15. The voice spoke to him again, “Do not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean.”
16. This happened three times, and then the thing was taken back up into heaven.
17. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius had learnt where Simon's house was, and they were now standing in front of the gate.
18. They called out and asked, “Is there a guest here by the name of Simon Peter?”
19. Peter was still trying to understand what the vision meant, when the Spirit said, “Listen! Three men are here looking for you.
20. So get ready and go down, and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
21. So Peter went down and said to the men, “I am the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22. “Captain Cornelius sent us,” they answered. “He is a good man who worships God and is highly respected by all the Jewish people. An angel of God told him to invite you to his house, so that he could hear what you have to say.”
23. Peter invited the men in and persuaded them to spend the night there.The next day he got ready and went with them; and some of the believers from Joppa went along with him.
24. The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was waiting for him, together with relatives and close friends that he had invited.
25. As Peter was about to go in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and bowed down before him.
26. But Peter made him rise. “Stand up,” he said; “I myself am only a man.”
27. Peter kept on talking to Cornelius as he went into the house, where he found many people gathered.
28. He said to them, “You yourselves know very well that a Jew is not allowed by his religion to visit or associate with Gentiles. But God has shown me that I must not consider any person ritually unclean or defiled.