1There was a certain man in Cæsarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3He 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. 4And 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. 5And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. 7And 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; 8And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
9¶ 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: 10And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, 11And 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: 12Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. 17Now 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, 18And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19¶ While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 20Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21Then 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? 22And 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. 23Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24And the morrow after they entered into Cæsarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. 26But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together. 28And 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. 29Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me? 30And 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, 31And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. 32Send 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. 33Immediately 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.
34¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38How 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. 39And 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: 40Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41Not 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. 42And 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. 43To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44¶ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45And 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. 46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Cornélio procura Pedro
1Vivia em Cesareia um homem chamado Cornélio, oficial de um regimento do exército romano chamado “Italiano”. 2Era um homem piedoso e temente a Deus, como também toda a sua casa. Dava generosamente aos pobres e orava com regularidade a Deus. 3Certa tarde, seriam umas três horas, teve claramente uma visão em que um anjo de Deus se aproximava dele. “Cornélio!”, disse-lhe o anjo.
4Cornélio olhou-o cheio de medo: “Que queres, Senhor?”
O anjo respondeu: “As tuas orações e a tua generosidade não têm passado despercebidas a Deus! 5Pois agora envia alguns homens a Jope, para procurarem Simão Pedro, 6que está com Simão, o curtidor, perto do mar, e pede-lhe que venha visitar-te.”
7Logo que o anjo se foi embora, Cornélio chamou dois dos seus servos e um soldado, também ele piedoso, que pertencia à sua guarda pessoal. 8E contando-lhes o que acontecera, enviou-os a Jope.
A visão de Pedro
9No dia seguinte, quando eles se aproximavam da cidade, Pedro subiu ao terraço para orar; era meio-dia. 10Tinha fome e, enquanto lhe preparavam o almoço, teve uma visão. 11Viu o céu aberto e um grande pano, pendurado pelos quatro cantos, pousar no chão. 12Dentro havia toda a espécie de animais da terra, répteis e aves do céu. 13Uma voz disse-lhe: “Levanta-te, Pedro, mata e come!”
14“Nunca, Senhor!”, declarou Pedro. “Jamais comi na minha vida qualquer coisa que fosse impura ou imunda.”
15E a voz tornou a dizer-lhe: “Não consideres impuro o que Deus tornou limpo!” 16A mesma visão se repetiu três vezes, até que o pano foi de novo puxado para o céu.
17Pedro ficou a pensar naquilo. Que queria dizer semelhante visão? Que deveria ele fazer? Nesse momento os homens mandados por Cornélio, tendo encontrado a casa, chegavam à porta 18perguntando se era ali que estava Simão Pedro. 19Entretanto, enquanto Pedro cismava na visão, o Espírito Santo disse-lhe: “Vieram três homens à tua procura. 20Desce, vai ao encontro deles e acompanha-os. Não receies; fui eu que os mandei.”
21Pedro desceu e apresentou-se: “Sou o homem que procuram. Que querem de mim?”
22Eles disseram-lhe: “Cornélio, o oficial romano, homem justo e temente a Deus, que granjeou um bom testemunho junto de toda a nação judaica, recebeu instruções de um santo anjo para te convidar a ir a sua casa e ouvir o que tiveres para lhe dizer.” 23Pedro convidou-os a entrar e passaram a noite em sua casa.
Pedro em casa de Cornélio
No dia seguinte foi com eles, acompanhado por alguns outros crentes de Jope. 24Chegaram a Cesareia no outro dia. Cornélio esperava-o já na companhia de parentes e amigos íntimos. 25Logo que Pedro entrou na sua casa, Cornélio lançou-se aos seus pés para o adorar. 26Mas Pedro impediu-o: “Levanta-te, que sou um homem como tu!” 27Pedro ia a conversar com ele e entrou; e encontrou muita gente aí reunida.
28Pedro disse-lhes: “Sabem que é contra as leis judaicas eu relacionar-me com um estrangeiro ou entrar no seu lar. Contudo, Deus mostrou-me numa visão que nunca deveria considerar alguém impuro ou imundo. 29Apressei-me pois a vir. Digam-me: porque me mandaram vir?”
30Cornélio respondeu: “Há quatro dias, estava eu a orar, como de costume às três horas da tarde, quando me apareceu um homem com roupas brilhantes, 31que me disse: ‘Cornélio, as tuas orações e a tua generosidade foram ouvidas e Deus reparou nos teus atos de generosidade. 32Envia alguns homens a Jope e manda vir Simão Pedro, que está hospedado em casa de Simão, o curtidor, que mora perto do mar.’ 33Assim, mandei-te chamar imediatamente e fizeste bem em vir depressa. Agora estamos todos presentes diante de Deus, ansiosos por ouvir o que ele te mandou dizer-nos!”
34E Pedro respondeu: “Agora verdadeiramente vejo que Deus não é parcial! 35Ele aceita pessoas de todas as nações que o temem e fazem o que é justo. 36Estou certo de que ouviram as boas novas dirigidas ao povo de Israel: que há paz com Deus por Jesus Cristo, Senhor de toda a criação. 37Esta mensagem espalhou-se por toda a Judeia, começando na Galileia depois do batismo que João pregou. 38E sabem, sem dúvida, como Deus ungiu Jesus de Nazaré com o Espírito Santo e poder, andando por toda a parte a praticar o bem e a curar os que estavam sob o poder do Diabo, pois Deus estava com ele.
39Nós, apóstolos, somos testemunhas de tudo o que ele fez na terra da Judeia e em Jerusalém, onde o mataram num madeiro. 40Mas Deus tornou a dar-lhe a vida três dias mais tarde e mostrou-o a certas testemunhas, 41que tinha já escolhido; não ao povo em geral, mas a nós que comemos e bebemos com ele depois de ter ressuscitado dos mortos. 42Mandou-nos pregar as boas novas e dar testemunho de que Jesus foi enviado por Deus para ser juiz dos vivos e dos mortos. 43E todos os profetas escreveram a seu respeito, dizendo que quem nele crê terá perdoados os pecados, pelo seu nome.”
44Enquanto Pedro dizia estas coisas, o Espírito Santo desceu sobre quantos o escutavam. 45Os crentes oriundos da circuncisão que tinham ido com Pedro ficaram pasmados ao verem que o dom do Espírito Santo tinha sido derramado também sobre os gentios. 46De facto, ouviam-nos falar em línguas diferentes, magnificando a Deus.
Pedro perguntou então: 47“Poderá alguém opor-se a que sejam batizados na água, agora que receberam o Espírito Santo tal como nós?” 48E assim deu ordem que fossem batizados em nome de Jesus Cristo. Depois Cornélio pediu-lhe que ficasse em sua casa durante alguns dias.
