Acts 11

1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the non-Jewish people had also received the word of God.

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

2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,

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

3 saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them."

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

4 But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,

Peter began to explain to them everything that had happened.

5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.

“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.

6 When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, crawling creatures, and birds of the sky.

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

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

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

8 But I said, 'Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.'

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

9 But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, 'What God has cleansed, do not call unclean.'

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

10 This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.

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

11 And look, immediately three men stood before the house where we were, having been sent from Caesarea to me.

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.

12 The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house.

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.

13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, 'Send to Joppa, and get Simon, whose surname is Peter,

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,

14 who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.'

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

15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.

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

16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'

Then I remembered what the Lord said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

17 If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?"

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?”

18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the non-Jews repentance to life."

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.”

19 They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.

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.

20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus.

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.

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

The power of the Lord was with them and a large number trusted in the Lord and turned to him.

22 And the report concerning them was heard by the church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch,

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

23 who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain true to the Lord.

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.

24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.

Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit, and put his whole trust in God. Many people were brought to the Lord.

25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.

Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul,

26 When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. It happened, that for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

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.”

27 Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

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

28 One of them named Agabus stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.

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.)

29 As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;

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

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

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