October 17 Daily Devotional

Acts 10

“There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. He saw in a vision, an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius … thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.” Cornelius sent two of his household servants and a devout soldier to Joppa.

“As they drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray … and he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel … as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice spake to him a second and a third time, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”

“Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood at the gate.” Meanwhile, “the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore … and go with them … for I have sent them.” The next morning Peter went with them to Caesarea. “Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him.” He told him what had taken place, and then said, “Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.”

“And Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) that word, I say, ye know … and we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly … And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him gave all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”