Study Desk

And he was unable to see for three days, and he did not eat or drink.

And the Lord said to him, "Get up, go to the street called ‘Straight' and in the house of Judas look for a man named Saul from Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,

For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."

And all who heard him were amazed, and were saying, "Is this not the one who was wreaking havoc in Jerusalem on those who call upon this name, and had come here for this reason, that he could bring them tied up to the chief priests?"

And he found there a certain man named Aeneas who was paralyzed, who had been lying on a mat for eight years.

devout and fearing God together with all his household, doing many charitable deeds for the people and praying to God continually.

And he stared at him and became terrified and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your charitable deeds have gone up for a memorial offering before God.

But Peter said, "Certainly not, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common and unclean!"

And the voice came again to him for the second time: "The things which God has made clean, you must not consider unclean!"

And while Peter was reflecting about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, men are looking for you.

So Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold, I am he whom you are looking for! What is the reason for which you have come?"

And on the next day he entered into Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

And he said to them, "You know that it is forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or to approach a foreigner. And to me God has shown that I should call no man common or unclean.

Therefore—and without raising any objection—I came when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you sent for me."

Therefore I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come. So now we all are present before God to hear all the things that have been commanded to you by the Lord."

As for the message that he sent to the sons of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—this one is Lord of all—

for they heard them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter said,

"Surely no one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did!"

So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.

But I said, ‘Certainly not, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has ever entered into my mouth!'