Acts 11

1 The apostles and brothers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

Now the Apostles and brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God.

2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him

Then, when Peter had gone up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision argued against him,

3 and said, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

saying, “Why did you enter to uncircumcised men, and why did you eat with them?”

4 But Peter began and explained to them the whole sequence of events:

And Peter began to explain to them, in an orderly manner, saying:

5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.

“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and I saw, in an ecstasy of mind, a vision: a certain container descending, like a great linen sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners. And it drew near to me.

6 I looked at it closely and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air.

And looking into it, I considered and saw the four-footed beasts of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the flying things of the air.

7 Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat.’

Then I also heard a voice saying to me: ‘Rise up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

8 ‘No, Lord,’ I said, ‘for nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

But I said: ‘Never, lord! For what is common or unclean has never entered into my mouth.’

9 But the voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’

Then the voice responded a second time from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, you shall not call common.’

10 This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven.

Now this was done three times. And then everything was taken up again into heaven.

11 Just then three men sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying.

And behold, immediately there were three men standing near the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

12 The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s home.

Then the Spirit told me that I should go with them, doubting nothing. And these six brothers went with me also. And we entered into the house of the man.

13 He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.

And he described for us how he had seen an Angel in his house, standing and saying to him: ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter.

14 He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’

And he shall speak to you words, by which you shall be saved with your whole house.’

15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He had fallen upon us at the beginning.

And when I had begun to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as upon us also, in the beginning.

16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, as He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

Then I remembered the words of the Lord, just as he himself said: ‘John, indeed, baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

17 So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”

Therefore, if God gave them the same grace, as also to us, who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I would be able to prohibit God?”

18 When they heard this, their objections were put to rest, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

Having heard these things, they were silent. And they glorified God, saying: “So has God also given to the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

19 Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.

And some of them, having been dispersed by the persecution that had occurred under Stephen, traveled around, even to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the Word to no one, except to Jews only.

20 But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.

But some of these men from Cyprus and Cyrene, when they had entered into Antioch, were speaking also to the Greeks, announcing the Lord Jesus.

21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

And the hand of the Lord was with them. And a great number believed and were converted to the Lord.

22 When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

Now the news came to the ears of the Church at Jerusalem about these things, and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.

23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.

And when he had arrived there and had seen the grace of God, he was gladdened. And he exhorted them all to continue in the Lord with a resolute heart.

24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

For he was a good man, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,

Then Barnabas set out for Tarsus, so that he might seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.

26 and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

And they were conversing there in the Church for an entire year. And they taught such a great multitude, that it was at Antioch that the disciples were first known by the name of Christian.

27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Now in these days, prophets from Jerusalem went over to Antioch.

28 One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.)

And one of them, named Agabus, rising up, signified through the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine over the entire world, which did happen under Claudius.

29 So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

Then the disciples declared, according to what each one possessed, what they would offer to be sent to the brothers living in Judea.

30 This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.

And so they did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.