Peter Defends God’s Grace

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

Glorify God Together

⁷ Therefore ^(A)receive one another, just ^(B)as Christ also received ^[a]us, to the glory of God. ⁸ Now I say that ^(C)Jesus Christ has become a ^[b]servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, ^(D)to confirm the promises made to the fathers, ⁹ and ^(E)that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:

¹⁰ And again he says:

¹¹ And again:

¹² And again, Isaiah says:

¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Contacts at Jerusalem^(A)

¹⁸ Then after three years ^(B)I went up to Jerusalem to see ^[a]Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But ^(C)I saw none of the other apostles except ^(D)James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

^21 (E)Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which ^(F)were in Christ.

³ So, ^(A)being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, ^(B)describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.

²⁷ Now when they had come and gathered the church together, ^(A)they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had ^(B)opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Preaching to Cornelius’ Household

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ^(A)“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵ But ^(B)in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is ^(C)accepted by Him. ³⁶ The word which God sent to the ^[a]children of Israel, ^(D)preaching peace through Jesus Christ—^(E)He is Lord of all— ³⁷ that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and ^(F)began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how ^(G)God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who ^(H)went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, ^(I)for God was with Him.

The Sorcerer’s Sin

¹⁴ Now when the ^(A)apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, ¹⁵ who, when they had come down, prayed for them ^(B)that they might receive the Holy Spirit.