Acts 11

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 But Peter began, and expounded [the matter] unto them in order, saying,

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

5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw 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:

“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.

6 upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and fowls of the heaven.

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

7 And I heard also a voice saying unto me, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.

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

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

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

9 But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.

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

10 And this was done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

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

11 And behold, forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were, having been sent from Caesarea unto me.

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

12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no distinction. And these six brethren also accompanied me; and we entered into the man’s house:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.’

17 If then God gave unto them the like gift as [he did] also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?

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?”

18 And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.

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.”

19 They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews.

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

20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

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.

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord.

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

22 And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch:

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

23 who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord:

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

24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

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

25 And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul:

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,

26 and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

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.

27 Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

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

28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.

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.)

29 And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judaea:

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

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

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