Peter’s Vision And Its Meaning, For All Of Us

There was a certain man, in Caesarea, called Cornelius, a Centurion of what was called, The Italian Regiment, a Devout Man, and one who feared God, with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.  About the ninth hour of the day, he (Cornelius) saw clearly, in a Vision, an Angel of God, coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”  And when he (Cornelius) observed him (an Angel of God), he (Cornelius) was afraid, and said, “What is it, Lord?”  So he (an Angel of God) said to him (Cornelius), “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial, before God.  Now, send men to Joppa, and send for Simon, whose surname is Peter.  He (Peter) is lodging with Simon, a Tanner, whose house is by the Sea.  He (Peter) will tell YOU (Cornelius), what YOU (Cornelius) must do.”  And when the Angel, who spoke to him (Cornelius), had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants, and a Devout Soldier, from among those who waited on him (Cornelius) continually.  So, when he (Cornelius) had explained all these things to them (the Men, sent from Cornelius), he (Cornelius) sent them to Joppa.

The next day, as they (the Men, sent from Cornelius) went on their journey and drew near the city (Joppa), Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.  Then he (Peter) became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he (Peter) fell into a trance and saw Heaven Opened, and an Object, like a Great Sheet, bound at The Four Corners, descending to him (Peter), and let down to the Earth.  In it, were all kinds of four-footed animals of the Earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.  And a Voice (God Almighty) came to him (Peter), “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”  But Peter said, “Not so, Lord!  For I have never eaten anything, common or unclean.”  And a Voice (God Almighty) spoke to him (Peter) again, the second time, “What God has Cleansed, YOU must NOT call, common.”  This was done three times.  And the Object was Taken Up, into Heaven, again.

Now, while Peter wondered within himself, what this Vision, which he (Peter) had seen meant, behold, the men, who had been sent from Cornelius, had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.  And they (the Men, sent from Cornelius) called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.  While Peter thought about The Vision, The Spirit (God Almighty) said to him (Peter), “Behold, three men (the Men, sent from Cornelius) are seeking YOU.  Arise therefore, go down and go with them (the Men, sent from Cornelius), doubting nothing; for I (God Almighty) have sent them (the Men, sent from Cornelius).”  Then Peter went down to the men, who had been sent to him (Peter), from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I (Peter) am he whom YOU seek.  For what reason have YOU come?”  And they said, “Cornelius, the Centurion, a just man, one who fears God, and has a good reputation among all the Nation of the Jews, was Divinely Instructed, by a Holy Angel, to summon YOU (Peter) to his (Cornelius) house, and to hear words from YOU (Peter).”  Then he (Peter) invited them (the Men, sent from Cornelius) in and lodged them.  On the next day, Peter went away with them (the Men, sent from Cornelius), and some Brethren, from Joppa, accompanied him (Peter).

And the following day, they entered Caesarea.  Now, Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.  As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him (Peter) and fell down at his feet and worshiped him (Peter).  But Peter lifted him (Cornelius) up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”  And as he (Peter) talked with him (Cornelius), he (Peter) went in and found many who had come together.  Then he (Peter) said to them (The Gentiles), “YOU know how unlawful it is for a Jewish Man, to keep company with or go to, one of another Nation (The Gentiles).  But God has shown me (Peter) that I should NOT call any Man, common or unclean.  Therefore, I (Peter) came without objection, as soon as I was sent for.  I (Peter) ask, then, for what reason have YOU (Cornelius) sent for me?”  So 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 (an Angel of God) stood before me in Bright Clothing, and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered, in The Sight of God.  Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter.  He (Peter) is lodging in the house of Simon, a Tanner, by the Sea.  When he (Peter) comes, he will speak to YOU (Cornelius).’  So, I (Cornelius) sent to YOU (Peter) immediately, and YOU have done well to come.  Now therefore, we (The Gentiles) are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded YOU (Peter), by God.”

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In Truth, I perceive that God shows no partiality.  But in every Nation, whoever fears Him (God Almighty) and works Righteousness, is Accepted by Him (God Almighty).  The Word, which God sent to The Children of Israel, Preaching Peace, through Jesus Christ, He (Jesus Christ) is Lord of All, that Word YOU (The Gentiles) know, which was Proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after The Baptism which John Preached: how God Anointed, Jesus of Nazareth, with The Holy Spirit, and with Power, Who went about doing Good and Healing all, who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (Jesus Christ).  And We (Jesus’ Disciples) are Witnesses of All Things, which He (Jesus Christ) did, both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, whom they killed, by hanging on a Tree.  Him (Jesus Christ), God Raised Up, on The Third Day, and showed Him (Jesus Christ), openly, NOT to all the people, but to Witnesses, Chosen Before by God, even to Us (Jesus’ Disciples), who ate and drank with Him (Jesus Christ), after He Arose from the dead.  And He (Jesus Christ) Commanded Us (Jesus’ Disciples), to Preach to the people, and to Testify, that it is He (Jesus Christ), Who was Ordained by God, to be Judge of The Living and The Dead.  To Him (Jesus Christ), All The Prophets Witness, that through His Name (Jesus Christ), whoever Believes in Him (Jesus Christ), will receive, Remission of sins.”

While Peter was still speaking these words, The Holy Spirit fell upon All those (The Gentiles), who heard The Word.  And Those of The Circumcision, who Believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because The Gift of The Holy Spirit, had been poured out, on The Gentiles, also.  For They (Those of The Circumcision) heard them (The Gentiles), speak with tongues, and magnify God.  Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these (The Gentiles) should NOT be Baptized, who have Received The Holy Spirit, just as We (Jesus’ Disciples) have?”  And he (Peter) commanded them (The Gentiles) to be Baptized, in The Name of The Lord (Jesus Christ).  Then They (The Gentiles) asked him (Peter) to stay a few days.

Now, The Apostles and Brethren, who were in Judea, heard that The Gentiles, had also received The Word of God.  And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, Those of The Circumcision, contended with him (Peter), saying, “YOU (Peter) went in, to uncircumcised men (The Gentiles) and ate with them (The Gentiles)!”  But Peter explained it to them (Those of The Circumcision), in order from the beginning, saying: “I (Peter) was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I (Peter) saw a Vision, an Object descending, like a Great Sheet, let down from Heaven, by Four Corners; and it came to me (Peter).  When I (Peter) observed it intently and considered, I (Peter) saw four-footed animals of the Earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.  And I (Peter) heard a Voice (God Almighty) saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord!  For nothing common or unclean, has at any time entered my mouth.’  But The Voice (God Almighty) answered me (Peter), again from Heaven, ‘What God has Cleansed, YOU (Peter) must NOT call, common.’  Now, this was done three times, and all were drawn up again, into Heaven.  At that very moment, three men (the Men, sent from Cornelius) stood before the house where I (Peter) was, having been sent to me (Peter), from Caesarea.  Then, The Spirit (God Almighty) told me (Peter) to go with them (the Men, sent from Cornelius), doubting nothing.  Moreover, These Six Brethren accompanied me (Peter), and We (These Six Brethren and myself) entered the man’s (Cornelius) house.  And he (Cornelius) told Us, how he (Cornelius) had seen an Angel, standing in his house, who said to him (Cornelius), ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, who will tell YOU (Cornelius) words, by which YOU (Cornelius) and all your household, will be Saved.’  And as I (Peter) began to speak, The Holy Spirit fell upon them (The Gentiles), as upon Us (Jesus’ Disciples), at the beginning.  Then, I (Peter) remembered, The Word of The Lord, how He (Jesus Christ) said, ‘John indeed Baptized with water, but YOU shall be Baptized, with The Holy Spirit.’  If therefore, God gave them (The Gentiles), The Same Gift (The Holy Spirit), as He (God Almighty) gave Us (Jesus’ Disciples), when We (Jesus’ Disciples) Believed on The Lord Jesus Christ, who was I (Peter), that I (Peter) could withstand God?”  When they (Those of The Circumcision) heard these things, they (Those of The Circumcision) became silent; and They (Those of The Circumcision) Glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to The Gentiles, Repentance to Life.”