Acts 11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Peter’s Report to the Church at Jerusalem
11 Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were in Judea heard that the gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers[a] criticized him,(A) 3 saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?”(B) 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners, and it came close to me.(C) 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. 11 At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.[b] These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.(D) 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter;(E) 14 he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning.(F) 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’(G) 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?”(H) 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”(I)
The Church in Antioch
19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews.(J) 20 But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists[c] also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus.(K) 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.(L) 22 News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion,(M) 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord.(N) 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,(O) 26 and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”(P)
27 At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.(Q) 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world, and this took place during the reign of Claudius.(R) 29 The disciples determined that, according to their ability, each would send relief to the brothers and sisters living in Judea;(S) 30 this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.(T)
Acts 11
New American Standard Bible
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. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, [a](B)the Jewish believers took issue with him, 3 saying, “(C)You [b]went to [c]uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained at length to them (D)in an orderly sequence, saying, 5 “(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, 6 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. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; [f]kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing [g]unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 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
- Acts 11:2 Lit those from the circumcision
- Acts 11:3 Or entered the house of
- Acts 11:3 I.e., Gentiles
- Acts 11:5 Or vessel
- Acts 11:6 Or reptiles
- Acts 11:7 Or sacrifice
- Acts 11:8 Or profane; lit common
- Acts 11:9 Lit make common
- Acts 11:12 Or making any distinction
- Acts 11:13 Or after he had stood in his house and said
- Acts 11:16 Or in
- Acts 11:17 Lit prevent God
- Acts 11:18 Lit became silent
- Acts 11:19 Lit tribulation
- Acts 11:19 Lit as far as
- Acts 11:20 Lit Hellenists; people who lived by Greek customs and culture
- Acts 11:22 Lit word
- Acts 11:22 Lit was heard in
- Acts 11:22 Lit as far as
- Acts 11:23 Lit saw
- Acts 11:23 Lit purpose of heart
- Acts 11:24 Lit a considerable crowd was
- Acts 11:26 Or were gathered together
- Acts 11:26 Lit a considerable crowd
- Acts 11:27 Lit in these days
- Acts 11:28 I.e., a prophetic communication of some kind
- Acts 11:28 Or through
- Acts 11:28 Lit inhabited earth
- Acts 11:28 Lit which took place
- Acts 11:29 Lit service
- Acts 11:30 Lit by the hand of
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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