Part 265 (1/2)

And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being afraid, said, ”What is it, Lord?”

And he said unto him, ”Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before G.o.d. And now send men to Joppa, and bring one Simon, who is surnamed Peter: he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side.”

And when the angel that spoke unto him was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of his body guard, and having told all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour: and he became hungry, {354} and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance; and he beheld the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth: wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven. And there came a voice to him, saying, ”Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

But Peter said, ”Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.”

And a voice came unto him again the second time, ”What G.o.d hath cleansed, make not thou common.”

And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven.

Now while Peter was much perplexed as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate, and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, were lodging there. And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, ”Behold, three men seek thee. But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them.”

And Peter went down to the men, and said, ”Behold, I am he whom ye seek: why are ye come?”

And they said, ”Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth G.o.d, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned of G.o.d by a holy angel to send for thee to come to his house, and to hear words from thee.” So he called them in and lodged them.

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And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends. And when Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and wors.h.i.+ped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, ”Stand up; I myself also am a man.”

And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many come together: and he said unto them, ”Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and yet unto me hath G.o.d showed that I should not call any man common or unclean: wherefore also I came without doubting, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me.”

And Cornelius said, ”Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel, and said, 'Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of G.o.d. Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.' Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of G.o.d, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord.”

And Peter opened his mouth, and said, ”Of a truth I perceive that G.o.d is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is {356} acceptable to him. The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)--that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; about Jesus of Nazareth, how G.o.d anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: how he went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for G.o.d was with him.

And we are witnesses of all things which be did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree.

Him G.o.d raised up the third day, and showed him, not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of G.o.d, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of G.o.d to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name everyone that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.”

While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word. And the Jews who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify G.o.d.

Then answered Peter, ”Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?”

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

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IX

THE FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEYS

_How the Disciples at Last Began to Understand the Meaning of the Command of Jesus, ”Go Ye into All the World_.”

Now the apostles and the brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of G.o.d. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, the Jews contended with him, saying, ”Thou wentest in to the Gentiles, and didst eat with them.”

But Peter began, and expounded the matter unto them in order, saying, ”I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even unto me: upon which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the heaven. And I heard also a voice saying unto me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' But I said, 'Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.' But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, 'What G.o.d hath cleansed, make not thou common.' And this was done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heaven. And behold, forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were, having been sent {358} from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no distinction. And these six brethren also accompanied me; and we entered into the man's house: and he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, 'Send to Joppa, and bring Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then G.o.d gave unto them the same gift that he gave unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand G.o.d?”