Acts 9:32-43
Peter Heals Aeneas and Dorcas
Peter traveled around the country. He went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a disabled man named Aeneas. For eight years the man had spent most of his time in bed. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up! Roll up your mat!” So Aeneas got up right away. Everyone who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him. They turned to the Lord.
In Joppa there was a believer named Tabitha. Her name in the Greek language is Dorcas. She was always doing good and helping poor people. About that time she became sick and died. Her body was washed and placed in a room upstairs. Lydda was near Joppa. The believers heard that Peter was in Lydda. So they sent two men to him. They begged him, “Please come at once!”
Peter went with them. When he arrived, he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him crying. They showed him the robes and other clothes Dorcas had made before she died.
Peter sent them all out of the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed. He turned toward the dead woman. He said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes. When she saw Peter, she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and especially the widows. He brought her to them. They saw that she was alive. This became known all over Joppa. Many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time. He stayed with Simon, a man who worked with leather.
Acts 10:1-23
Cornelius Calls for Peter
A man named Cornelius lived in Caesarea. He was a Roman commander in the Italian Regiment. Cornelius and all his family were faithful and worshiped God. He gave freely to people who were in need. He prayed to God regularly. One day about three o’clock in the afternoon he had a vision. He saw clearly an angel of God. The angel came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
Cornelius was afraid. He stared at the angel. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to poor people are like an offering to God. So he has remembered you. Now send men to Joppa. Have them bring back a man named Simon. He is also called Peter. He is staying with another Simon, a man who works with leather. His house is by the sea.”
The angel who spoke to him left. Then Cornelius called two of his servants. He also called a godly soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened. Then he sent them to Joppa.
Peter Has a Vision
It was about noon the next day. The men were on their journey and were approaching the city. Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry. He wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared, Peter had a vision. He saw heaven open up. There he saw something that looked like a large sheet. It was being let down to earth by its four corners. It had all kinds of four-footed animals in it. It also had reptiles and birds in it. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
“No, Lord! I will not!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything that is not pure and ‘clean.’ ”
The voice spoke to him a second time. It said, “Do not say anything is not pure that God has made ‘clean.’ ”
This happened three times. Right away the sheet was taken back up to heaven.
Peter was wondering what the vision meant. At that very moment the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. They stopped at the gate and called out. They asked if Simon Peter was staying there.
Peter was still thinking about the vision. The Holy Spirit spoke to him. “Simon,” he said, “three men are looking for you. Get up and go downstairs. Don’t let anything keep you from going with them. I have sent them.”
Peter went down and spoke to the men. “I’m the one you’re looking for,” he said. “Why have you come?”
The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius, the Roman commander. He is a good man who worships God. All the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to invite you to his house. Then Cornelius can hear what you have to say.” Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter Goes to the House of Cornelius
The next day Peter went with the three men. Some of the believers from Joppa went along.
