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In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the company called the Italian Company.

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He was devout, and with all his household he feared God; he gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.

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In a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw an angel of God come into his house and say to him, “Cornelius!”

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He looked at the angel and, in fear, said, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and your alms have gone up before God, and God has remembered you.

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And now send some men to Joppa to bring one named Simon, who is called Peter.

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He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.”

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When the angel who spoke to him had gone away, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who were always with him.

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After he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

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The next day, as those three men were on their way and were near the city of Joppa, about noon, Peter went up on the housetop to pray.

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He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while the food was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

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He saw heaven opened and something like a great sheet descending, let down by its four corners to the earth.

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In it were all kinds of four-footed animals, creeping things, and birds.

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Then a voice came to him, saying, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat!”

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But Peter said, “No, Lord, no, for I have never eaten anything unclean or defiled.”

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A voice spoke to him a second time: “What God has declared clean, you must not call unclean.”

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This happened three times, and immediately the thing was taken up into heaven.

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Peter was wondering in his heart what the vision he had seen might mean. Meanwhile, the men sent by Cornelius had arrived at the gate and were asking where Simon’s house was.

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They called out and asked whether Simon, who is called Peter, was staying there.

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And while Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit said, “Three men are looking for you.

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Rise, go down, and go with them, without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

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Then Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?”

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They answered, “Cornelius, a centurion who is sincere and fears God, and who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, has received a revelation from God through a holy angel, to invite you to his house and to hear what you will say.”

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So he invited them to stay there overnight.
The next day he got up and went with them, and some brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

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And on the following day they arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, and he had called together his relatives and close friends.

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When Peter entered, Cornelius came to meet him, and falling at his feet, he worshiped Peter.

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But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am only a man.”

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And as he talked with him, he went in and found many people gathered.

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He said to them, “You know how strictly it is forbidden for a Jew to associate with Gentiles or to enter their house. But God has shown me that I must not call any person unclean or defiled.

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That is why I did not object when I was summoned and came here. Now I want to know why you sent for me.”

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Cornelius answered, “Four days ago, at about this same hour, that is, three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Suddenly a man stood before me, his clothing shining brightly

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and he said: Cornelius, your prayer has been heard by God, and your alms have been remembered before Him.

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Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the house of Simon, a tanner, who lives by the sea.”

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So I sent for you at once, and you have been glad to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that God has appointed for you.”

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Then Peter began to speak, saying, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality.

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In every nation, anyone who fears Him and practices righteousness is acceptable to Him.

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This is the word He sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

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You know the message that spread throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism that John proclaimed,

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that is, concerning Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, He who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

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And we are witnesses of all that He did in the land of Judea and in Jerusalem; and they put Him to death and hung Him on a cross.

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God raised Jesus on the third day, and God was pleased that He should appear,

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not to all the people, but to witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, namely to us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

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And He commanded us to proclaim to all the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

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To Him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins through His name.”

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While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the message.

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And all the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because they saw that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also,

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for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter said:

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“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

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Then he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward they asked Peter to stay with them a few more days.

📖 Acts 10 – The Gospel for All Nations: Cornelius’s Conversion

🧾 Summary of Acts 10

Acts 10 is a major turning point in church history, because it shows that salvation in Christ is not only for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles. This is marked by Cornelius’s conversion, a Roman centurion, and Peter’s vision of unclean food.

✨ Explanation of the Passage

1. Cornelius, the Devout Centurion (verses 1–8)

• Cornelius was a centurion of the Italian cohort living in Caesarea.
• He was known as a man who was devout, God-fearing, generous in giving alms, and diligent in prayer.
• In a vision from an angel, he was told to send men to Joppa to bring Peter.

2. Peter’s Vision of Unclean Food (verses 9–23a)

• While Peter was praying on the rooftop of Simon the tanner’s house, he received a vision of a large sheet containing unclean animals, and a voice said:

“What God has declared clean, you must not call unclean.”

• This is not only about food, but a symbol that God was removing the boundary between Jews and Gentiles.
• At that very moment, Cornelius’s messengers arrived, and Peter was invited to Cornelius’s house.

3. Peter at Cornelius’s House (verses 23b–33)

• Peter entered Cornelius’s house—something taboo for Jews because it was considered unclean.
• Cornelius welcomed him respectfully, even bowing down before Peter, but Peter refused to be worshiped because he was only a man.
• Cornelius explained that he had obeyed the Lord’s vision and had sent for Peter.

4. The Proclamation of the Gospel & the Coming of the Holy Spirit (verses 34–48)

• Peter began to teach and said:

“Truly I now understand that God shows no partiality.”

• He proclaimed the Gospel: that Jesus died, rose again, and whoever believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.
• The Holy Spirit came upon all who were listening—including the Gentiles.
• They began speaking in tongues, similar to what happened at Pentecost.
• Peter said:

“Can anyone refuse to baptize them… who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

• They were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

📘 Main Teachings of Acts 10

1. God does not show favoritism or regard race, and salvation is available to all nations.
2. Human piety is not enough without the Gospel, for Cornelius still needed to hear about Jesus.
3. Divine visions and revelations prepare the church for great change.
4. Peter learned to tear down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles.
5. The Holy Spirit is the seal of salvation, and it does not depend on tribe or tradition.
6. Water baptism follows the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a sign of unity in faith.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Acts 10

• God is expanding His church into a global church.
• We are called not to look down on anyone because of their background.
• A heart that fears God and is open to the truth is fertile ground for the Gospel.
• The Lord often leads through supernatural events and openness of heart.
• Like Cornelius and Peter, we need to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and ready to change old views.