World English Bible · Under Rome
Acts 10
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Now there was a certain man in , by name, a of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man, and one who feared with all his house, who gave gifts for generously to the people, and always to . At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a of coming to him and saying to him, "!" He, fastening his eyes on him and being frightened, said, "What is it, ?" He said to him, "Your prayers and your gifts to have gone up for a memorial before . Now send men to , and get , who is also called . He is staying with a tanner named , whose house is by the seaside. When who spoke to him had departed, 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 . Now on the next day as they were on their journey and got close to the city, went up on the housetop to at about noon. He became hungry and to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. He saw 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 . A voice came to him, "Rise, , kill and eat!" But said, "Not so, ; for I have never eaten anything that is common or ." A voice came to him again the second time, "What has cleansed, you must not call ." This was done three times, and immediately the thing was received up into . Now while was very perplexed in himself what the which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by , having made inquiry for house, stood before the , and called and asked whether , who was also called , was lodging there. While was pondering the , said to him, "Behold, three men seek you. But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them." went down to the men, and said, "Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?" They said, ", a , a man and one who fears , and well spoken of by all the nation of the , was directed by a 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 arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from accompanied him. On the next day they entered into . was for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. When entered, met him, fell down at his feet, and him. But 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 to join himself or come to one of another nation, but has shown me that I shouldn't call any man unholy or . Therefore I also came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?" said, "Four days ago, I was until this hour; and at the ninth hour, I in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, ', your is heard, and your gifts to are remembered in the sight of . 32Send therefore to and summon , who is also called . He is staying in the house of a tanner named , 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 to hear all things that have been commanded you by ." opened his and said, "Truly I perceive that doesn't show favoritism; but in every nation he who fears him and works is acceptable to him. The word which he sent to the , preaching of peace by —he is of all— you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all , beginning from , after the which preached; how of with and with , who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for was with him. We are of everything he did both in the country of the and in ; whom they also killed, . him up the third day and gave him to be , not to all the people, but to who were chosen before by , to us, who ate and drank with him after he . He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by as the Judge of the living and . All testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of ." While was still speaking these words, fell on all those who heard the word. They of the who were amazed, as many as came with , because the gift of was also poured out on the . For they heard them speaking in and magnifying . Then answered, "Can anyone forbid these people from being with water? They have received like us." He commanded them to be in the name of . Then they asked him to stay some days.
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The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.