Philip, however, found himself<n id="1" /> at Azotus,<n id="2" /> and as he passed through the area,<n id="3" /> he proclaimed the good news<n id="4" /> to all the towns<n id="5" /> until he came to Caesarea.<n id="6" />p>

But Ananias replied,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Lord, I have heard from many people<n id="2" /> about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem,

He<n id="1" /> was a devout, God-fearing man,<n id="2" /> as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the people<n id="3" /> and prayed to God regularly.

About three o&#8217;clock one afternoon<n id="1" /> he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God<n id="2" /> who came in<n id="3" /> and said to him, &#8220;Cornelius.&#8221;

So when<n id="1" /> Peter came in, Cornelius met<n id="2" /> him, fell<n id="3" /> at his feet, and worshiped<n id="4" /> him.

He<n id="1" /> commanded us to preach to the people and to warn<n id="2" /> them<n id="3" /> that he is the one<n id="4" /> appointed<n id="5" /> by God as judge<n id="6" /> of the living and the dead.

About him all the prophets testify,<n id="1" /> that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins<n id="2" /> through his name.&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on<n id="1" /> all those who heard the message.<n id="2" />

&#8220;No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did,<n id="1" /> can he?&#8221;<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles too had accepted<n id="1" /> the word of God.<n id="2" />

As I stared<n id="1" /> I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles,<n id="2" /> and wild birds.<n id="3" />

When<n id="1" /> he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain true<n id="2" /> to the Lord with devoted hearts,<n id="3" />

Peter<n id="1" /> went out<n id="2" /> and followed him;<n id="3" /> he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real,<n id="4" /> but thought he was seeing a vision.

<p class="bodytext">When Peter<n id="1" /> realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark,<n id="2" /> where many people had gathered together and were praying.

When<n id="1" /> they arrived<n id="2" /> in Salamis,<n id="3" /> they began to proclaim<n id="4" /> the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.<n id="5" /> (Now they also had John<n id="6" /> as their assistant.)<n id="7" />

who was with the proconsul<n id="1" /> Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul<n id="2" /> summoned<n id="3" /> Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear<n id="4" /> the word of God.

For David, after he had served<n id="1" /> God&#8217;s purpose in his own generation, died,<n id="2" /> was buried with his ancestors,<n id="3" /> and experienced<n id="4" /> decay,

For this<n id="1" /> is what the Lord has commanded us: &#8216;<i>I have appointedi><n id="2" /> <i>you to be a lighti><n id="3" /> <i>for the Gentiles, to bring salvationi><n id="4" /> <i>to the ends of the earth.i>&#8217;&#8221;<n id="5" />

When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice<n id="1" /> and praise<n id="2" /> the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life<n id="3" /> believed.

They strengthened<n id="1" /> the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue<n id="2" /> in the faith, saying, &#8220;We must enter the kingdom<n id="3" /> of God through many persecutions.&#8221;<n id="4" />