彼得的解釋

11 使徒和猶太全境的弟兄姊妹都聽說外族人接受了上帝的道。 彼得一回到耶路撒冷,嚴守割禮的門徒就指責他: 「你竟然去未受割禮之人的家,還和他們一同吃飯!」

彼得就把事情的經過一一向他們解釋,說: 「我在約帕城禱告的時候,看見一個異象,有一大塊像布的東西四個角吊著從天上降到我面前。 我定睛一看,裡面有牲畜、野獸、爬蟲和飛禽。 接著,我聽見有聲音對我說,『彼得,起來,宰了吃!』 我說,『主啊,這可不行!我從未吃過任何污穢不潔之物!』 那從天上來的聲音又說,『上帝已經潔淨的,你不可再稱之為不潔淨。』 10 這樣一連三次,然後一切都被收回天上去了。 11 就在那時候,有三個從凱撒利亞來的人到我住處的門口來找我。 12 聖靈吩咐我跟他們同去,不要猶豫。就這樣,我和這六位弟兄一同到了哥尼流家。 13 他告訴我們天使如何在他家中向他顯現,並對他說,『你派人去約帕,請一位名叫西門·彼得的人來。 14 他有話告訴你,能使你和你的全家得救。』

15 「我開口講話時,聖靈降在他們身上,跟當初降在我們身上的情形一模一樣。 16 我就想起主的話,『約翰用水施洗,但你們要受聖靈的洗禮。』 17 既然上帝給他們恩賜,就如我們信主耶穌基督時給我們一樣,我是誰,怎能攔阻上帝?」 18 大家聽了便安靜下來,轉而歸榮耀給上帝,說:「如此看來,上帝把悔改得永生的機會也賜給了外族人。」

安提阿的教會

19 司提凡殉道後,信徒們因受迫害而四散到各處,遠至腓尼基、塞浦路斯和安提阿,他們只向那裡的猶太人傳福音。 20 不過,有些塞浦路斯和古利奈的信徒到了安提阿之後,也向希臘人傳講主耶穌的福音。 21 上帝的能力伴隨著他們,有許多人信了主。

22 耶路撒冷教會的人聽到這消息後,就派巴拿巴去安提阿。 23 他到達後,看見上帝所賜的恩典,就萬分高興,勸勉他們要全心地忠於主。

24 巴拿巴是個被聖靈充滿、信心堅定的好人。那時信主的人大大增加。 25 他又到大數去找掃羅, 26 找到後,便帶他回安提阿。他們在教會待了一年之久,教導了許多人。門徒被稱為「基督徒」就是從安提阿開始的。

27 當時,有幾位先知從耶路撒冷下到安提阿。 28 其中一位名叫亞迦布,他得到聖靈的啟示,站起來預言天下將有嚴重的饑荒。後來,這事果然在克勞狄執政期間發生了。 29 門徒決定各盡所能,捐款救濟住在猶太境內的弟兄姊妹。 30 他們捐完後,委託巴拿巴和掃羅將款項送交耶路撒冷教會的長老。

Peter Returns to Jerusalem

11 The apostles and the believers in Judea heard that non-Jewish people had accepted God’s teaching too. But when Peter came to Jerusalem, some Jewish believers argued with him. They said, “You went into the homes of people who are not Jews and are not circumcised! You even ate with them!”

So Peter explained the whole story to them. He said, “I was in the city of Joppa. While I was praying, I had a vision. In the vision, I saw something which looked like a big sheet coming down from heaven. It was being lowered to earth by its four corners. It came down very close to me, and I looked inside it. I saw animals, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds. I heard a voice say to me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘No, Lord! I have never eaten anything that is unholy or unclean.’ But the voice from heaven answered again, ‘God has made these things clean. Don’t call them unholy!’ 10 This happened three times. Then the whole thing was taken back to heaven. 11 Right then three men came to the house where I was staying. They were sent to me from Caesarea. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them without doubting. These six believers here also went with me. We went to the house of Cornelius. 13 He told us about the angel he saw standing in his house. The angel said to him, ‘Send some men to Joppa and invite Simon Peter to come. 14 He will speak to you. The things he will say will save you and all your family.’ 15 When I began my speech, the Holy Spirit came on them just as he came on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the words of the Lord. He said, ‘John baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit!’ 17 God gave to them the same gift that he gave to us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. So could I stop the work of God? No!”

18 When the Jewish believers heard this, they stopped arguing. They praised God and said, “So God is allowing the non-Jewish people also to turn to him and live.”

The Good News Comes to Antioch

19 Many of the believers were scattered by the terrible things that happened after Stephen was killed. Some of them went to places as far away as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They were telling the message to others, but only to Jews. 20 Some of these believers were men from Cyprus and Cyrene. When they came to Antioch, they spoke also to Greeks,[a] telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord was helping the believers. And a large group of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22 The church in Jerusalem heard about all of this, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23-24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith. When he reached Antioch and saw how God had blessed the people, he was glad. He encouraged all the believers in Antioch. He told them, “Never lose your faith. Always obey the Lord with all your hearts.” Many people became followers of the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found Saul, he brought him to Antioch. And for a whole year Saul and Barnabas met with the church. They taught many people there. In Antioch the followers were called Christians for the first time.

27 About that time some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them was named Agabus. He stood up and spoke with the help of the Holy Spirit. He said, “A very hard time is coming to the whole world. There will be no food for people to eat.” (This happened when Claudius ruled.) 29 The followers all decided to help their brothers who lived in Judea. Each one planned to send them as much as he could. 30 They gathered the money and gave it to Barnabas and Saul, who brought it to the elders in Judea.

Footnotes

  1. 11:20 Greeks Some Greek copies read “Hellenists,” non-Greeks who spoke Greek.

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.