Acts 11

1 The Apostles and the Brethren throughout Judea heard that even the Gentiles had welcomed God’s Message.

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

2 But, when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were converts from Judaism began to attack him,

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

3 on the ground that he had visited people who were not circumcised, and had taken meals with them.

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

4 So Peter began to relate the facts to them as they had occurred.

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

5 “I was in the town of Jaffa,” he said, “and was praying; and, while in a trance, I saw a vision. There was something like a great sail descending, let down by its four corners out of the heavens; and it came right 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 Looking intently at it, I began to distinguish quadrupeds, 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 and I also heard a voice saying to me — ‘Stand up, Peter, kill something and eat.’

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

8 ‘No, Lord, I cannot,’ I answered, ‘for nothing ‘defiled’ or ‘unclean’ has ever passed my lips.’

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

9 Then a second time there came a voice from the heavens. “What God has pronounced ‘clean’,” it said, “you must not call ‘defiled’.”

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 all was drawn up again into the heavens.

And this was done thrice: and then they were all drawn up again to heaven.

11 At that moment three men, who had been sent from Caesarea to see me, came up to the house in which we were.

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 without hesitation. These six Brothers also went with me. And, when we came 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 told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and how the angel had said to him — ‘Send to Jaffa and fetch the Simon, who is also known as 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 for he will tell you truths, which will prove the means of Salvation to you and all your household.’

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

15 I had but just begun to speak,” continued Peter, “when the Holy Spirit fell on them, exactly as on us at the first;

And when I began to speak, the holy Spirit fell on them, even as it did upon us at the beginning.

16 and I recalled the saying of the Master — ‘John baptized with water, but you shall 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 then, God had given them the very same gift as he gave us when we became believers in Jesus Christ the Master — who was I that I could thwart 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 On hearing this statement, they said no more, but broke out into praise of God. “So even to the Gentiles,” they exclaimed, “God has granted the repentance which leads to Life!”

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 in different directions, in consequence of the persecution that followed upon the death of Stephen, went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the Message — but only to 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 Some of them, however, who were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, on coming to Antioch, addressed themselves also to the Jews of foreign birth, telling them the Good News about that 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, so that a great number who had learned to believe came over to the Lord’s side.

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

22 The news about them reached the ears of the Church at 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 On coming there he saw to his great joy these tokens of the loving-kindness of God, and encouraged them all to make up their minds to be faithful to the Lord —

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 For Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith — and a large number of people took their stand on the Lord’s side.

For he was a good man, and full of the holy Spirit, and of faith: and many were added unto the Lord.

25 Afterwards Barnabas left for 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 had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And so it came about that, for a whole year, they attended the meetings of the Church there, and taught a large number of people; and it was in Antioch that the disciples 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 During this time, some Prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem.

And in these days came down prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28 One of them, named Agabus, came forward and, under the influence of the Spirit, foretold a great famine that was to spread over all the world — a famine which occurred in the reign of 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 So the disciples, without exception, determined, in proportion to their means, to send something to help the Brethren living in Judea.

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

30 And this they did, sending it to the Officers of the Church by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

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