Cornelius

1In the city of Caesarea lived a man named Cornelius. He was a centurion, a Roman officer in charge of about a hundred soldiers. He belonged to the group of soldiers called the Italian band.

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

NoteCaesarea was a big city by the sea. Roman rulers lived there. A "band" was a large group of soldiers, several hundred men. These soldiers came from Italy, far away.

2He honored God, and so did everyone in his house. He gave a lot of money to help poor people. He prayed to God all the time.

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

NoteCornelius was not Jewish. He came from another country. He still loved and prayed to the God of Israel. The King James word "alms" means money given to poor people.

3One day, about three in the afternoon, he clearly saw a vision. In it an angel of God came to him and said, "Cornelius."

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

NoteA vision is like a picture God shows you while you are awake. An angel is a messenger God sends to people. Jewish people prayed at set times each day. Three in the afternoon was one of those times.

4Cornelius looked at the angel and was afraid. He asked, "What is it, Lord?" The angel said, "God has taken notice of your prayers and your gifts to the poor."

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

NoteHere "Lord" just means "sir." Cornelius did not yet know who was talking to him.

5"Now send some men to the town of Joppa. Ask for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter."

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

NoteJoppa was a town by the sea, about thirty miles away. Walking there took almost two days. Many men were named Simon. A second name showed people which Simon you meant.

6"He is staying with Simon, a tanner, a man who makes leather from animal skins. His house is beside the sea. Peter will tell you what you should do."

He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

NoteA tanner turned animal skins into leather. The work smelled very bad. Tanners often lived at the edge of town, near water.

7After the angel left, Cornelius called two of his house servants. He also called a soldier who helped him and honored God.

And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8He told them everything that had happened. Then he sent them off to Joppa.

And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

9The next day the men were traveling and getting close to the city. About noon, Peter went up on the flat roof of the house to pray.

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

NoteHouses had flat roofs with steps going up the outside. People went up there to rest or pray. Noon was another set time for prayer.

10He got very hungry and wanted to eat. While the food was being made ready, he fell into a trance. That is like a dream you see while you are awake.

And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11He saw the sky open up. Something came down toward him, like a big sheet held by its four corners. It was let down to the ground.

And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

NoteThe King James word "vessel" means a container, something that holds things.

12Inside the sheet were all kinds of animals that walk on four feet. There were also wild animals, crawling animals, and birds.

Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."

And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14But Peter said, "No, Lord. I have never eaten anything that our law calls dirty or unclean."

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

NoteGod's rules for Israel said some animals were not for eating. Pigs were one of them. Peter had kept this rule his whole life. "Common" meant ordinary food, not set apart for God.

15The voice spoke to him a second time. It said, "God has made it clean. Do not call it unclean."

And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16This happened three times. Then the sheet was taken back up into the sky.

This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

Note"Thrice" is an old word for three times.

17Peter was still wondering what the vision meant. Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon's house. They stood at the gate.

Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

18They called out to the people inside. They asked if Simon, who is also called Peter, was staying there.

And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19Peter was still thinking about the vision. The Spirit said to him, "Listen, three men are looking for you."

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

Note"The Spirit" means the Holy Spirit, God's own Spirit.

20"So get up and go downstairs. Go with them and do not hold back at all. I sent them."

Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21Peter went down to the men Cornelius had sent. He said, "I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come?"

Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

22They said, "Cornelius the officer sent us. He is a fair man who honors God. All the Jewish people speak well of him. A holy angel from God told him to send for you. He wants to hear what you have to say."

And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

23So Peter invited them in, and they stayed the night. The next day Peter went with them. Some believers from Joppa went along too.

Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Note"Brethren" is an old word for brothers. Here it means the other people who believed in Jesus.

24The day after that, they came into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them. He had called together his family and his close friends.

And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

25As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him. He fell down at Peter's feet to worship him.

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

NoteFalling down at someone's feet showed great honor. People did this in front of kings.

26But Peter helped him stand up. Peter said, "Stand up. I am only a man, just like you."

But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

27Peter kept talking with him as he went inside. He found many people gathered there.

And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

28Peter said to them, "You know our Jewish rules. A Jew is not allowed to visit people from other nations or spend time with them. But God has shown me not to call anyone dirty or unclean."

And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

NoteJewish people kept apart from people of other nations. Going into their houses broke Jewish rules. People who were not Jewish were called Gentiles.

29"So when you sent for me, I came without arguing. Now tell me, why did you send for me?"

Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

30Cornelius said, "Four days ago I had gone without food until this time of day. At three in the afternoon I was praying in my house. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood in front of me."

And 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,

NoteGoing without food on purpose is called fasting. People often did it while they prayed.

31"He said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer. God has remembered your gifts to the poor.'"

And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

32"'So send men to Joppa. Ask for Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying at the house of Simon the tanner, beside the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.'"

Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

33"So I sent for you right away. It was kind of you to come. Now we are all here in front of God. We want to hear everything God told you to say."

Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

34Then Peter began to speak. He said, "Now I really understand. God does not treat one kind of person better than another."

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

Note"No respecter of persons" means God has no favorites.

35"In every nation, God welcomes anyone who honors him and does what is right."

But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

36"God sent his message to the people of Israel. It is the good news of peace, which comes through Jesus Christ. He is Lord of everyone."

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Note"The children of Israel" means the Jewish people. "Christ" is not a last name. It means the one God chose for a special job.

37"You know that message. It spread all through Judea. It began in Galilee, after John taught the people and baptized them in water."

That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

NoteBaptizing means dipping a person in water. It showed they were sorry and starting fresh with God. John did this in a river. Judea and Galilee were two parts of the land where Jesus lived.

38"God gave Jesus of Nazareth the Holy Spirit and great power. Jesus went from place to place doing good. He healed everyone the devil had hurt, because God was with him."

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Note"Anointed" means oil was poured on someone's head. It showed God had picked them for a special job. The King James says "Holy Ghost." Ghost was an old word for spirit. Nazareth was the town where Jesus grew up.

39"We saw everything Jesus did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree."

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

NoteHanging him on a tree means the cross. The cross was made of wood.

40"But on the third day God raised him back to life. God let him be seen."

Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

41"Not everyone saw him. Only we saw him, the people God had chosen long before. We ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead."

Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

42"He told us to tell the people this news. God chose him to be the judge of everyone, both the living and the dead."

And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

NoteThe King James says "quick and dead." Long ago, "quick" meant alive.

43"All the prophets said this about him. Prophets were people who told others what God said. Everyone who trusts in him has their sins forgiven because of him."

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Note"Remission of sins" means the wrong things you did are forgiven.

44While Peter was still saying these words, the Holy Spirit came on everyone who was listening.

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed. The gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on people who were not Jews.

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Note"They of the circumcision" means the Jewish believers. Circumcision was a small mark on the body. It showed a boy belonged to God's people, Israel. People who were not Jewish were called Gentiles.

46They heard these people speaking in other languages and praising God. Then Peter said,

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

NoteThey were speaking in languages they had never learned.

47"These people have received the Holy Spirit, just as we did. No one can keep them from being baptized in water."

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48So Peter told them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay with them for a few days.

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.