Scripture Story Sketch Notes · Acts 10:1–48; Acts 11:1–18
Peter’s Vision and Cornelius
“Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” Acts 10:34
A Roman soldier who prays, an angel, a sheet let down from heaven, three men at the gate, and a door that opens to every nation. Walk the coast road from Caesarea to Joppa and back.
In the seaport of Caesarea lived Cornelius, a Roman centurion who prayed always and gave generously to the poor. One afternoon an angel told him his prayers were heard and that he should send to Joppa for a man named Peter.
The next day, at noon, Peter prayed on a rooftop in Joppa. In a vision he saw a great sheet let down from heaven, full of animals the law of Moses called unclean, and a voice said, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” As Peter pondered, Cornelius’s messengers arrived at the gate, and the Spirit told him to go with them. In Caesarea, Peter taught the gathered Gentiles about Jesus and said, “God is no respecter of persons.” The Holy Ghost fell on them, and they were baptized.
Who’s who
Cornelius: a Roman centurion in Caesarea
Peter: the senior Apostle, staying in Joppa
An angel: a messenger from God
Cornelius’s household: his family, servants and friends
Where and when
Caesarea, a Roman city on the coast, and Joppa, a Jewish town about thirty miles south.
Watch for the Savior
Watch how Heavenly Father prepares two men at once, and how the gospel of Jesus opens to every nation.
Eight stops between Caesarea and Joppa. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
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The story, plainly
Four scenes: a prayer, a vision, a welcome and a gift. Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Acts 10:1 “a Meaning: a Roman officer over about one hundred soldiers. of the band”
Acts 10:2 “gave much Meaning: gifts to the poor.”
Acts 10:3 “the Meaning: about three in the afternoon. of the day”
Acts 10:14 “any thing that is Meaning: ordinary, not set apart; here, ritually unclean.”
Acts 10:34 “no Meaning: one who plays favorites.”
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Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church resources. Each card says which.
0 of 9 turned
All nine. The alms, the prayer, the angel, the rooftop, the sheet, the three men, the door, the Holy Ghost and the water. Acts 10:1–48
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Where are you?
On the outside, learning to see, praying and waiting, or ready to welcome. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
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Try it
Two visions
Heavenly Father was preparing two men at the same time, thirty miles apart. Read each moment and decide: did it happen to Peter in Joppa, or to Cornelius in Caesarea?
“God is no respecter of persons.” Acts 10:34
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Their world, their words
A little background helps us see why this vision changed the Church. Outside sources are labeled.
Church resource · Seminary manual
Kept separate
The seminary manual: “Many Jewish people—including those who followed Jesus Christ—kept themselves and their religion separate from Gentiles (non-Jewish people).”7
The vision opened the gospel to everyone.
Church resource · Bible Dictionary
Two cities on the coast
Caesarea was a seaport “33 miles north of Joppa,” the home of Roman governors.9 Joppa was “the only town on the coast that was more Jewish than Gentile.”10
A Roman city and a Jewish town, brought together.
Scripture · Acts 11
Peter explains
Back in Jerusalem, some questioned Peter. When they heard his account, “they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”2
The whole Church learned the lesson.
Church leader · Elder Cook
All alike unto God
Elder Cook: “The Lord’s saving mercy is not dependent on lineage, education, economic status, or race.”6
The same truth Peter learned on the roof.
Word study · Greek
prosōpolēptēs προσωπολήπτης · “respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34)
Bible Hub: “Respecter of persons, one who shows partiality.”11Outside · lexicon
God does not play favorites: “in every nation he that feareth him … is accepted with him.”1
“He inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him … and all are alike unto God.” 2 Nephi 26:33
Peter
Lord of all
“The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)” Acts 10:36
Peter’s Vision and Cornelius, ready to print $3.99
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
Peter’s Vision and Cornelius is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for July 12–18, 2027 (Acts 10–15).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The story is told in Acts 10, with Peter’s retelling in Acts 11; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
