¹ Now it happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.

² In the fifth [day] of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,

³ the word of Yahweh came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Yahweh was there on him.

⁴ I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of its midst as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire.

⁵ Out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.

⁶ Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings.

⁷ Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass.

⁸ They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and the four of them had their faces and their wings [thus]:

⁹ their wings were joined one to another; they didn't turn when they went; each one went straight forward.

¹⁰ As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and the four of them had the face of a lion on the right side; and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side; the four of them also had the face of an eagle.

¹¹ Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and Two covered their bodies.

¹² Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went; they didn't turn when they went.

¹³ As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: [the fire] went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.

¹⁴ The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.

¹⁵ Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it.

¹⁶ The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl: and the four of them had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.

¹⁷ When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn't turn when they went.

¹⁸ As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around.

¹⁹ When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.

²⁰ Wherever the spirit was to go, they went; there was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

²¹ When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

²² Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth Over their heads above.

²³ Under the expanse were their wings straight, the one toward the other: each one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies.

²⁴ When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army: when they stood, they let down their wings.

²⁵ There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings.

²⁶ Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.

²⁷ I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.

²⁸ As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.

¹ Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

² a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God.

³ At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him, and saying to him, "Cornelius!"

⁴ He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, "What is it, Lord?" He said to him, "Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.

⁵ Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is surnamed Peter.

⁶ He lodges with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside."

⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.

⁸ Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

⁹ Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon.

¹⁰ He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance.

¹¹ He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth,

¹² in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky.

¹³ A voice came to him, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat!"

¹⁴ But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."

¹⁵ A voice came to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean."

¹⁶ This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.

¹⁷ Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate,

¹⁸ and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, was lodging there.

¹⁹ While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men seek you.

²⁰ But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them."

²¹ Peter went down to the men, and said, "Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?"

²² They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say."

²³ So he called them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

²⁴ On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.

²⁵ When it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.

²⁶ But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up! I myself am also a man."

²⁷ As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together.

²⁸ He said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn't call any man unholy or unclean.

²⁹ Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?"

³⁰ Cornelius said, "Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

³¹ and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God.

³² Send therefore to Joppa, and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter. He lodges in the house of Simon a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.'

³³ Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God."

³⁴ Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly I perceive that God doesn't show favoritism;

³⁵ but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

³⁶ The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all--

³⁷ you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

³⁸ even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him 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 We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree.

⁴⁰ God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed,

⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.

⁴³ All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins."

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word.

⁴⁵ They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.

⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,

⁴⁷ "Can any man forbid the water, that these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized?"

⁴⁸ He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.