ACT 10:1-8

Cornelius Sends for Peter

1Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort called the Italian Cohort, [10:2] devout and fearing God with all his household — giving many alms to the people and praying to God continually. [10:3] Around the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in to him and saying to him, "Cornelius." [10:4] He stared at him and, seized with fear, said, "What is it, Lord?" He said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. [10:5] And now send men to Joppa and bring back a man named Simon, who is called Peter. [10:6] He is lodging with a certain Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea." [10:7] When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those attending him, [10:8] and after explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

In the world it was spoken into

Cornelius, a Roman centurion stationed in Caesarea, held a position of significant authority in the Roman military hierarchy, commanding a cohort of soldiers. As a Gentile, his devotion to the God of Israel marked him as a 'God-fearer,' a term used for non-Jews who adhered to Jewish religious practices without full conversion. His household, including servants and possibly slaves, shared in this devotion, reflecting the Roman paterfamilias model where the head of the household dictated religious observance. Almsgiving and prayer were central to his piety, aligning with Jewish practices of charity and intercession. The vision of an angel at the ninth hour, a time of Jewish prayer, underscores the divine recognition of his faithfulness. For Cornelius, this encounter would have been both awe-inspiring and unsettling, as divine visions were rare and often carried significant implications. His immediate obedience to send for Peter, despite the social and religious barriers between Jews and Gentiles, highlights his readiness to act on divine instruction.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

ACT 10:1

KJV: There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
BSB: At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment.
Koinōnos: Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort called the Italian Cohort,

ACT 10:2

KJV: A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
BSB: He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.
Koinōnos: devout and fearing God with all his household — giving many alms to the people and praying to God continually.

ACT 10:3

KJV: He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
BSB: One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
Koinōnos: Around the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in to him and saying to him, "Cornelius.

ACT 10:4

KJV: And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
BSB: Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
Koinōnos: He stared at him and, seized with fear, said, "What is it, Lord?" He said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

ACT 10:5

KJV: And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
BSB: Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter.
Koinōnos: And now send men to Joppa and bring back a man named Simon, who is called Peter.

ACT 10:6

KJV: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
BSB: He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Koinōnos: He is lodging with a certain Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea.

ACT 10:7

KJV: And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
BSB: When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.
Koinōnos: When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those attending him,

ACT 10:8

KJV: And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
BSB: He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Koinōnos: and after explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

ACT 10:1

Cornelius,:The word translated 'centurion' refers to a Roman military officer in command of 80-100 men, a position of significant authority and responsibility within the Roman army.

ACT 10:2

devout:The term translated 'devout' describes someone who is deeply pious and reverent, demonstrating active and sincere worship towards God.
fearing:The word translated 'fearing' here implies a deep reverence and awe towards God, not a sense of terror or dread, but a respectful submission to divine authority.

ACT 10:6

a tanner,:The word translated 'a tanner' refers to someone who processed animal hides into leather, a trade often considered unclean and typically practiced outside city limits due to the odors and materials involved.