In Caesarea there lived a Roan army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He generously gave to the poor and prayed regularly to God. One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.
Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.
And the angel replied, “Your prayers an gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! No send some men to Joppa, and summon Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”
As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devoid soldier, one of his personal assistants. He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa. (vv 1-8 , NLT)