Acts 10 – NIV & BPH

New International Version

Acts 10:1-48

Cornelius Calls for Peter

1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three10:19 One early manuscript two; other manuscripts do not have the number. men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

21Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”

22The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

27While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

30Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues10:46 Or other languages and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Bibelen på hverdagsdansk

Apostlenes Gerninger 10:1-48

Kornelius får besøg af en engel

1I Cæsarea boede der en mand, som hed Kornelius. Han var officer ved det romerske regiment, der kaldtes „Det italienske”. 2Han var en religiøs mand, der sammen med hele sin husstand var gået over til jødedommen. Han hjalp de fattige i den jødiske menighed og bad regelmæssigt til Gud. 3En eftermiddag ved tretiden10,3 Jøderne havde faste bedetimer hver dag kl. 9 og kl. 15, så Kornelius var i bøn på dette tidspunkt. så han ganske tydeligt i et syn en engel, der kom hen til ham og sagde: „Kornelius!” 4Han stirrede skrækslagen på englen og udbrød: „Hvad er der, Herre?”

Englen fortsatte: „Dine bønner og barmhjertighedsgaver har Gud taget imod som et vellugtende offer.10,4 En henvisning til røgelsesofrene, jf. 3.Mos. 2 og Åb. 8,4. 5Nu skal du sende nogle mænd til Joppe for at hente en mand, som hedder Simon Peter. 6Han bor nede ved stranden hos en garver, der også hedder Simon.”

7Så snart englen var forsvundet, kaldte Kornelius på to af sine tjenere og en gudfrygtig soldat blandt sine betroede folk. 8Han fortalte dem, hvad der var sket, og sendte dem derpå af sted til Joppe.

Peters syn om, hvad der er rent og urent

9Den følgende dag ved tolvtiden ankom de tre mænd til byen. Peter var gået op på husets flade tag for at bede. 10Han var godt sulten og ville gerne snart have noget at spise. Mens maden blev tilberedt, fik han et syn: 11Himlen var åben, og noget kom dalende ned mod jorden. Det lignede en stor dug, der blev holdt oppe i de fire hjørner. 12I dugen var der mange forskellige dyrearter, som jøderne regner for urene og derfor ikke må spise, både pattedyr, krybdyr og fugle. 13I det samme hørte han en stemme sige: „Rejs dig, Peter, slagt og spis!” 14„Ikke tale om, Herre!” erklærede Peter. „Jeg har jo aldrig spist noget urent eller vanhelligt.” 15Stemmen talte igen: „Det, som Gud har erklæret for rent, må du ikke kalde urent.” 16Det hele skete tre gange, hvorefter dugen blev løftet op til himlen igen.

Peter får besked på at tage til et ikke-jødisk hjem

17Peter var forvirret. Hvad kunne det syn betyde? Hvad skulle han gøre? Men netop på det tidspunkt havde de mænd, som Kornelius havde sendt af sted, spurgt sig frem til huset. De stod nu uden for porten 18og spurgte, om der i huset var en gæst, der hed Simon Peter. 19Mens Peter stadig spekulerede over det syn, han lige havde haft, sagde Helligånden: „Der er kommet tre mænd for at tale med dig. 20Gå ned og tag imod dem. Derefter skal du gå med dem uden betænkeligheder, for det er mig, der har sendt dem.” 21Peter gik så ned ad trappen fra taget og hen til porten og sagde til dem: „Det er mig, I leder efter. Hvad vil I mig?” 22Så fortalte de ham om den romerske officer, Kornelius: „Han er en god og gudfrygtig mand, som jøderne sætter stor pris på, og han har af en engel fået besked på at hente dig til sit hjem, for at han kan høre, hvad du har at fortælle.” 23Så indbød Peter dem til at komme indenfor, og de blev godt beværtet.

Næste dag tog Peter af sted sammen med de tre udsendinge, og nogle af menighedens ledere fra Joppe tog også med.

24Dagen efter ankom de til Cæsarea. Kornelius ventede på ham og havde sammenkaldt sin familie og nærmeste venner. 25Da Peter var nået hen til huset, kom Kornelius ud til ham, faldt på knæ foran ham og bøjede hovedet mod jorden i dyb ærbødighed. 26Men Peter sagde til ham: „Rejs dig op! Jeg er bare et almindeligt menneske.”

27Mens de fortsatte med at tale sammen, gik de ind i huset, og dér opdagede Peter, at en stor forsamling ventede på ham. 28„I ved, at vi jøder ikke har lov til at have fællesskab med eller besøge ikke-jøder, for så bliver vi urene,” forklarede han. „Men Gud har vist mig, at jeg ikke må betragte noget menneske som urent eller uværdigt. 29Derfor gik jeg med uden indvendinger, da der blev sendt bud efter mig. Men nu vil jeg så gerne vide, hvorfor jeg skulle komme.”

30Kornelius svarede: „For nøjagtig tre dage siden10,30 Teksten siger, at det nu er den fjerde dag, siden Kornelius fik besøg af englen. Da man i Mellemøsten tæller dagene inklusivt, mens vi tæller eksklusivt, er den korrekte oversættelse til dansk: „For tre dage siden”. En mere ordret gengivelse er: „Det er nu den fjerde dag siden”. lige ved den her tid, klokken tre, var jeg ved at bede min sædvanlige eftermiddagsbøn her i mit hjem. Pludselig stod en mand i en skinnende hvid dragt foran mig. 31Han sagde: ‚Kornelius, Gud har hørt din bøn, og han har lagt mærke til dine barmhjertighedsgerninger. 32Nu skal du sende nogle mænd til Joppe for at hente Simon Peter, som bor hos garveren Simon nede ved stranden.’ 33Jeg sendte derfor straks bud efter dig, og det var godt, du kom med det samme. Vi er alle samlet her for Guds ansigt for at høre alt, hvad Herren har befalet dig at sige til os.”

Kornelius med flere kommer til tro og modtager Helligånden

34„Nu forstår jeg virkelig, at alle mennesker er lige for Gud,” begyndte Peter. 35„Han accepterer alle, der ærer ham og handler efter hans vilje, uanset hvilket folk de tilhører. 36Og det er det budskab, som Gud sendte til Israels folk, idet han forkyndte fred gennem Jesus, Messias: Han er Herre for alle folkeslag. 37I ved, hvad der er sket i jødernes land, og at det hele startede i Galilæa, efter at Johannes begyndte at døbe. 38I har hørt om nazaræeren Jesus, hvordan Gud udrustede ham med Helligånd og kraft. Han gik omkring og befriede alle, der lå under for Djævelens herredømme. Det kunne han gøre, fordi Gud var med ham. 39Vi apostle er vidner om alt det, han gjorde ud over jødernes land, inklusive Jerusalem, hvor han til sidst blev henrettet på et kors. 40Men Gud oprejste ham fra døden på den tredje dag og lod ham træde synligt frem. 41Han blev ikke set af alle, men kun af os, som Gud i forvejen havde udpeget til at være vidner. Vi både spiste og drak sammen med ham, efter at han var genopstået fra de døde. 42Han pålagde os at bevidne hans opstandelse og fortælle det jødiske folk, at det er Jesus og ingen anden, som Gud har indsat til at være dommer over både de levende og de døde. 43Det er ham, alle profeterne har skrevet om. Han tilgiver mennesker deres synder, hvis bare de tror på ham.”

44Mens Peter endnu talte, faldt Helligånden på alle dem, der lyttede. 45De Jesus-troende jøder, der var kommet dertil sammen med Peter, var forbløffede over, at Helligåndens gave nu også var blevet givet til andre end jøderne, 46men de kunne jo høre dem tale i tunger og prise Gud. 47Da sagde Peter: „Er der noget i vejen for, at de mennesker her kan blive døbt, siden de har modtaget Helligåndens kraft, akkurat som vi gjorde?” 48Så gav han besked om, at de skulle døbes til at tilhøre Jesus, Messias. Derefter bad de ham om at blive nogle dage hos dem.