Acts 10-12

Cornelius’ and Peter’s Visions

[1] Now [there was] a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, [2] a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the people and prayed to God continually. [Act 10:1-2 LSB]

[3] About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had come in and said to him, "Cornelius!" 

[4] And looking intently on him and becoming afraid, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. [Act 10:3-4 LSB]

[15] Again a voice [came] to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no [longer] consider defiled." [Act 10:15 LSB]

[30] And Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, 

[31] and he said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. [Act 10:30-31 LSB]

The Holy Spirit Poured Out on the Gentiles

[44] While Peter was still speaking these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the word. 

[45] And all the circumcised believers who came with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 

[46] For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered, 

[47] "Can anyone refuse water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we [did]?" 

[48] And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for a few days. [Act 10:44-48 LSB]

Peter’s Report in Jerusalem

[15] "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as [He did] upon us at the beginning. [16] "And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 

[17] "Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as [He gave] to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could prevent God's way?" 

[18] And when they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance [that leads] to life." [Act 11:15-18 LSB]

The Church in Antioch

[19] So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 

[20] But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and [began] speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus. 

[21] And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. [Act 11:19-21 LSB]

An Angel Frees Peter from Prison

[5] So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. [Act 12:5 LSB]

[11] When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now truly I know that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting." [Act 12:11 LSB]

The Death of Herod

[23] And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. 

[24] But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied. [Act 12:23-24 LSB]