Thursday in Easter

5Verse 5. And now says the LORD, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him— for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and My God is My strength— 6Verse 6. He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”

1Verse 1. At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment. 2Verse 2. He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly. 3Verse 3. One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4Verse 4. Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5Verse 5. Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6Verse 6. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea. ” 7Verse 7. When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants. 8Verse 8. He explained what had happened and sent them to Joppa. 9Verse 9. The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10Verse 10. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11Verse 11. He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12Verse 12. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, as well as birds of the air. 13Verse 13. Then a voice said to him: “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14Verse 14. “No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15Verse 15. The voice spoke to him a second time: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16Verse 16. This happened three times, and all at once the sheet was taken back up into heaven. 17Verse 17. While Peter was puzzling over the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house and approached the gate. 18Verse 18. They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there. 19Verse 19. As Peter continued to reflect on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20Verse 20. So get up! Go downstairs and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.” 21Verse 21. So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?” 22Verse 22. “Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.” 23Verse 23. So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa. 24Verse 24. The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25Verse 25. As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. 26Verse 26. But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” 27Verse 27. As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together. 28Verse 28. He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29Verse 29. So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?” 30Verse 30. Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me 31Verse 31. and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God. 32Verse 32. Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ 33Verse 33. So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.” 34Verse 34. Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism,