Study Desk

But Peter said, "Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean."

While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Now listen, three men are looking for you.

Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. For what reason have you come?"

They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man well spoken of by all the Jewish people, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear what you have to say."

So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging [for the night]. Peter at Caesarea The next day Peter got up and left with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.

On the following day he [and the others] entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

He said to them, "You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with or befriend a Gentile, or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I am not to call anyone common or [ceremonially] unclean.

"Therefore when I was sent for, I came without raising an objection. So I ask for what reason have you sent for me?"

"So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to listen to everything that you have been instructed by the Lord [to say]."

For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and exalting and magnifying and praising God. Then Peter said,

"Can anyone refuse water for these people to be baptized, since they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?"

And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay there for a few days.

So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision [certain Jewish believers who followed the Law] took issue with him [for violating Jewish customs],

"But I said, 'Not at all, Lord; for nothing common (unholy) or [ceremonially] unclean has ever entered my mouth.'

And the hand (the power and presence) of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord [for salvation, accepting and drawing near to Jesus as Messiah and Savior].

For Barnabas was a good man [privately and publicly—his godly character benefited both himself and others] and he was full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith [in Jesus the Messiah, through whom believers have everlasting life]. And a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

And Barnabas left for Tarsus to search for Saul;

and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For an entire year they met [with others] in the church and instructed large numbers; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

When he had seized Peter, he put him in prison, turning him over to four squads of soldiers of four each to guard him [in rotation throughout the night], planning after the Passover to bring him out before the people [for execution].

So Peter was kept in prison, but fervent and persistent prayer for him was being made to God by the church.