Cornelius
The three men sent by Cornelius spent the night in Joppa, and the next
day Peter started out with them to go to see Cornelius.
What would his Jewish brothers think?
Jewish tradition said a
Jew could not even visit nor eat with a Gentile.
Peter took six Jewish men with him to serve as witnesses to what was
happening.
In Caesarea, Cornelius had called together his family and his close
friends, and they were all assembled in his house to wait for the
arrival of Peter.
When Peter came into the house, Cornelius fell down at his feet to
worship him, but Peter told him to get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am
only a man myself." God did not want people to worship men or angels.
"Why did you send for me?" he asked.
Cornelius told him about the vision he had seen while he was praying.
Cornelius said, "We are all here in the presence of God to listen to
everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us." Their hearts were
ready and open to receive the message.
Peter began to tell them about Jesus. He told about his death and his
resurrection.
Peter said that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of
sins through his name.
The Holy Spirit came on those who were listening, and they began to
speak in other languages just as the apostles had done on the day of
Pentecost.
Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with
water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.