القراءة بلغتين

كانَ في قَيصَرِيَّةَ رَجُلٌ ٱسمُه قُرنيلِيوس، قائدُ مائةٍ مِنَ الكَتيبَةِ الَّتي تُدعى الكَتيبَةَ الإِيطالِيَّة

وكانَ تَقِيًّا يَخافُ الله هو وجَميعُ أَهلِ بَيتِه، ويَتَصَدَّقُ على الشَّعْبِ صَدَقاتٍ كثيرة، ويُواظِبُ على ذِكْرِ الله

فرَأَى نَحوَ السَّاعَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ بَعدَ الظُّهْرِ في رُؤيا واضِحَة مَلاكَ اللهِ يَدخُلُ علَيه ويَقولُ له: «يا قُرنِيلِيوس!»

فحَدَّقَ إِلَيه، فٱستَولى علَيهِ الخَوفُ فقال: «ما الخَبَرُ سَيِّدي؟» فقالَ له: «إِنَّ صلواتِكَ وصَدَقاتِكَ قد صَعِدَت ذِكْرًا عِندَ الله

فأَرسِلِ الآنَ رِجالًا إِلى يافا وٱدْعُ سِمعانَ الَّذي يُلَقَّبُ بُطرُس

فهُو نازِلٌ عِندَ دَبَّاغٍ ٱسمُه سِمعان، وبَيتُه على شاطِئِ البَحْر»

فلَمَّا ٱنصَرَفَ المَلاكُ الَّذي كَلَّمَه، دعا ٱثنَينِ مِن خَدَمِه وجُندِيًّا تَقِيًّا مِمَّن كانوا يُلازِمونَه

ورَوى لَهم الخَبَرَ كُلَّه، وأَرسَلَهم إِلى يافا

فبَينَما هم سائرونَ في الغَد وقَدِ ٱقتَرَبوا مِنَ المَدينة، صَعِدَ بُطرُسُ إِلى السَّطحِ نَحوَ الظُّهرِ لِيُصَلِّي

فجاعَ فأَرادَ أَن يَتَناوَلَ شَيئًا مِنَ الطَّعام. وبَينَما هم يُعِدُّونَ له الطَّعام، أَصابَه جَذْب

فرأَى السَّماءَ مَفْتوحة، وَوِعاءً كَسِماطٍ عَظيمٍ نازِلًا يَتَدَلَّى إِلى الأَرْضِ بِأَطرافِه الأَربَعة

وكانَ فيه مِن جَميعِ ذَواتِ الأَربَعِ وزَحَّافاتِ الأَرضِ وطُيورِ السَّماء

وإِذا صَوتٌ يَقولُ له: «قُمْ يا بُطرُس فَٱذبَحْ وكُلْ»

فقالَ بُطرُس: «حاشَ لي يا ربّ، لم آكُلْ قَطُّ نَجِسًا أَو دَنِسًا»

فعادَ إِلَيه صَوتٌ فقالَ له ثانِيًا: «ما طَهَّرَهُ الله، لا تُنَجِّسْه أَنتَ»

وحَدثَ ذٰلك ثَلاث مَرَّات. ثُمَّ رُفِعَ الوِعاءُ مِن وَقتِه إِلى السَّماء

فتَحَيَّرَ بُطرُس وأَخَذَ يُسائِلُ نَفْسَه ما تَعبيرُ الرُّؤيا الَّتي رآها، وإِذا الرِّجالُ الَّذينَ أَرسَلَهم قُرنيلِيوس، وكانوا قد سَأَلوا عن بَيتِ سِمْعان، وَقَفوا بِالباب

ونادَوا مُستَخبِرينَ أَنازلٌ بِالمَكانِ سِمْعانُ المُلَقَّبُ بُطرُس

وبَينَما بُطرُسُ يُفَكِّرُ في الرُّؤيا، قالَ له الرُّوح: «هناك ثَلاثَةُ رِجالٍ يَطلُبونَكَ

فقُمْ فٱنزِلْ إِلَيهِم وٱذهَبْ معَهم غَيرَ مُتَرَدِّد، فَإِنِّي أَنا أَرسَلتُهم»

فنَزَلَ بُطرُسُ إِلى هٰؤُلاءِ الرِّجالِ وقالَ لَهم: «أَنا مَن تَطلُبون. فما الَّذي جاءَ بِكُم؟»

قالوا: «إِنَّ قائِدَ المائةِ قُرنيلِيوس رَجُلٌ صِدِّيقٌ يَتَّقي الله، وتَشهَدُ له أُمَّةُ اليَهودِ كُلُّها، أَوعَزَ إِلَيه مَلاكٌ طاهِرٌ أَن يَدعوكَ إِلى بَيتِه لِيَسمَعَ ما عِندَكَ مِن أُمور»

فدَعاهم وأَضافَهم. وفي الغَدِ قامَ فمَضى معَهم، ورافَقَهُم بعضُ الإخوَةِ مِن يافا

فدَخَلَ قَيصَرِيَّةَ في اليَومِ الثَّاني. وكانَ قُرنيلِيوسُ يَنتَظِرُهم وقَد دَعا أَقارِبَه وأَخَصَّ أَصدِقائِه

فلمَّا دَخَلَ بُطرُسُ ٱستَقبَلَه قُرنيلِيوس وٱرتَمى على قَدَمَيه ساجِدًا له

فأَنهَضَه بُطرُس وقال: «قُمْ، فأَنا نَفْسي أَيضًا بَشَر»

ودَخَلَ وهُو يُحادِثُه، فوَجَدَ جَماعَةً مِنَ النَّاسِ كثيرة

فقالَ لهم: «تَعلَمونَ أَنَّه حَرامٌ على اليَهودِيِّ أَن يُعاشِرَ أَجنَبِيًّا أَو يَدخُلَ مَنزِلَه. أَمَّا أَنا فقَد بَيَّنَ اللهُ لي أَنَّه لا يَنبغي أَن أَدعُوَ أَحَدًا مِن النَّاسِ نَجِسًا أَو دَنِسًا

فلَمَّا دُعيتُ جِئتُ ولَم أَعتَرِضْ. فأَسأَلُكم ما الَّذي حَمَلَكم على أَن تَدعوني»

فقالَ له قُرنيلِيوس: «كُنتُ قَبلَ أَربَعة أَيَّامٍ في مِثلِ هٰذا الوَقتِ أُصَلِّي في بَيتي عِندَ السَّاعَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ بَعدَ الظُّهْر، وإِذا رَجُلٌ علَيه ثِيابٌ برَّاقَةٌ قد حَضَرَ أَمامي

وقال: «يا قُرنيلِيوس، سُمِعَت صَلواتُكَ، وذُكِرَت لَدى اللهِ صَدَقاتُكَ

فأَرسِلْ إِلى يافا، وٱدْعُ سِمْعانَ المُلَقَّبَ بُطرُس، فهُو نازِلٌ في بَيتِ سِمْعانَ الدَّبَّاغ على شاطِئِ البَحْر»

فأَرسَلتُ إِلَيكَ لِوَقْتي، وأَنتَ أَحسَنتَ صُنعًا في مَجيئِكَ. ونَحنُ الآنَ جَميعًا أَمامَ الله لِنَسمَعَ جَميعَ ما أَمَرَكَ بِه الرَّبّ»

فشَرَعَ بُطرُسُ يَقول: «أَدرَكتُ حَقًّا أَنَّ اللهَ لا يُراعي ظاهِرَ النَّاس

فمَنِ ٱتَّقاه مِن أَيَّةِ أُمَّةٍ كانت وعَمِلَ البِرَّ كانَ عِندَه مَرضِيًّا

والكَلِمَةُ الَّذي أَرسَلَه إِلى بَني إِسرائيلَ مُبَشِّرًا بِالسَّلامِ عن يَدِ يسوعَ المَسيح، إِنَّما هُو رَبُّ النَّاسِ أَجمَعين

وأَنتُم تَعلَمونَ الأَمرَ الَّذي جرى في اليَهودِيَّةِ كُلِّها وكانَ بَدؤُه في الجَليل بَعدَ المَعمودِيَّةِ الَّتي نادى بِها يوحَنَّا

في شأنِ يسوعَ النَّاصِرِيّ كَيفَ أَنَّ اللهَ مَسَحَه بِالرُّوحِ القُدُسِ والقُدرَة، فمَضى مِن مَكانٍ إِلى آخَر يَعمَلُ الخَيرَ ويُبرِئُ جَميعَ الَّذينَ ٱستَولى علَيهم إِبليس، لِأَنَّ اللهَ كانَ معَه

ونَحنُ شُهودٌ على جَميعِ أَعمالِه في بِلادِ اليَهودِ في أُورَشَليم. والَّذي قَتَلوه إِذ عَلَّقوه على خَشَبَة

هو الَّذي أَقامَه اللهُ في اليَومِ الثَّالِث، وخَوَّلَه أَن يَظهَر

لا لِلشَّعْبِ كُلِّه، بل لِلشُّهودِ الَّذينَ ٱختارَهُمُ اللهُ مِن قَبلُ، أَي لَنا نَحنُ الَّذينَ أَكَلوا وشَرِبوا معه بَعدَ قِيامَتِه مِن بَينِ الأَموات

وقَد أَوصانا أَن نُبَشِّرَ الشَّعْب ونَشهَدَ أَنَّه هو الَّذي أَقامَه اللهُ دَيَّانًا لِلأَحياءِ والأَموات

ولَه يَشهَدُ جَميعُ الأَنبِياءِ بِأَنَّ كُلَّ مَن آمَنَ بِه يَنالُ بِٱسمِه غُفرانَ الخَطايا»

وكانَ بُطرُسُ لا يَزالُ يَرْوِي هٰذهِ الأُمور، إِذ نَزَلَ الرُّوحُ القُدُسُ على جَميعِ الَّذينَ سَمِعوا كَلِمَة الله

فدَهِشَ المُؤمِنونَ المَختونونَ الَّذينَ رافَقوا بُطرُس، ذٰلك بأَنَّ مَوهِبَةَ الرُّوحِ القُدُسِ قَد أُفيضَت على الوَثَنِيِّينَ أَيضًا

فقد سَمِعوهم يَتَكَلَّمونَ بِلُغاتٍ غَيرِ لُغَتِهِم ويُعَظِّمونَ الله. فقالَ بُطرُس

«أَيَستَطيعُ أَحَدٌ أَن يَمنَعَ هٰؤُلاءِ مِن ماءِ المَعمودِيَّة وقَد نالوا الرُّوحَ القُدُسَ مِثلَنا؟»

ثُمَّ أَمَرَ أَن يُعَمَّدوا بِٱسمِ يسوعَ المَسيح. فسأَلوه أَن يُقيمَ عِندَهم بِضعَةَ أَيَّام

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

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.

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!”

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.

Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter.

He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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.”

So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

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

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’

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.”

Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

“Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.”

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