10 Just up in Kaisareia there was a Romaios army commander named Kornelios (leader of the ‘Italian Regiment’) 2 who, along with all his household, worshipped God and obeyed his laws. He gave to the poor and regularly asked God for help. 3 One afternoon around 3pm he had a vision where he clearly saw one of God’s messengers come into the house and call, “Kornelios.”

4 Kornelios was scared and looked intently and asked, “What is it, master?”

“Your prayers and your helping the poor rose up to God’s notice and attention,” he said. 5 “Now, send some messengers to Yafo (Joppa) to go and find a man there named Shim’on (Simon) Kefa (Peter; Grk. Petros). 6 He’s staying with Shim’on the tanner whose house is by the sea.” 7 So as soon as the messenger left, Kornelios called two of his house servants and a godly soldier from his bodyguard, 8 and after explaining the task to them, he sent them off to Yafo.

9 The next day as they were approaching the town, Kefa went up onto the flat roof of the house around midday to pray. 10 But he felt hungry and wanted something to eat, but while it was still being prepared he fell into a trance 11 and saw the sky open up. Something like a sheet was being lowered down to the earth by the four corners 12 and it held all kinds of animals and reptiles, as well as birds. 13 Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up Kefa, and slaughter these and eat them.”

14 “I can’t, master,” Kefa responded, “because I’ve never eaten anything that’s forbidden.”

15 But the voice spoke a second time, “Don’t you be treating anything as unclean that God has made clean.” 16 This vision happened three times and then the sheet thing was lifted back up into the sky.

17 Now Kefa was still there wondering what the vision was all about when the men sent by Kornelios had tracked down the tanner’s house and arrived outside. 18 They called out to ask if Shim’on (Simon) Kefa was staying there.

19 Even as Kefa still continued to ponder about the vision, the spirit said, “Hey, there’s three men here looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs to them. Believe everything they say because I sent them here.” 21 So he went down and asked the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for, so tell me what you came here for.”

22 They answered, “We were sent by Kornelios who’s an army commander who worships God and obeys his laws and has a good reputation with you Jewish people. A holy messenger told him to send for you to come to his house so they can listen to what you have to say.” 23 So Kefa invited them in to stay the night.

The next day, Kefa and some of the believers from Yafo (Joppa) started out with them 24 and they arrived in Kaisareia the following day. Kornelios was expecting them and had also invited some relatives and close friends to join them. 25 Kefa entered the house and when they met, Kornelios knelt down and worshipped him 26 but Kefa pulled him up and said, “Stand up. I’m just a man like you.” 27 After they greeted each other, Kefa went into the main room and found that quite a few people had gathered there. 28 Then he told them, “You all know that us Yehudim (Jews) are forbidden by our laws to associate with or to enter the house of a non-Jew. However, God showed me that it’s not right to treat other people as being lesser or undesirable. 29 That’s why I came without any reservations when you sent for me. But I’m still waiting to know what you all want from me?”

30 So Kornelios answered, “I was praying in my house three days ago in the middle of the afternoon when I suddenly saw a man in shining clothes standing in front of me 31 and he said, ‘Your prayer has been heard, Kornelios, and God has noticed your gifts to the poor. 32 Now he wants you to send messengers to get Shim’on (Simon), the one called Kefa, from Yafo (Joppa) where he’s living by the sea in Shim’on the tanner’s house.’ 33 I did that straight away and you kindly came here, so now we’re all here in God’s sight to find out everything that the master has commanded you to say.”