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Luke 23

Amplified Bible, 2015 (AMP)

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¹ but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the city's gates day and night so they could kill him;

² but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

³ When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.

⁴ However,[5] Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and described to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road [to Damascus], and how He had spoken to him, and how at Damascus Saul had preached openly and spoken confidently in the name of Jesus.

⁵ So he was with them, moving around freely [as one among them] in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.

⁶ He was talking and arguing with the[6] Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews); but they were attempting to kill him.

⁷ When the brothers found out [about the plot], they brought him down to[7] Caesarea [Maritima] and sent him off to Tarsus [his home town].

⁸ So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace [without persecution], being built up [in wisdom, virtue, and faith]; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to grow [in numbers].

⁹ Now as Peter was traveling throughout the land, he went down to [visit] the[8] saints (God's people) who lived at Lydda.

¹⁰ There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed.

¹¹ Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed." Immediately Aeneas got up.

¹² Then all who lived at Lydda and the plain of Sharon saw [what had happened to] him, and they turned to the Lord.

¹³ Now in[9] Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, (which translated into Greek means Dorcas). She was rich in acts of kindness and charity which she continually did.

¹⁴ During that time it happened that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upstairs room.

¹⁵ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Come to us without delay."

¹⁶ So Peter got up [at once] and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upstairs room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing [him] all the[10] tunics and robes that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

¹⁷ But Peter sent them all out [of the room] and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise!" And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

¹⁸ And he gave her his hand and helped her up; and then he called in the[11] saints (God's people) and the widows, and he presented her [to them] alive.

¹⁹ This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord [that is, to adhere to and trust in and rely on Jesus as Christ and Savior].

²⁰ And so it was that Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon,[12] a tanner.

²¹ Now at[1] Caesarea [Maritima] there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the[2] Italian Regiment,

²² a devout man and one who, along with all his household, feared God. He made many charitable donations to the Jewish people, and prayed to God always.

²³ About the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had come to him and said, "Cornelius!"

²⁴ Cornelius was frightened and stared intently at him and said, "What is it, lord (sir)?" And the angel said to him, "Your prayers and gifts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God [an offering made in remembrance of His past blessings].

²⁵ Now send men to[3] Joppa and have them call for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter [and invite him here];

²⁶ he is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."

²⁷ When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his own personal attendants;

²⁸ and after explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

²⁹ The next day, as they were on their way and were approaching the city, Peter went up on[4] the roof of the house about the sixth hour (noon) to pray,

³⁰ but he became hungry and wanted something to eat. While[5] the meal was being prepared he fell into a trance;

³¹ and he saw the sky opened up, and an[6] object like a great sheet descending, lowered by its four corners to the earth,

³² and it contained all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.

³³ A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!"

³⁴ But Peter said, "Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean."

³⁵ And the voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy)."

³⁶ This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven.

³⁷ Now Peter was still perplexed and completely at a loss as to what his vision could mean when the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon's house, arrived at the gate.

³⁸ And they called out to ask whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.

³⁹ While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Now listen, three men are looking for you.

⁴⁰ Get up, go downstairs and go with them without hesitating or doubting, because I have sent them Myself."

⁴¹ Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. For what reason have you come?"

⁴² 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."

⁴³ So Peter[7] invited them in and gave them lodging [for the night]. The next day Peter got up and left with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.

⁴⁴ On the following day he [and the others] entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.

⁴⁵ When Peter arrived, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet and[8] worshiped him.

⁴⁶ But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am only a man."

⁴⁷ As Peter talked with him, he entered [the house] and found a large group of people assembled.

⁴⁸ 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.

⁴⁹ Therefore when I was sent for, I came without raising an objection. So I ask for what reason have you sent for me?"

⁵⁰ Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour (3:00-4:00 p.m.); and a man [dressed] in bright, dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me,

⁵¹ and he said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered before God [so that He is about to help you].

⁵² Therefore send word to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you. He is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.'

⁵³ 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]."

⁵⁴ Opening his mouth, Peter said: "Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God's blessing],

⁵⁵ but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him.

⁵⁶ You know the message which He sent to the sons of Israel, announcing[9] the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all—

#	AMP
1	but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the city's gates day and night so they could kill him;
2	but his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.
3	When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
4	However,[5] Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and described to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road [to Damascus], and how He had spoken to him, and how at Damascus Saul had preached openly and spoken confidently in the name of Jesus.
5	So he was with them, moving around freely [as one among them] in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord.
6	He was talking and arguing with the[6] Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews); but they were attempting to kill him.
7	When the brothers found out [about the plot], they brought him down to[7] Caesarea [Maritima] and sent him off to Tarsus [his home town].
8	So the church throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace [without persecution], being built up [in wisdom, virtue, and faith]; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort and encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it continued to grow [in numbers].
9	Now as Peter was traveling throughout the land, he went down to [visit] the[8] saints (God's people) who lived at Lydda.
10	There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years and was paralyzed.
11	Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed." Immediately Aeneas got up.
12	Then all who lived at Lydda and the plain of Sharon saw [what had happened to] him, and they turned to the Lord.
13	Now in[9] Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, (which translated into Greek means Dorcas). She was rich in acts of kindness and charity which she continually did.
14	During that time it happened that she became sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upstairs room.
15	Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Come to us without delay."
16	So Peter got up [at once] and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upstairs room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing [him] all the[10] tunics and robes that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
17	But Peter sent them all out [of the room] and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise!" And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
18	And he gave her his hand and helped her up; and then he called in the[11] saints (God's people) and the widows, and he presented her [to them] alive.
19	This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord [that is, to adhere to and trust in and rely on Jesus as Christ and Savior].
20	And so it was that Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon,[12] a tanner.
21	Now at[1] Caesarea [Maritima] there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the[2] Italian Regiment,
22	a devout man and one who, along with all his household, feared God. He made many charitable donations to the Jewish people, and prayed to God always.
23	About the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.) of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had come to him and said, "Cornelius!"
24	Cornelius was frightened and stared intently at him and said, "What is it, lord (sir)?" And the angel said to him, "Your prayers and gifts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God [an offering made in remembrance of His past blessings].
25	Now send men to[3] Joppa and have them call for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter [and invite him here];
26	he is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."
27	When the angel who was speaking to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his own personal attendants;
28	and after explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
29	The next day, as they were on their way and were approaching the city, Peter went up on[4] the roof of the house about the sixth hour (noon) to pray,
30	but he became hungry and wanted something to eat. While[5] the meal was being prepared he fell into a trance;
31	and he saw the sky opened up, and an[6] object like a great sheet descending, lowered by its four corners to the earth,
32	and it contained all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air.
33	A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!"
34	But Peter said, "Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean."
35	And the voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, no longer consider common (unholy)."
36	This happened three times, and then immediately the object was taken up into heaven.
37	Now Peter was still perplexed and completely at a loss as to what his vision could mean when the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon's house, arrived at the gate.
38	And they called out to ask whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.
39	While Peter was thoughtfully considering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Now listen, three men are looking for you.
40	Get up, go downstairs and go with them without hesitating or doubting, because I have sent them Myself."
41	Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. For what reason have you come?"
42	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."
43	So Peter[7] invited them in and gave them lodging [for the night]. The next day Peter got up and left with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him.
44	On the following day he [and the others] entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.
45	When Peter arrived, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet and[8] worshiped him.
46	But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am only a man."
47	As Peter talked with him, he entered [the house] and found a large group of people assembled.
48	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.
49	Therefore when I was sent for, I came without raising an objection. So I ask for what reason have you sent for me?"
50	Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour (3:00-4:00 p.m.); and a man [dressed] in bright, dazzling clothing suddenly stood before me,
51	and he said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered before God [so that He is about to help you].
52	Therefore send word to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you. He is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.'
53	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]."
54	Opening his mouth, Peter said: "Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God's blessing],
55	but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him.
56	You know the message which He sent to the sons of Israel, announcing[9] the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all—

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