélio, tendo perguntado pela casa de Simão, pararam à porta
18 e, chamando, indagavam se estava ali hospedado Simão, que tinha por sobrenome Pedro.
19 Enquanto Pedro estava meditando sobre a visão, disse-lhe o Espírito: Eis que dois homens te procuram;
20 levanta-te, pois, desce e vai com eles, nada duvidando; porque eu os enviei.
21 Descendo Pedro ao encontro destes homens, disse: Sou eu a quem procurais; qual é a causa por que viestes?
22 Eles responderam: O centurião Cornélio, homem justo e temente a Deus, e tendo bom testemunho de toda a nação judaica, recebeu um aviso de Deus por meio de um santo anjo que te mandasse chamar para sua casa e ouvisse as tuas palavras.
23 Pedro, pois, convidando-os a entrar, hospedou-os. No dia seguinte levantou-se e partiu com eles, e alguns irmãos de Jope acompanharam-no.
24 No outro dia entrou em Cesaréia. Cornélio estava esperando por eles, tendo reunido seus parentes e amigos íntimos.
25 Quando Pedro ia a entrar, veio Cornélio recebê-lo e, prostrando-se-lhe aos pés, adorou-o.
26 Mas Pedro ergueu-o, dizendo: Levanta-te, que eu também sou homem.
27 Falando com ele, entrou e achou muitos reunidos,
28 e disse-lhes: Vós bem sabeis que é proibido a um judeu ajuntar-se ou chegar-se a um de outra nação; todavia Deus mostrou-me que a ninguém chamasse impuro ou imundo;
29 por isso, sem objeção, vim logo que fui chamado. Pergunto, pois, por que razão me mandaste chamar?
30 Respondeu-lhe Cornélio: Faz agora quatro dias que eu estava orando à hora nona em minha casa, e eis que se apresentou diante de mim um varão de vestidura resplandecente,
31 e disse: Cornélio, a tua oração foi ouvida, e as tuas esmolas foram lembradas na presença de Deus.
32 Envia, pois, a Jope e chama a Simão, que tem por sobrenome Pedro; este se acha hospedado na casa de Simão, curtidor, à beira-mar.
33 Portanto mandei logo chamar-te, e tu fizeste bem em vir. Agora, pois, todos nós estamos aqui diante de Deus, para ouvir tudo o que te foi ordenado pelo Senhor.
34 Pedro começou a falar, e disse: Na verdade reconheço que Deus não se deixa levar de respeitos humanos,
35 mas que em toda a nação aquele que o teme e faz o que é justo, este lhe é aceito;
36 esta é a mensagem que Deus enviou aos filhos de Israel, evangelizando-lhes a paz por meio de Jesus Cristo-este é o Senhor de todos.
37 Vós sabeis o que sucedeu por toda a Judéia, começando desde a Galiléia, depois do batismo que pregou João,
38 como Deus ungiu a Jesus de Nazaré com o Espírito Santo e poder, o qual andou por toda a parte, fazendo o bem e sarando a todos os oprimidos do Diabo,
39 porque Deus era com ele; e nós somos testemunhas de tudo o que se fez na terra dos judeus e em Jerusalém; ao qual também tiraram a vida, pendurando-o em um madeiro.
40 A este ressuscitou Deus ao terceiro dia, e concedeu que fosse ele manifesto,
41 não a todo o povo, mas às testemunhas que Deus tinha antes escolhido, a nós que comemos e bebemos com ele, depois que ressurgiu dentre os mortos;
42 e nos mandou pregar ao povo e testificar que ele é o que por Deus tem sido constituído juiz de vivos e mortos.
43 A ele todos os profetas dão testemunho de que, por meio de seu nome, todo o que nele crê, recebe remissão de pecados.
44 Enquanto Pedro ainda falava estas coisas, desceu o Espírito Santo sobre todos os que ouviam a palavra.
45 Admiraram-se todos os crentes que eram da circuncisão, quantos vieram com Pedro, porque também sobre os gentios foi derramado o dom do Espírito Santo;
46 pois os ouviam falar outras línguas e engrandecer a Deus. Então perguntou Pedro:
47 Porventura pode alguém negar a água, para que não sejam batizados estes, que receberam o Espírito Santo como nós?
48 E ordenou que fossem batizados em nome de Jesus Cristo. Então lhe rogaram que se demorasse ali alguns dias.
1 Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God. 3 At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, "Cornelius!"
4 He, fastening his eyes on him and being frightened, said, "What is it, Lord?"
He said to him, "Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter. 6 He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.
7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. 8 Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
9 Now on the next day as they were on their journey and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. 10 He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, 12 in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. 13 A voice came to him, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat!"
14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."
15 A voice came to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean." 16 This was done three times, and immediately the thing was received up into heaven.
17 Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, 18 and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there. 19 While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men seek you. 20 But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."
21 Peter went down to the men, and said, "Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?"
22 They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say." 23 So he called them in and provided a place to stay.
On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up! I myself am also a man." 27 As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. 28 He said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean. 29 Therefore I also came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?"
30 Cornelius said, "Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God."
34 Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; 35 but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. 36 The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— 37 you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. 40 God raised him up the third day and gave him to be revealed, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins."
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. 45 They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God.
Then Peter answered, 47 "Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us." 48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.