彼得的解释

11 使徒和犹太全境的弟兄姊妹都听说外族人接受了上帝的道。 彼得一回到耶路撒冷,严守割礼的门徒就指责他: “你竟然去未受割礼之人的家,还和他们一同吃饭!”

彼得就把事情的经过一一向他们解释,说: “我在约帕城祷告的时候,看见一个异象,有一大块像布的东西四个角吊着从天上降到我面前。 我定睛一看,里面有牲畜、野兽、爬虫和飞禽。 接着,我听见有声音对我说,‘彼得,起来,宰了吃!’ 我说,‘主啊,这可不行!我从未吃过任何污秽不洁之物!’ 那从天上来的声音又说,‘上帝已经洁净的,你不可再称之为不洁净。’ 10 这样一连三次,然后一切都被收回天上去了。 11 就在那时候,有三个从凯撒利亚来的人到我住处的门口来找我。 12 圣灵吩咐我跟他们同去,不要犹豫。就这样,我和这六位弟兄一同到了哥尼流家。 13 他告诉我们天使如何在他家中向他显现,并对他说,‘你派人去约帕,请一位名叫西门·彼得的人来。 14 他有话告诉你,能使你和你的全家得救。’

15 “我开口讲话时,圣灵降在他们身上,跟当初降在我们身上的情形一模一样。 16 我就想起主的话,‘约翰用水施洗,但你们要受圣灵的洗礼。’ 17 既然上帝给他们恩赐,就如我们信主耶稣基督时给我们一样,我是谁,怎能拦阻上帝?” 18 大家听了便安静下来,转而归荣耀给上帝,说:“如此看来,上帝把悔改得永生的机会也赐给了外族人。”

安提阿的教会

19 司提凡殉道后,信徒们因受迫害而四散到各处,远至腓尼基、塞浦路斯和安提阿,他们只向那里的犹太人传福音。 20 不过,有些塞浦路斯和古利奈的信徒到了安提阿之后,也向希腊人传讲主耶稣的福音。 21 上帝的能力伴随着他们,有许多人信了主。

22 耶路撒冷教会的人听到这消息后,就派巴拿巴去安提阿。 23 他到达后,看见上帝所赐的恩典,就万分高兴,劝勉他们要全心地忠于主。

24 巴拿巴是个被圣灵充满、信心坚定的好人。那时信主的人大大增加。 25 他又到大数去找扫罗, 26 找到后,便带他回安提阿。他们在教会待了一年之久,教导了许多人。门徒被称为“基督徒”就是从安提阿开始的。

27 当时,有几位先知从耶路撒冷下到安提阿。 28 其中一位名叫亚迦布,他得到圣灵的启示,站起来预言天下将有严重的饥荒。后来,这事果然在克劳狄执政期间发生了。 29 门徒决定各尽所能,捐款救济住在犹太境内的弟兄姊妹。 30 他们捐完后,委托巴拿巴和扫罗将款项送交耶路撒冷教会的长老。

彼得返回耶路撒冷

11 使徒和整个犹太境内的兄弟们听说,非犹太人也接受了上帝的教导。 于是,当彼得一到耶路撒冷,那些犹太人信徒便开始批评他, 说∶“你们进了没有受过割礼 [a]的人的家,竟还与他们一同吃饭!”

彼得便一五一十地向他们解释了所发生的事情∶ “一天,我正在约帕城里做祷告,在恍惚中,看到了异象。我看见好似一大块布的东西被吊住四角,从天而降,落在我的面前。 我仔细向里边看去,看到有四脚动物、野兽、爬行动物和飞禽。 这时,一个声音对我说∶‘彼得,起来。把它们宰了吃吧!’ 但是我却说∶‘主啊,那可不成!因为被玷污与不洁净之物还从未进过我的嘴里。’ 那个声音又从天上说∶‘上帝清洁过的东西,你不要认为不洁净。’

10 这样一连三次,然后所有的东西便被收回了天上。 11 正在那时,三个人到了我住的那所房子。他们是从该撒利亚被派出来找我的。 12 圣灵指示我,毫不犹豫地跟他们走,跟我从约伯来的这六位兄弟也跟我一起去了。我们一起进了哥尼流的家。 13 他告诉我们,他如何看见一个天使站在他家对他说∶‘派一些人到约帕去邀请西门彼得。 14 他讲的话,会使你和你的整个家眷都得拯救。’ 15 我一开口讲话,圣灵便降临到他们的身上了,就像当初 [b]降在我们的身上一样。 16 这时,我记起了主的话∶‘约翰在水中施洗礼,但你们却要受圣灵的洗礼。’ 17 显然,上帝赐给外族人的馈赠正是我们在信仰主耶稣基督时,他给予我们的。那么,我是谁,能反对上帝吗?”

18 他们听到这番话后,就不再说什么了,而是都赞美上帝说∶“上帝甚至把带来生命的悔改机会赐给了外族人。”

福音传到安提阿

19 那些和司提反一起受到迫害的人们四散在外,有的甚至远走腓尼基、塞浦路斯和安提阿。他们只向犹太人传教。 20 这些信徒中的一些人是塞浦路斯人和古利奈人。他们到安提阿后,也开始向非犹太人传教,告诉他们关于主耶稣的福音。 21 主的力量与他们同在。很多人相信了他们,归顺了主。

22 这个消息传到了耶路撒冷的教会,他们便派巴拿巴到安提阿去了。 23 巴拿巴到后,看见上帝赐福给了那些人,感到非常高兴。他鼓励所有的人,要继续全心全意地忠于主。 24 因为,巴拿巴是个好人,充满了圣灵和信仰。很多人加入到了主的信徒的行列。 25 巴拿巴动身到大数去找扫罗。 26 找到扫罗后,就把他带到安提阿。整整一年,他们和那里的教会聚会,教导了一大批人。在安提阿,门徒们第一次被称为基督教徒。

27 与此同时,一些先知从耶路撒冷来到了安提阿。 28 其中有一个叫亚迦布的人,站起身来,借着圣灵预言,全世界将发生一场大饥荒。(在克劳迪执政时,发生了大饥荒。) 29 于是每个信徒决定都尽自己的所能给住在犹太的弟兄们送去他们的帮助。 30 他们也是这么做的。他们派巴拿巴和扫罗把募捐转交给了长老。

Footnotes

  1. 使 徒 行 傳 11:3 割礼: 割去包皮。每个犹太男孩都行割礼。它是上帝与亚伯拉罕所定的契约的标记。
  2. 使 徒 行 傳 11:15 当初: 五旬节那天,教会开始了。见《使徒行传》2。

Petrus rapport till församlingen i Jerusalem

11 Snart nåddes apostlarna och de andra i Judeen av nyheten att andra än judar blev omvända.

Men när Petrus kom tillbaka till Jerusalem, diskuterade de judiska kristna detta med honom.

Du har umgåtts med andra än judar och till och med ätit med dem, anklagade de honom.

Då berättade Petrus för dem vad som hade hänt:

En dag i Joppe såg jag en syn medan jag bad. En stor duk släpptes ner i sina fyra hörn från himlen.

I duken fanns alla sorters djur, ormar och fåglar sådana som vi inte får äta.

Och jag hörde en röst säga: 'Slakta och ät.'

'Aldrig Herre

Men rösten hördes igen: 'Säg inte att något är orent, om Gud har sagt att det är rent.'

10 Detta hände tre gånger innan duken och allt som fanns i den drogs upp till himlen igen.

11 Just då kom tre män till huset där jag bodde. De ville ta mig med till Caesarea.

12 Den helige Ande sa till mig att följa med dem och inte oroa mig för att de inte var judar. Sex bröder från församlingen i Joppe följde med mig, och vi kom snart till huset där mannen som skickat iväg budbärarna bodde.

13 Han talade om för oss att en ängel hade visat sig för honom och sagt till honom att sända budbärare till Joppe för att hämta Simon Petrus.

14 'Han ska tala om hur du och hela din familj ska bli frälsta

15 Därför började jag berätta för dem om de goda nyheterna. Men jag hade inte hunnit långt, förrän den helige Ande kom över dem, precis som den kom till oss den första tiden.

16 Då tänkte jag på Herrens ord när han sa: 'Johannes döpte er med vatten, men ni ska bli döpta med den helige Ande.'

17 Och eftersom det var Gud som gav dessa icke-judar samma gåva som han gav till oss, när vi trodde på Herren Jesus Kristus - kunde jag då sätta mig emot det?

18 När de andra hörde detta föll alla deras invändningar till marken, och de började lovprisa Gud. Ja, sa de, Gud har också gett andra än judar förmånen att få komma till honom och ta emot evigt liv.

Barnabas och Saul i Antiochia

19 De troende, som flytt från Jerusalem under förföljelsen efter Stefanos död, hade nu kommit ända till Fenikien, Cypern och Antiochia. Under vägen hade de spritt de goda nyheterna, men bara till judarna.

20 Men några av de troende, som reste till Antiochia från Cypern och Kyrene, vittnade om Herren Jesus för några greker.

21 Och Herren var med dem och välsignade vittnesbördet så att flera av dem blev kristna.

22 När församlingen i Jerusalem hörde vad som hade hänt, skickade de Barnabas till Antiochia för att hjälpa de nyomvända.

23 När han kom fram och såg hur Gud hade välsignat dessa människor blev han glad och uppmanade dem att hålla sig nära Herren, vad det än skulle kosta.

24 Barnabas var en kärleksfull man, fylld av den helige Ande och stark i tron och många människor fann vägen till Jesus Kristus.

25 Sedan reste Barnabas till Tarsos för att söka upp Saul.

26 Han fann honom och tillsammans for de till Antiochia. Där stannade de båda två under ett helt år och undervisade många nyomvända. Det var i Antiochia som de troende först kallades kristna.

27 Under denna tid kom några profeter dit från Jerusalem.

28 Och en av dem, som hette Agabos, reste sig upp i en gudstjänst och förutsa genom den helige Ande att en tid av svår svält skulle komma över hela världen. Det skedde också under Claudius regering.

29 De troende beslutade därför att skicka understöd till de kristna i Judeen, och att var och en skulle ge så mycket han kunde.

30 De gjorde det och överlämnade sina gåvor till Barnabas och Saul för att de skulle ta dem med sig till de äldste i församlingen i Jerusalem.

Peter Explains His Actions

11 The apostles and the believers(A) throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.(B) So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers(C) criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”(D)

Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision.(E) I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

“I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

“The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’(F) 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea(G) stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told(H) me to have no hesitation about going with them.(I) These six brothers(J) also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel(K) appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message(L) through which you and all your household(M) will be saved.’

15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on(N) them as he had come on us at the beginning.(O) 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with[a] water,(P) but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.’(Q) 17 So if God gave them the same gift(R) he gave us(S) who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”(T)

The Church in Antioch

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed(U) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,(V) spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus(W) and Cyrene,(X) went to Antioch(Y) and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news(Z) about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them,(AA) and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.(AB)

22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas(AC) to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,(AD) he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.(AE) 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit(AF) and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.(AG)

25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus(AH) to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples(AI) were called Christians first(AJ) at Antioch.

27 During this time some prophets(AK) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus,(AL) stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.(AM) (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)(AN) 29 The disciples,(AO) as each one was able, decided to provide help(AP) for the brothers and sisters(AQ) living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders(AR) by Barnabas(AS) and Saul.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 11:16 Or in
  2. Acts 11:16 Or in

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

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

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

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

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

And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

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

11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

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

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

17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

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

19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

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

22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and 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 Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

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

27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

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

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

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