Acts 11

1 The apostles and brothers in Judea heard that foreigners had also accepted 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 When Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, those who believed circumcision was still essential argued with him.

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

3 “You went into the homes of uncircumcised men, and ate with them,” they said.

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

4 Peter began to explain to them everything that had happened.

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

5 “While I was in the town of Joppa I was praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. Something that looked like a large sheet was being let down by its four corners from heaven, and it came 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 When I looked inside I saw animals, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds.

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 that told me, ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat.’

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

8 But I replied, ‘Absolutely not, Lord! 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 The voice from heaven spoke again, and said, ‘Don't you call unclean what 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 then it was all taken back into heaven.

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

11 At that very moment three men were standing in front of the house where we were staying. They had been sent from Caesarea to see me.

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 go with them, and not to worry about who they were. These six brothers here also went with me, and we went into the man's house.

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 explained to us how an angel had appeared to him in his house, who told him, ‘Send someone to Joppa, and fetch Simon, also 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 who will tell you what you need to hear so you can be saved—you and your whole household.’

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

15 When I started speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as happened to us in 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 what the Lord said, ‘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 Since God gave them the same gift as he gave us when we trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, what power did I have to oppose 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 After they had heard this explanation, they didn't argue with him anymore, and praised God, saying, “Now God has granted the opportunity to repent and have eternal life to foreigners as well.”

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

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that happened when Stephen was killed, traveled all the way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They only spread the good news among the 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 when some of them who were from Cyprus and Cyrene arrived in Antioch, they shared the good news with the Greeks too, telling them 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 power of the Lord was with them and a large number trusted in the Lord and turned to him.

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

22 News about what had happened reached the church in Jerusalem, and 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 for himself how God's grace was working, he was delighted. He encouraged all of them to completely dedicate themselves to God and to stay true.

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 put his whole trust in God. Many 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 on 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 took Saul back with him to Antioch. Over the course of the next year they worked together with the church, teaching the message to crowds of people. It was in Antioch that the believers were first called “Christians.”

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 It was during this time that some prophets went from Jerusalem to Antioch.

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

28 One of them called Agabus stood up and gave a prophetic warning by the Spirit that there would be a terrible famine that would affect the known world. (This came true in the reign of Emperor 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 The believers decided to send funds to help the brothers that lived in Judea, with everyone giving according to what they had.

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

30 So they did this and sent the money with Barnabas and Saul to the church leaders there.

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