DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR SATURDAY NOVEMBER 11:
DAILY BIBLE READING
Acts 10-12New King James Version (NKJV)
Cornelius Sends a Delegation
10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what
was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with
all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God
always. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an
angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!"
4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?"
So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial
before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is
Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.[a]
He will tell you what you must do." 7 And when the angel who spoke to him
had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout
soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had
explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Peter's Vision
9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter
went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became
very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a
trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at
the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it
were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping
things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, "Rise, Peter;
kill and eat."
14 But Peter said, "Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or
unclean."
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed
you must not call common." 16 This was done three times. And the object was
taken up into heaven again.
Summoned to Caesarea
17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had
seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made
inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called
and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.
19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold,
three men are seeking you. 20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them,
doubting nothing; for I have sent them."
21 Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from
Cornelius,[b] and said, "Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have
you come?"
22 And they said, "Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God
and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely
instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words
from you." 23 Then he invited them in and lodged them.
On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa
accompanied him.
Peter Meets Cornelius
24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting
for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As
Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and
worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am
also a man." 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who
had come together. 28 Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is
for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But
God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29
Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then,
for what reason have you sent for me?"
30 So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at
the ninth hour[c] I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in
bright clothing, 31 and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and
your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa
and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of
Simon, a tanner, by the sea.[d] When he comes, he will speak to you.' 33 So
I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we
are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God."
Preaching to Cornelius' Household
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows
no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works
righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the
children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ-He is Lord of all-
37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began
from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed
Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing
good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the
Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they[e] killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God
raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the
people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank
with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to
the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge
of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that,
through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."
The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all
those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed
were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy
Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them
speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered, 47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be
baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him
to stay a few days.
Peter Defends God's Grace
11 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles
had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem,
those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, "You went in to
uncircumcised men and ate with them!"
4 But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5 "I
was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object
descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it
came to me. 6 When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed
animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7
And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 But I
said, 'Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered
my mouth.' 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, 'What God has
cleansed you must not call common.' 10 Now this was done three times, and
all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men
stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.
12 Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these
six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told
us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, 'Send
men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14 who will tell
you words by which you and all your household will be saved.' 15 And as I
began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.
16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed
baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 If
therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the
Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God,
saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."
Barnabas and Saul at Antioch
19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over
Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the
word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus
and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists,
preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a
great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem,
and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had
seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with
purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good
man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were
added to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found
him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they
assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples
were first called Christians in Antioch.
Relief to Judea
27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one
of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was
going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in
the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his
ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30
This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and
Saul.
Herod's Violence to the Church
12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some
from the church. 2 Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize
Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he
had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of
soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after
Passover.
Peter Freed from Prison
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant[f] prayer was offered to
God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out,
that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers;
and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an
angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he
struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, "Arise quickly!" And his
chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and
tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your
garment and follow me." 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know
that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a
vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they
came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its
own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the
angel departed from him.
11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, "Now I know for certain that
the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and
from all the expectation of the Jewish people."
12 So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother
of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying.
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to
answer. 14 When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she
did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the
gate. 15 But they said to her, "You are beside yourself!" Yet she kept
insisting that it was so. So they said, "It is his angel."
16 Now Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the door and saw him,
they were astonished. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to keep
silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison.
And he said, "Go, tell these things to James and to the brethren." And he
departed and went to another place.
18 Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers
about what had become of Peter. 19 But when Herod had searched for him and
not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put
to death.
And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Herod's Violent Death
20 Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they
came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's personal
aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied
with food by the king's country.
21 So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and
gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a
god and not of a man!" 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him,
because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.
Barnabas and Saul Appointed
25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from[g] Jerusalem when they had fulfilled
their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
Footnotes:
a.Acts 10:6 NU-Text and M-Text omit the last sentence of this verse.
b.Acts 10:21 NU-Text and M-Text omit who had been sent to him from
Cornelius.
c.Acts 10:30 NU-Text reads Four days ago to this hour, at the ninth hour.
d.Acts 10:32 NU-Text omits the last sentence of this verse.
e.Acts 10:39 NU-Text and M-Text add also.
f.Acts 12:5 NU-Text reads constantly (or earnestly).
g.Acts 12:25 NU-Text and M-Text read to.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James VersionR. Copyright C 1982 by Thomas
Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
