Acts 11

1 And the apostles and brethren, who were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

Now the Apostles, and the brethren in various parts of Judaea, heard that the Gentiles also had received God's Message;

2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

and, when Peter returned to Jerusalem, the champions of circumcision found fault with him.

3 Saying: Why didst thou go in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them?

"You went into the houses of men who are not Jews," they said, "and you ate with them."

4 But Peter began and declared to them the matter in order, saying:

Peter, however, explained the whole matter to them from the beginning.

5 I was in the city of Joppe praying, and I saw in an ecstasy of mind a vision, a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners, and it came even unto me.

"While I was in the town of Jaffa, offering prayer," he said, "in a trance I saw a vision. There descended what seemed to be an enormous sail, being let down from the sky by ropes at the four corners, and it came close to me.

6 Into which looking, I considered, and saw fourfooted creatures of the earth, and beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air:

Fixing my eyes on it, I examined it closely, and saw various kinds of quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles and birds.

7 And I heard also a voice saying to me: Arise, Peter; kill and eat.

I also heard a voice saying to me, "'Rise, Peter, kill and eat.'

8 And I said: Not so, Lord; for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.

"'On no account, Lord,' I replied, 'for nothing unholy or impure has ever gone into my mouth.'

9 And the voice answered again from heaven: What God hath made clean, do not thou call common.

"But a voice answered, speaking a second time from the sky, "'What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy.'

10 And this was done three times: and all were taken up again into heaven.

"This was said three times, and then everything was drawn up again out of sight.

11 And behold, immediately there were three men come to the house wherein I was, sent to me from Caesarea.

"Now at that very moment three men came to the house where we were, having been sent from Caesarea to find me.

12 And the Spirit said to me, that I should go with them, nothing doubting. And these six brethren went with me also: and we entered into the man’s house.

And the Spirit told me to accompany them without any misgivings. There also went with me these six brethren who are now present, and we reached the Centurion's house.

13 And he told us how he had seen an angel in his house, standing, and saying to him: Send to Joppe, and call hither Simon, who is surnamed Peter,

Then he described to us how he had seen the angel come and enter his house and say, "'Send to Jaffa and fetch Simon, surnamed Peter.

14 Who shall speak to thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, and all thy house.

He will teach you truths by which you and all your family will be saved.'"

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

"And," said Peter, "no sooner had I begun to speak than the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He fell upon us at the first.

16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said: John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Then I remembered the Lord's words, how He used to say, "'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'

17 If then God gave them the same grace, as to us also who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, that could withstand God?

"If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, why, who was I to be able to thwart God?"

18 Having heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying: God then hath also to the Gentiles given repentance unto life.

This statement of Peter's silenced his opponents. They extolled the goodness of God, and said, "So, then, to the Gentiles also God has given the repentance which leads to Life."

19 Now they who had been dispersed by the persecution that arose on occasion of Stephen, went about as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none, but to the Jews only.

Those, however, who had been driven in various directions by the persecution which broke out on account of Stephen made their way to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, delivering the Message to none but Jews.

20 But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were entered into Antioch, spoke also to the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus.

But some of them were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks also and told them the Good News concerning the Lord Jesus.

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believing, were converted to the Lord.

The power of the Lord was with them, and there were a vast number who believed and turned to the Lord.

22 And the tidings came to the ears of the church that was at Jerusalem, touching these things: and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.

When tidings of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.

23 Who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, rejoiced: and he exhorted them all with purpose of heart to continue in the Lord.

On getting there he was delighted to see the grace which God had bestowed; and he encouraged them all to remain, with fixed resolve, faithful to the Lord.

24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

For he was a good man, and was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith; and the number of believers in the Lord greatly increased.

25 And Barnabas went to Tarsus to seek Saul: whom, when he had found, he brought to Antioch.

Then Barnabas paid a visit to Tarsus to try to find Saul.

26 And they conversed there in the church a whole year; and they taught a great multitude, so that at Antioch the disciples were first named Christians.

He succeeded, and brought him to Antioch; and for a whole year they attended the meetings of the Church, and taught a large number of people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of 'Christians.'

27 And in these days there came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch:

At that time certain Prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch,

28 And one of them named Agabus, rising up, signified by the Spirit, that there should be a great famine over the whole world, which came to pass under Claudius.

one of whom, named Agabus, being instructed by the Spirit, publicly predicted the speedy coming of a great famine throughout the world. (It came in the reign of Claudius.)

29 And the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea:

So the disciples decided to send relief, every one in proportion to his means, to the brethren living in Judaea.

30 Which also they did, sending it to the ancients, by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

This they did, forwarding their contributions to the Elders by Barnabas and Saul.