11. He saw heaven open up. There he saw something that looked like a large sheet. It was being let down to earth by its four corners.
12. It had all kinds of four-footed animals in it. It also had reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.
13. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
14. "No, Lord! I will not!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything that is not pure and 'clean.' "
15. The voice spoke to him a second time. "Do not say anything is not pure that God has made 'clean,' " it said.
16. This happened three times. Right away the sheet was taken back up to heaven.
17. Peter was wondering what the vision meant. At that very moment the men sent by Cornelius found Simon's house. They stopped at the gate
18. and called out. They asked if Simon Peter was staying there.
19. Peter was still thinking about the vision. The Holy Spirit spoke to him. "Simon," he said, "three men are looking for you.
20. Get up and go downstairs. Don't let anything keep you from going with them. I have sent them."
21. Peter went down and spoke to the men. "I'm the one you're looking for," he said. "Why have you come?"
22. The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius, the Roman commander. He is a good man who worships God. All the Jewish people respect him. A holy angel told him to invite you to his house. Cornelius wants to hear what you have to say."
23. Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter went with the three men. Some of the believers from Joppa went along.
24. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them. He had called together his relatives and close friends.
25. When Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him. As a sign of respect, he fell at Peter's feet.
26. But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said. "I am only a man myself."
27. Talking with Cornelius, Peter went inside. There he found a large group of people.
28. He said to them, "You know that it is against our law for a Jew to have anything to do with those who aren't Jews. But God has shown me that I should not say anyone is not pure and 'clean.'
29. So when you sent for me, I came without asking any questions. May I ask why you sent for me?"