Acts 11

1 The apostles and brothers in Judea heard that foreigners had also accepted the word of God.

Now the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

2 When Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, those who believed circumcision was still essential argued with him.

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

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

Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised and didst eat with them.

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

But Peter began and laid the matter in order before them,

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.

saying, I was praying in the city of Joppa; and in a trance I saw a vision, some thing like a large sheet descending from heaven, let down by the four corners; and it came close to me.

6 When I looked inside I saw animals, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds.

And looking stedfastly upon it, I observed four-footed creatures and wild beasts, and reptiles, and fowls of the air.

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

And I heard a voice saying to me, Rise, Peter, kill and eat.

8 But I replied, ‘Absolutely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth!’

But I said, By no means, Lord: for nothing polluted or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.

9 The voice from heaven spoke again, and said, ‘Don't you call unclean what God has made clean!’

And the voice answered me a second time from heaven, What God hath cleansed do not thou call polluted.

10 This happened three times, and then it was all taken back into heaven.

And this was done thrice: and then they were all drawn up again to 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 at that very time there came three men to the house where I was, sent from Cesarea to me.

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.

And the Spirit ordered me to go with them, doubting nothing. And these six brethren also came with me, and we entred into the man's house;

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 told us how he had seen an angel in his house, standing and saying to him, Send men to Joppa, and fetch hither Simon,

14 who will tell you what you need to hear so you can be saved—you and your whole household.’

whose sirname is Peter, who will tell thee things, by which thou shalt be saved and all thy family.

15 When I started speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as happened to us in the beginning.

And when I began to speak, the holy Spirit fell on them, even as it did upon us at 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 word of the Lord, how He said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye 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?”

As therefore God gave to them the like gift that He did to us, upon our believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I should be able to withstand 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.”

And when they heard these things they acquiesced, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God given to the Gentiles also 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.

Now they that were dispersed by the trouble, which arose about Stephen, travelled as far as Phenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but the 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 them were Cyprians, and Cyrenians, who when they came to Antioch, discoursed with the Grecians also, preaching 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 turned unto the Lord.

22 News about what had happened reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

And the report of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem; and they sent Barnabas to 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.

Who, when he was come, and saw the grace of God, rejoiced, and exhorted them all with steadiness of heart to adhere to the Lord.

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 full of the holy Spirit, and of faith: and many were added unto the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul,

Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus, to seek Saul: and when he 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 assembled in the church a whole year, and taught much people: and the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

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

And in these days came down prophets from Jerusalem 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, stood up and signified by the Spirit, that there would be a great famine over all the earth: which accordingly came to pass in the reign of Claudius Cesar.

29 The believers decided to send funds to help the brothers that lived in Judea, with everyone giving according to what they had.

And each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea.

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

Which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.