Dig Site 7Dig Site 7

Acts 10:1-23Acts 10:1-23

At At Caesarea* Caesarea* there was a there was a man named man named Cornelius, a Cornelius, a centurion* centurion* in what was in what was known as known as the Italian the Italian Regiment.*Regiment.*

65 miles

A centurion was in charge of 100 soldiers. In Caesarea, the soldiers protected the city and harbor.

He and all his He and all his family were family were devout and God-devout and God-fearing; he gave fearing; he gave generously to generously to those in need* those in need* and prayed to and prayed to God regularly.*God regularly.*

One day at about three in the afternoon One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision.* He distinctly saw an he had a vision.* He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said,*angel of God, who came to him and said,*

Cornelius stared at him in fear.*Cornelius stared at him in fear.*

Cornelius! What is it, Lord?

Your prayers and gifts to the poor Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send offering before God. Now send men to Joppa* to bring back a man men to Joppa* to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.tanner, whose house is by the sea.

When the angel When the angel who spoke to him who spoke to him had gone,* had gone,* Cornelius called Cornelius called two of his two of his servants and a servants and a devout soldier devout soldier who was one of who was one of his attendants. He his attendants. He told them told them everything that everything that had happened and had happened and sent them to sent them to Joppa.Joppa.

About noon the following day as they About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.*pray.*

He became hungry and wanted something He became hungry and wanted something to eat,* and while the meal was being to eat,* and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.*prepared, he fell into a trance.*

being half-awake and not able to function

I’m hungry!

He saw heaven He saw heaven opened and opened and something like a something like a large sheet being large sheet being let down to earth let down to earth by its four by its four corners.* It corners.* It contained all kinds contained all kinds of four-footed of four-footed animals, as well as animals, as well as reptiles of the reptiles of the earth and birds of earth and birds of the air.the air.

Then a voice Then a voice told him,*told him,*

Get up, Peter. Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.*Kill and eat.*

Surely not, Surely not, Lord! I have Lord! I have never eaten never eaten

anything anything impure or impure or unclean.unclean.

The voice The voice spoke to him a spoke to him a second time.second time.

Do not call Do not call anything impure anything impure that God has made that God has made clean.clean.

The idea of unclean or impure animals is The idea of unclean or impure animals is part of Jewish law that specifies which part of Jewish law that specifies which foods are allowed (kosher) or not allowed foods are allowed (kosher) or not allowed for Jews. These laws are based upon the for Jews. These laws are based upon the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

Some Forbidden Some Forbidden Foods:Foods:lizardslizardsmicemicesnailssnailspigspigsturtlesturtlessnakessnakessquidsquidsquirrelssquirrelsshellfishshellfish

This happened three times,** and This happened three times,** and immediately the sheet was taken back immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.*to heaven.*

While Peter was wondering about the meaning While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate.* They called out, asking if Simon the gate.* They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.*who was known as Peter was staying there.*

Is Simon Peter

staying here?

While Peter was still thinking about While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him,*the vision, the Spirit said to him,*

Simon, three Simon, three men are looking men are looking for you. So get for you. So get up and go up and go downstairs. Do downstairs. Do not hesitate to not hesitate to go with them, go with them, for I have sent for I have sent them.them.

Peter went Peter went down and said down and said to the men,*to the men,*

I’m the one I’m the one you’re looking you’re looking for. Why have for. Why have you come?you come?

The men replied,* The men replied,*

We have come We have come from Cornelius from Cornelius the centurion. He the centurion. He is a righteous is a righteous and God-fearing and God-fearing man, who is man, who is respected by all respected by all the Jewish the Jewish people. A holy people. A holy angel told him to angel told him to have you come have you come to his house so to his house so that he could that he could hear what you hear what you have to say.have to say.

Then Peter Then Peter invited the men invited the men into the house to into the house to be his guests.*be his guests.*

Please come Please come in and be my in and be my guests.guests.

The next The next day Peter day Peter started out started out with them, with them, and some of and some of the brothers the brothers from Joppa from Joppa went went along.* along.*

30 miles