The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles (XVI) 55 [g] 27 And he actually went inside, 27 And talking with him, he and moreover found many people entered in and finds many people gathered together 28 and he said gathered together 28 and he said to them, ‘You yourselves know very to them, ‘You yourselves know that well that it is forbidden for a Jewish it is forbidden for a Jewish man man to associate with or approach to associate with or approach a a foreign man, but to me God has foreigner, but to me God has shown revealed that I should not call that I should not call any person any person common or unclean. common or unclean. 29 That is why 29 That is why I came without I came without objection when I objection when I was summoned by was summoned. I ask then for what you. I ask then for what reason you reason you summoned me?’ summoned me?’ [h] 30 Cornelius said, ‘For three days, 30 Cornelius said, ‘Three days ago up to the present hour I had been exactly at this hour, I was praying fasting and, praying during the during the ninth hour of prayer in ninth hour of prayer in my house, my house when suddenly there was suddenly there was a man standing a man standing in front of me in in front of me in a shining garment a shining garment 31 and he says, 31 and he says, “Cornelius, your “Cornelius, your prayer has been prayer has been heard and your heard and your alms have been alms have been remembered before remembered before God. 32 So send God. 32 So send someone to Joppa someone to Joppa and summon and summon Simon who is called Simon who is called Peter; he is Peter (this man is lodging in the lodging in the house of Simon a house of Simon a Tanner beside the Tanner beside the sea.” 33 At once, sea) who will speak to you when he therefore, I sent someone to you, gets here.” 33 At once, therefore, I and you did well to come. So now sent someone to you, begging you we are all present before God to to come to us. You did well to arrive hear everything that has been com- speedily. Now here we all are before manded to you by the Lord.’ you wanting to hear from you what has been commanded to you from God.’ [g′] 34 Peter, opening his mouth, said, 34 Opening his mouth, Peter said, [α] ‘Truly, realising that God is not a ‘Truly, I realise that God is not a respecter of persons 35 but in every respecter of persons 35 but rather in nation the one fearing him and per- every nation the one fearing him and forming works of righteousness is performing works of righteousness acceptable to him… is acceptable to him. [β] 36 For the message that he sent to 36 He sent the message to the sons the sons of Israel announcing peace of Israel announcing peace through through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all) – 37 all), 37 you yourselves know, what you know the things that happened happened throughout the whole of throughout all Judaea – beginning Judaea – beginning especially in from Galilee after the baptism that Galilee after the baptism that John John preached; 38 you know Jesus preached; 38a you know Jesus who who was from Nazareth, how God was from Nazareth whom God anointed him with the power of the anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit.