**The Vision of Cornelius and Peter**

In the coastal city of Caesarea, there lived a Roman centurion named Cornelius, a devout man who feared God along with his entire household. He gave generously to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. Though he was a Gentile, his heart yearned for the truth, and his prayers ascended like incense before the Lord.

One afternoon, as Cornelius was praying, an angel of God appeared before him in a dazzling light. The centurion, startled but not overcome with fear, fixed his gaze upon the heavenly messenger.

“Cornelius,” the angel said, his voice like the sound of many waters yet gentle as a whisper.

Trembling, the centurion bowed low. “What is it, Lord?”

The angel replied, “Your prayers and your alms have risen as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa and bring back a man named Simon, who is called Peter. He is lodging with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

As soon as the angel departed, Cornelius summoned two of his most trusted servants and a devout soldier from among his personal attendants. He explained the vision to them and sent them on their way to Joppa.

### **Peter’s Divine Revelation**

Meanwhile, in Joppa, Peter had gone up to the rooftop of Simon the tanner’s house to pray. The salty breeze from the sea mingled with the scent of drying hides below as he knelt in solitude. As the hour of noon approached, he grew hungry, but before he could eat, he fell into a trance.

Heaven opened before him, and he beheld a great sheet descending like a vast sail, let down by its four corners. Within it were all kinds of animals—beasts of the earth, birds of the air, and creeping things. Some were clean according to Jewish law, but many were unclean. Then a voice spoke to him:

“Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

Peter, a devout Jew who had never eaten anything impure, recoiled. “By no means, Lord! I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

But the voice answered a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

This happened three times, and then the sheet was taken back up into heaven. Peter, perplexed, pondered the meaning of the vision.

### **The Meeting of Two Worlds**

While Peter was still wrestling with the vision, the men sent by Cornelius arrived at the gate. The Spirit spoke clearly to Peter: “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”

Peter obeyed. Descending to the courtyard, he greeted the men. “I am the one you seek. Why have you come?”

They replied, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”

Understanding now that God was breaking down the barrier between Jew and Gentile, Peter welcomed them as guests. The next day, he and some of the believers from Joppa set out for Caesarea.

### **The Gospel Proclaimed to the Gentiles**

When they arrived at Cornelius’s house, the centurion had gathered his relatives and close friends, eager to hear Peter’s words. As Peter entered, Cornelius fell at his feet in reverence, but Peter lifted him up. “Stand up; I too am just a man.”

Looking around at the gathered Gentiles, Peter said, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. May I ask why you summoned me?”

Cornelius recounted his vision and added, “Now we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Peter’s heart swelled with divine revelation. “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.”

Then he began to preach Jesus—His anointing by the Holy Spirit, His miracles, His death on the cross, and His resurrection. As Peter proclaimed forgiveness of sins through Christ’s name, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.

The Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter were astonished, for the Gentiles were speaking in tongues and extolling God just as they had on the day of Pentecost. Peter, recognizing the undeniable work of God, declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

And so, in the name of Jesus Christ, Cornelius and his household were baptized—the firstfruits of the Gentile world welcomed into the kingdom of God.

### **A New Era Begins**

Peter remained with them for several days, teaching and rejoicing in the boundless grace of God. The news of this event spread quickly, igniting both wonder and controversy among the believers in Judea. Yet it was clear—the Gospel was not for Israel alone, but for all who would call upon the name of the Lord.

Thus, through divine visions and obedient hearts, the door of faith swung wide open, and the church stepped boldly into God’s unfolding plan for the salvation of the world.