Add parallel Print Page Options

11 Now the Apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

And when Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision examined him,

saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and have eaten with them.”

Then Peter began expounding it in order to them, saying,

“I was in the city of Joppa, praying. And while in a trance, I saw this vision: a certain vessel, coming down as a great sheet, let down from Heaven by the four corners. And it came to me.

“When I had fastened my eyes on it, I considered, and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and birds of the heaven.

“Also I heard a voice, saying to me, ‘Arise, Peter. Kill and eat.’

“And I said, ‘Absolutely not, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’

“But the voice answered me a second time from the sky, ‘The things that God has purified, do not make common.’

10 “And this was done three times, and all were taken up again into the sky.

11 “Then behold, immediately there were three men who had already come to the house where I was, sent to me from Caesarea.

12 “And the Spirit said to me that I should go with them, without doubting. Moreover, these six brothers came with me. And we entered into the man’s house.

13 “And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.

14 ‘He shall speak words to you, whereby both you and all your house shall be saved.’

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

16 “Then I remembered the word of the Lord. How He said, ‘John baptized with water. But you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.’

17 “If, then, God gave them a similar gift to the one He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?”

18 When they heard these things, they kept silent, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted repentance unto life to the Gentiles.”

19 And those who were scattered because of the affliction which arose about Stephen, passed through until they came to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to no one except the Jews.

20 Now some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come into Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, and preached the Lord Jesus.

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, so that a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

22 Then, word of those things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas, to go as far as Antioch;

23 who, when he had come and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and encouraged all to continue in the Lord with purpose of heart.

24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and faith. And many people joined themselves to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas left for Tarsus to seek Paul.

26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it so happened that they met with the church a whole year and taught many people. And the disciples were first called “Christians” in Antioch.

27 In those days, Prophets also came from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28 And one named Agabus stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be great famine throughout all the world (which also happened under Claudius Caesar).

29 Then the disciples, everyone according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who dwelt in Judea;

30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

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