Acts 11

1 Now the apostles and the brethren that were in Judaea 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,3 saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.4 But Peter began, and expounded the matter unto them in order, saying,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:6 upon which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the heaven.7 And I heard also a voice saying unto me, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.9 But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.10 And this was done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heaven.11 And behold, forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were, having been sent from Caesarea unto me.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: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;14 who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house.15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in 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?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.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.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.21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto 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: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:24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.25 And he went forth to Tarsus to seek 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.27 Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto 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.29 And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea:30 which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 11

Peter Defends His Actions to the Jerusalem Church

1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles too had acceptedt the word of God.t2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem,s the circumcised believerst took issue witht him,3 saying, “You went tot uncircumcised men and shared a meal witht them.”4 But Peter began and explained it to them point by point,t saying,5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision,t an object something like a large sheet descending,t being let down from heavent by its four corners, and it came to me.6 As I staredt I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles,t and wild birds.t7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; slaughtert and eat!’8 But I said, ‘Certainly not, Lord, for nothing defiled or ritually uncleant has ever entered my mouth!’9 But the voice replied a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not considert ritually unclean!’10 This happened three times, and then everything was pulled up to heaven again.11 At that very moment,t three men sent to me from Caesareass approachedt the house where we were staying.t12 The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brotherss also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.13 He informed us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter,14 who will speak a messaget to you by which you and your entire household will be saved.’15 Then as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell ont them just as he didt on us at the beginning.s16 And I remembered the word of the Lord,s as he used to say,t ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’s17 Therefore if Gods gave them the same gifts as he also gave us after believingt in the Lord Jesus Christ,t who was I to hindert God?”

18 When they heard this,t they ceased their objectionst and praisedt God, saying, “So then, God has granted the repentances that leads to life even to the Gentiles.”s

Activity in the Church at Antioch

19 Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephens went as far ast Phoenicia,s Cyprus,ts and Antioch,ss speaking the messaget to no one but Jews.20 But there were some men from Cypruss and Cyrenes among them who camet to Antiochs and began to speak to the Greekss too, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus.21 Thet hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believedt turneds to the Lord.22 A reportt about them came to the attentiont of the church in Jerusalem,s and they sent Barnabass to Antioch.s23 Whent he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain truets to the Lord with devoted hearts,t24 because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a significant number of peoplet were brought to the Lord.25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to look for Saul,

26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch.s Sot for a whole year Barnabas and Sault met with the church and taught a significant number of people.t Now it was in Antiochs that the disciples were first called Christians.s

Famine Relief for Judea

27 At that timet somet prophetss came downs from Jerusalems to Antioch.ss28 One of them, named Agabus, got upt and predictedt by the Spirit that a severet famines was about to come over the whole inhabited world.t (Thist took place during the reign of Claudius.)s29 So the disciples, each in accordance with his financial ability,t decidedt to send reliefts to the brothers living in Judea.

30 They did so,t sending their financial aidt to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.