« | Acts 10 | » |
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, an officer in the Italian group of the Roman army.
2 Cornelius was a religious man. He and all the other people who lived in his house worshiped the true God. He gave much of his money to the poor and prayed to God often.
3 One afternoon about three o'clock, Cornelius clearly saw a vision. An angel of God came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
4 Cornelius stared at the angel. He became afraid and said, "What do you want, Lord?" The angel said, "God has heard your prayers. He has seen that you give to the poor, and he remembers you.
5 Send some men now to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is also called Peter.
6 He is staying with a man, also named Simon, who is a tanner and has a house beside the sea."
7 When the angel who spoke to Cornelius left, Cornelius called two of his servants and a soldier, a religious man who worked for him.
8 Cornelius explained everything to them and sent them to Joppa.
9 About noon the next day as they came near Joppa, Peter was going up to the roofn to pray.
10 He was hungry and wanted to eat, but while the food was being prepared, he had a vision.
11 He saw heaven opened and something coming down that looked like a big sheet being lowered to earth by its four corners.
12 In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds.
13 Then a voice said to Peter, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat."
14 But Peter said, "No, Lord! I have never eaten food that is unholy or unclean."
15 But the voice said to him again, "God has made these things clean so don't call them 'unholy'!"
16 This happened three times, and at once the sheet was taken back to heaven.
17 While Peter was wondering what this vision meant, the men Cornelius sent had found Simon's house and were standing at the gate.
18 They asked, "Is Simon Peter staying here?"
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Listen, three men are looking for you.
20 Get up and go downstairs. Go with them without doubting, because I have sent them to you."
21 So Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. Why did you come here?"
22 They said, "A holy angel spoke to Cornelius, an army officer and a good man; he worships God. All the Jewish people respect him. The angel told Cornelius to ask you to come to his house so that he can hear what you have to say."
23 So Peter asked the men to come in and spend the night. The next day Peter got ready and went with them, and some of the followers from Joppa joined him.
24 On the following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.
26 But Peter helped him up, saying, "Stand up. I too am only a human."
27 As he talked with Cornelius, Peter went inside where he saw many people gathered.
28 He said, "You people understand that it is against our Jewish law for Jewish people to associate with or visit anyone who is not Jewish. But God has shown me that I should not call any person 'unholy' or 'unclean.'
29 That is why I did not argue when I was asked to come here. Now, please tell me why you sent for me."
30 Cornelius said, "Four days ago, I was praying in my house at this same time -- three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, there was a man standing before me wearing shining clothes.
31 He said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and has seen that you give to the poor and remembers you.
32 So send some men to Joppa and ask Simon Peter to come. Peter is staying in the house of a man, also named Simon, who is a tanner and has a house beside the sea.'
33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was very good of you to come. Now we are all here before God to hear everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."
34 Peter began to speak: "I really understand now that to God every person is the same.
35 In every country God accepts anyone who worships him and does what is right.
36 You know the message that God has sent to the people of Israel is the Good News that peace has come through Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lord of all people!
37 You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after John preached to the people about baptism.
38 You know about Jesus from Nazareth, that God gave him the Holy Spirit and power. You know how Jesus went everywhere doing good and healing those who were ruled by the devil, because God was with him.
39 We saw what Jesus did in Judea and in Jerusalem, but the Jews in Jerusalem killed him by hanging him on a cross.
40 Yet, on the third day, God raised Jesus to life and caused him to be seen,
41 not by all the people, but only by the witnesses God had already chosen. And we are those witnesses who ate and drank with him after he was raised from the dead.
42 He told us to preach to the people and to tell them that he is the one whom God chose to be the judge of the living and the dead.
43 All the prophets say it is true that all who believe in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins through Jesus' name."
44 While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening.
45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been given even to those who were not Jews.
46 These Jewish believers heard them speaking in different languagesn and praising God. Then Peter said,
47 "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we did!"
48 So Peter ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
The New Century Version (NCV)
The New Century Version (NCV) is a contemporary English translation of the Bible designed to be easily understandable and accessible to a broad audience. First published in 1987 by Thomas Nelson, the NCV originated from a project aimed at creating a simplified English translation for children. Over time, the scope of the translation expanded to cater to readers of all ages, including those with limited English proficiency and those new to the Bible. The NCV’s primary goal is to communicate the truths of Scripture in clear, everyday language that resonates with modern readers.
A notable feature of the NCV is its use of dynamic equivalence, or thought-for-thought translation philosophy. This approach prioritizes conveying the meaning and intent of the original texts over maintaining a strict word-for-word correspondence. By doing so, the NCV aims to make the Bible’s messages more relatable and easier to understand, especially for those who may find traditional translations challenging. The translation team worked diligently to balance accuracy with readability, ensuring that the essence of the biblical texts is preserved while making them more accessible to contemporary audiences.
The NCV also includes various study aids and features designed to enhance comprehension and engagement with the biblical text. These include introductions to each book of the Bible, footnotes that provide historical and cultural context, and cross-references that help readers see connections between different parts of Scripture. Additionally, the NCV often employs gender-neutral language where appropriate, aiming to be inclusive and respectful of modern sensibilities while remaining faithful to the original texts.
Despite its strengths, the New Century Version has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the dynamic equivalence approach can sometimes result in a loss of nuance and depth found in the original languages. Additionally, some theologians express concern that the simplified language may not fully capture the richness and complexity of certain theological concepts. Nonetheless, the NCV remains a valuable resource for many readers, particularly those seeking a clear and approachable version of the Bible that helps them connect with and understand its timeless messages.