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。

彼得向耶路撒冷教会报告

11 使徒和在犹太的弟兄们,听说外族人也接受了 神的道。 彼得上到耶路撒冷的时候,那些守割礼的人与他争论, 说:“你竟然到未受割礼的人那里,跟他们一起吃饭!” 彼得就按着次序向他们讲解,说: “我在约帕城祷告的时候,魂游象外,见到异象:有一件东西,好象一块大布,绑着四角,从天上降下来,一直来到我面前。 我定睛观察,看见里面有地上的四足牲畜、走兽,还有昆虫和天空的飞鸟。 我也听见有声音对我说:‘彼得,起来,宰了吃!’ 我说:‘主啊,千万不可,因为俗物或不洁的东西,从来没有进过我的口。’ 第二次又有声音从天上回答:‘ 神所洁净的,你不可当作俗物。’ 10 这样一连三次之后,所有的东西都拉回天上去了。 11 就在那个时候,有三个从该撒利亚派到我这里来的人,站在我住的房子门前。 12 圣灵吩咐我跟他们一起去,一点也不要疑惑。这六位弟兄也跟我一起去,我们就进了那人的家。 13 他告诉我们,他怎样看见天使站在他家里说:‘派人到约帕去,请那个名叫彼得的西门来, 14 他有话要告诉你,使你和你全家都可以得救。’ 15 我一开始讲话,圣灵就降在他们身上,正像当初降在我们身上一样。 16 我就想起主所说的话:‘约翰用水施洗,但你们要受圣灵的洗。’ 17  神既然把同样的恩赐(“恩赐”或译:“恩赏”)给他们,像给我们这些信了主耶稣基督的人一样,我是谁,我能够阻止 神吗?” 18 众人听见这些话,就默然无声,把荣耀归给 神,说:“这样看来, 神也把悔改的心赐给外族人,使他们得生命。”

安提阿的教会

19 那些因司提反事件遭受苦难而四散的门徒,一直走到腓尼基、塞浦路斯、安提阿;他们不对别人传讲,只对犹太人传讲。 20 但其中有些塞浦路斯人和古利奈人,来到安提阿,也对希腊人传讲主耶稣。 21 主的手与他们同在,信而归主的人就多起来。 22 这事传到耶路撒冷教会的耳中,他们就派巴拿巴到安提阿去。 23 他到了那里,看见 神所施的恩,就很欢喜,劝勉众人坚心靠主。 24 巴拿巴是个好人,满有圣灵和信心,于是许多人归了主。 25 后来他到大数去找扫罗, 26 找到了,就带他来安提阿。足足有一年,他们一同在教会聚集,教导了许多人。门徒称为基督徒,是从安提阿开始的。

27 那时,有几位先知从耶路撒冷下到安提阿。 28 其中有一个名叫亚迦布的站起来,借着圣灵指出天下将要有大饥荒;这事在革老丢时期果然发生了。 29 于是门徒决定按着各人的力量捐款,好送给住在犹太的弟兄。 30 他们就这样行了,由巴拿巴和扫罗经手送到长老们那里。

Peter Reports in Jerusalem

11 Now the apostles and (A)the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, [a](B)the Jewish believers took issue with him, saying, “(C)You [b]went to [c]uncircumcised men and ate with them.” But Peter began and explained at length to them (D)in an orderly sequence, saying, (E)I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw (F)a vision, an [d]object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came to where I was, and I stared at it and was thinking about it, and I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild animals, the [e]crawling creatures, and the birds of the sky. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; [f]kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing [g]unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘(G)What God has cleansed, no longer [h]consider unholy.’ 10 This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky. 11 And behold, at that moment three men who had been sent to me from (H)Caesarea came up to the house where we were staying. 12 (I)And the Spirit told me to go with them (J)without [i]misgivings. (K)These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he reported to us how he had seen the angel [j]standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send some men to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here; 14 and he will speak (L)words to you by which you will be saved, you and (M)all your household.’ 15 And as I began to speak, (N)the Holy Spirit fell upon them just (O)as He did upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, (P)John baptized with water, but you will be baptized [k]with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 Therefore, if (Q)God gave them the same gift as He also gave to us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, (R)who was I that I could [l]stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they [m]quieted down and (S)glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has also granted to the Gentiles the (T)repentance that leads to life.”

The Church in Antioch

19 (U)So then those who were scattered because of the [n]persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way [o]to (V)Phoenicia, (W)Cyprus, and (X)Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 20 But there were some of them, men of (Y)Cyprus and (Z)Cyrene, who came to (AA)Antioch and began speaking to the [p](AB)Greeks as well, (AC)preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus. 21 And (AD)the hand of the Lord was with them, and (AE)a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The [q]news about them [r]reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent (AF)Barnabas off [s]to (AG)Antioch. 23 Then when he arrived and [t]witnessed (AH)the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with [u]resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and (AI)full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And [v](AJ)considerable numbers were added to the Lord. 25 And he left for (AK)Tarsus to look for Saul; 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to (AL)Antioch. And for an entire year they [w]met with the church and taught [x]considerable numbers of people; and (AM)the disciples were first called (AN)Christians in (AO)Antioch.

27 Now [y]at this time some (AP)prophets came down from Jerusalem to (AQ)Antioch. 28 One of them, named (AR)Agabus, stood up and [z]indicated [aa]by the Spirit that there would definitely be a severe famine (AS)all over the [ab]world. [ac]And this took place in the reign of (AT)Claudius. 29 And to the extent that any of (AU)the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the [ad]relief of (AV)the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 (AW)And they did this, sending it [ae]with (AX)Barnabas and Saul to the (AY)elders.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 11:2 Lit those from the circumcision
  2. Acts 11:3 Or entered the house of
  3. Acts 11:3 I.e., Gentiles
  4. Acts 11:5 Or vessel
  5. Acts 11:6 Or reptiles
  6. Acts 11:7 Or sacrifice
  7. Acts 11:8 Or profane; lit common
  8. Acts 11:9 Lit make common
  9. Acts 11:12 Or making any distinction
  10. Acts 11:13 Or after he had stood in his house and said
  11. Acts 11:16 Or in
  12. Acts 11:17 Lit prevent God
  13. Acts 11:18 Lit became silent
  14. Acts 11:19 Lit tribulation
  15. Acts 11:19 Lit as far as
  16. Acts 11:20 Lit Hellenists; people who lived by Greek customs and culture
  17. Acts 11:22 Lit word
  18. Acts 11:22 Lit was heard in
  19. Acts 11:22 Lit as far as
  20. Acts 11:23 Lit saw
  21. Acts 11:23 Lit purpose of heart
  22. Acts 11:24 Lit a considerable crowd was
  23. Acts 11:26 Or were gathered together
  24. Acts 11:26 Lit a considerable crowd
  25. Acts 11:27 Lit in these days
  26. Acts 11:28 I.e., a prophetic communication of some kind
  27. Acts 11:28 Or through
  28. Acts 11:28 Lit inhabited earth
  29. Acts 11:28 Lit which took place
  30. Acts 11:29 Lit service
  31. Acts 11:30 Lit by the hand of