At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing. One day he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who said, “Cornelius!”

Cornelius 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. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.”

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

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GIOACCHINO PAGLIEI
"Centurion Cornelius"

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JOHN LA FARGE
"Cornelius and the Angel"

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ZANOBI ROSI
"Vision of the Centurion Cornelius"

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GERBRAND VAN DEN EECKHOUT
"Vision of Cornelius the Centurion"

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CORNELIS CORNELISZ. VAN HARLEM
"The Angel Appearing to the Centurion Cornelius"

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Tiffany Studios
"Saint Cornelius and Angel"

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JACOB ADRIAANS BAKKER
"The Appearance of the Angel to the Centurion Cornelius"

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"The Vision of the Centurion Cornelius"

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The following day, Peter fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.

Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

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

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

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

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DOMENICO FETTI
"Saint Peter's Vision of the Unclean Beasts"

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HARRY STAMMERS
"Peter's Vision"

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GUERCINO
"St. Peter's Vision of Unclean Beasts"

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"Peter's Vision at Joppa"

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PHILIPS GALLE
"The Vision of St. Peter"

While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

The Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

Peter went down and said to the men, “Why have you come?”

The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”

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

Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. May I ask why you sent for me?”

Cornelius answered: “A man in shining clothes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.’ Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to every thing the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

“We are witnesses of everything he did. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He 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. All the prophets testify about him that
EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM RECEIVES FORGIVENESS OF SINS THROUGH HIS NAME.”

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

Then Peter said, “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

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JULIUS SCHNORR VON CAROLSFELD
"Peter and Cornelius' Men"

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"Peter Receives Cornelius' Message"

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"Cornelius…had called together his relatives
and intimate friends"

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"Peter in the House of Cornelius"

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BERNARDO CAVALLINO
"St. Peter and Cornelius the Centurion"

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"Peter Preaching to the Family of Cornelius"

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GUSTAVE DORÉ
"St. Peter in the House of Cornelius"

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LOUIS DE BOULLOGNE
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ALBERTO CARLIERI
"St. Peter Baptizing the Centurion, Cornelius"

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MANTE PELKINCK
"Saint Peter Baptizing Cornelius the Centurion"

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"Peter Baptizing Cornelius"

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JOHANNES ZICK
"Baptism of the Centurion Cornelius"

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FRANCESCO TREVISANI
"Peter Baptizing the Centurion Cornelius"