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。

Peter’s Report in Jerusalem

11 Now the apostles and (A)the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, [a](B)those who were circumcised took issue with him, saying, “(C)You [b]went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” But Peter began speaking [c]and proceeded to explain to them (D)in orderly sequence, saying, (E)I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw (F)a vision, [d]an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from heaven, and it came right down to me, and when looking closely at it, I was observing it and saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the [e]sky. And I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise up, Peter; [f]slaughter and eat.’ But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing defiled or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘(G)What God has cleansed, no longer consider defiled.’ 10 And this happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven. 11 And behold, immediately three men appeared at the house in which we were, having been sent to me from (H)Caesarea. 12 (I)And the Spirit told me to go with them [g](J)without taking issue at all. (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 [h]standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter; 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 [i]with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 Therefore if (Q)God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, (R)who was I that I could prevent God’s way?” 18 And when they heard this, they [j]quieted down and (S)glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the (T)repentance that leads to life.”

The Church in Antioch

19 (U)So then those who were scattered because of the [k]persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way [l]to (V)Phoenicia and (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 [m](AB)Greeks also, (AC)proclaiming 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 Now the [n]news about them [o]reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent (AF)Barnabas off [p]to (AG)Antioch, 23 who, when he arrived and saw (AH)the grace of God, rejoiced and began to encourage them all with a purposeful heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and (AI)full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a (AJ)considerable crowd was [q]brought to the Lord. 25 And he left for (AK)Tarsus to search for Saul; 26 and when he found him, he brought him to (AL)Antioch. And it happened that for an entire year they [r]met with the church and taught a considerable crowd. And (AM)the disciples were first called (AN)Christians in (AO)Antioch.

27 Now in those days, (AP)some prophets came down from Jerusalem to (AQ)Antioch. 28 And one of them named (AR)Agabus stood up and indicated [s]by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine (AS)all over the [t]world. [u]And this took place in the reign of (AT)Claudius. 29 And as any of (AU)the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the service of (AV)the brothers living in Judea. 30 (AW)And this they did, sending it [v]in charge of (AX)Barnabas and Saul to the (AY)elders.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 11:2 Lit those of the circumcision
  2. Acts 11:3 Or entered the house of
  3. Acts 11:4 Lit and was explaining
  4. Acts 11:5 Or a vessel
  5. Acts 11:6 Or heaven
  6. Acts 11:7 Or sacrifice
  7. Acts 11:12 Or without making any distinction
  8. Acts 11:13 Or after he had stood in his house and said
  9. Acts 11:16 Or in
  10. Acts 11:18 Lit became silent
  11. Acts 11:19 Lit tribulation
  12. Acts 11:19 Lit as far as
  13. Acts 11:20 Lit Hellenists; people who lived by Gr customs and culture
  14. Acts 11:22 Lit word
  15. Acts 11:22 Lit was heard in
  16. Acts 11:22 Lit as far as
  17. Acts 11:24 Lit added
  18. Acts 11:26 Or were gathered together
  19. Acts 11:28 Or through
  20. Acts 11:28 Lit inhabited earth
  21. Acts 11:28 Lit Which
  22. Acts 11:30 Lit by the hand of