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.
29. And so when you sent for me, I came without any objection. I ask you, then, why did you send for me?”
30. Cornelius said, “It was about this time three days ago that I was praying in my house at three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly a man dressed in shining clothes stood in front of me
31. and said: ‘Cornelius! God has heard your prayer and has taken notice of your works of charity.
32. Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner of leather, who lives by the sea.’