and likewise his brethren together, to the city of Caesarea.
Cornelius invited his dearest friends,
desiring that they should hear the holy doctrine from Peter,
and went to meet him, and humbly bowed himself
down, at his feet, but Peter took him up.
Then went he in with Cornelius, and said to them all,
'Ye know that it befitteth not us Jews to come near
to you heathen men, but God hath showed me
that it is not for us to say that ye are unclean.
I came therefore without any doubt,
I ask the cause wherefore thou calledst for me.'
Then Cornelius said, ' God's angel came to me
[shortly] before now one day about the ninth hour while I was praying alone,
stood in white garments, and said thus to me,
" Thy prayer is heard of the high God,
and thine alms are reckoned in his sight;
send now to Joppa, to Simon Peter,
and call him to thee, that he may speak to thee words of life."
Now have I sent unto thee, and we are ready
to hear all those things which Jesus commanded thee.'
Christianity was not yet known in that city,
neither was this Cornelius baptized into Christ,
but he believed nevertheless in the living God,
and by alms earned the angel's instruction,
and set the heathen a lofty example,
when he submitted to baptism the first of them all.
Then said the blessed Peter, ' I perceive of a truth
that God is the receiver in every nation
of whosoever feareth Him, and doeth righteousness.'
Then began he to teach the true faith
to the heathen officer, concerning the Saviour's life;
