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11 Soon the news reached the apostles and other brothers in Judea that Gentiles also were being converted! But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers argued with him.

“You fellowshiped with Gentiles and even ate with them,” they accused.

Then Peter told them the whole story. “One day in Joppa,” he said, “while I was praying, I saw a vision—a huge sheet, let down by its four corners from the sky. Inside the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds which we are not to eat.[a] And I heard a voice say, ‘Kill and eat whatever you wish.’

“‘Never, Lord,’ I replied. ‘For I have never yet eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws!’

“But the voice came again, ‘Don’t say it isn’t right when God declares it is!’

10 “This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained disappeared into heaven. 11 Just then three men who had come to take me with them to Caesarea arrived at the house where I was staying! 12 The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry about their being Gentiles! These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon arrived at the home of the man who had sent the messengers. 13 He told us how an angel had appeared to him and told him to send messengers to Joppa to find Simon Peter! 14 ‘He will tell you how you and all your household can be saved!’ the angel had told him.

15 “Well, I began telling them the Good News, but just as I was getting started with my sermon, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning! 16 Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘Yes, John baptized with[b] water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 And since it was God who gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to argue?”

18 When the others heard this, all their objections were answered and they began praising God! “Yes,” they said, “God has given to the Gentiles, too, the privilege of turning to him and receiving eternal life!”

19 Meanwhile, the believers who fled from Jerusalem during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, scattering the Good News, but only to Jews. 20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene also gave their message about the Lord Jesus to some Greeks. 21 And the Lord honored this effort so that large numbers of these Gentiles became believers.

22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to help the new converts. 23 When he arrived and saw the wonderful things God was doing, he was filled with excitement and joy, and encouraged the believers to stay close to the Lord, whatever the cost. 24 Barnabas was a kindly person, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. As a result, large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to hunt for Paul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch; and both of them stayed there for a full year teaching the many new converts. (It was there at Antioch that the believers were first called “Christians.”)

27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch, 28 and one of them, named Agabus, stood up in one of the meetings to predict by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the land of Israel.[c] (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) 29 So the believers decided to send relief to the Christians in Judea, each giving as much as he could. 30 This they did, consigning their gifts to Barnabas and Paul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 11:6 which we are not to eat, implied.
  2. Acts 11:16 baptized with, or “baptized in.”
  3. Acts 11:28 upon the land of Israel, literally, “upon the earth.”

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. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, (A)those of the circumcision contended with him, saying, (B)“You went in to uncircumcised men (C)and ate with them!”

But Peter explained it to them (D)in order from the beginning, saying: (E)“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ 10 Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12 Then (F)the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover (G)these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 (H)And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, (I)as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, (J)‘John indeed baptized with water, but (K)you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 (L)If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, (M)who was I that I could withstand God?”

18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, (N)“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Barnabas and Saul at Antioch

19 (O)Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to (P)the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And (Q)the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and (R)turned to the Lord.

22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out (S)Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and (T)encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, (U)full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. (V)And a great many people were added to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas departed for (W)Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Relief to Judea

27 And in these days (X)prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named (Y)Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of (Z)Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send (AA)relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 (AB)This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Informe de Pedro

11 Los apóstoles y los hermanos(A) que estaban por toda Judea oyeron que también los gentiles habían recibido la palabra de Dios. Cuando Pedro subió a Jerusalén, los que eran de la circuncisión[a](B) le reprocharon: «Tú entraste en casa de incircuncisos y comiste con ellos(C)».

Entonces Pedro comenzó a explicarles en orden lo sucedido(D): «Estaba yo en la ciudad de Jope orando(E), y vi en éxtasis una visión(F): un objeto[b] semejante a un gran lienzo que descendía, bajado del cielo por las cuatro puntas, y vino hasta mí. Cuando fijé mis ojos en él y lo observaba, vi[c] cuadrúpedos terrestres, fieras, reptiles y aves del cielo. También oí una voz que me decía: “Levántate Pedro, mata[d] y come”. Pero yo dije: “De ninguna manera, Señor, porque nada impuro[e] o inmundo ha entrado jamás en mi boca”. Pero una voz del cielo respondió por segunda vez: “Lo que Dios ha limpiado, no lo llames tú impuro[f](G)”. 10 Esto sucedió tres veces, y todo volvió a ser llevado arriba al cielo.

11 »En aquel momento se aparecieron tres hombres delante de la casa donde estábamos, los cuales habían sido enviados a mí desde Cesarea(H). 12 Y el Espíritu Santo me dijo que fuera con ellos(I) sin dudar[g](J). Estos seis hermanos fueron también conmigo(K) y entramos en la casa de aquel hombre. 13 Y él nos contó cómo había visto al ángel de pie en su casa, el cual le dijo[h]: “Envía unos hombres a Jope y haz traer a Simón, que también se llama Pedro, 14 quien te dirá palabras(L) por las cuales serás salvo, tú y toda tu casa(M)”.

15 »Cuando comencé a hablar, el Espíritu Santo descendió[i] sobre ellos(N), tal como lo hizo sobre nosotros al principio(O). 16 Entonces me acordé de las palabras del Señor, cuando[j] dijo: “Juan bautizó con agua, pero ustedes serán bautizados con[k]el Espíritu Santo(P)”. 17 Por tanto, si Dios les dio a ellos el mismo don que también nos dio a nosotros(Q) después de creer en el Señor Jesucristo, ¿quién era yo para poder impedírselo a Dios[l](R)?».

18 Al oír esto se calmaron, y glorificaron a Dios(S), diciendo: «Así que también a los gentiles ha concedido Dios el arrepentimiento que conduce a la vida(T)».

La iglesia en Antioquía

19 Ahora bien, los que habían sido esparcidos a causa de la persecución que sobrevino después de la muerte de Esteban(U), llegaron hasta Fenicia(V), Chipre(W) y Antioquía(X), no hablando la palabra a nadie, sino solo a los judíos. 20 Pero había algunos de ellos, hombres de Chipre(Y) y de Cirene(Z), los cuales al llegar a Antioquía(AA), hablaban también a los griegos[m](AB), predicando el evangelio del Señor Jesús(AC). 21 La mano del Señor estaba con ellos(AD), y gran número que creyó(AE) se convirtió al Señor.

22 La noticia[n] de esto llegó a[o] oídos de la iglesia de Jerusalén y enviaron a Bernabé(AF) a[p] Antioquía(AG), 23 el cual, cuando vino y vio la gracia de Dios(AH), se regocijó y animaba a todos para que con corazón firme[q] permanecieran fieles al Señor; 24 porque era un hombre bueno, y lleno del Espíritu Santo(AI) y de fe. Y una gran multitud fue agregada al Señor(AJ).

25 Bernabé salió rumbo a Tarso(AK) para buscar a Saulo; 26 y cuando lo encontró, lo trajo a Antioquía(AL). Y se reunieron con la iglesia por todo un año, y enseñaban a las multitudes[r]; y a los discípulos(AM) se les llamó cristianos(AN) por primera vez en Antioquía.

27 Por aquellos[s] días unos profetas(AO) descendieron de Jerusalén a Antioquía(AP). 28 Y levantándose uno de ellos, llamado Agabo(AQ), daba a entender por el Espíritu Santo, que ciertamente habría una gran hambre en toda la tierra[t](AR). Y esto ocurrió durante el reinado del emperador Claudio(AS).

29 Los discípulos(AT), conforme a lo que cada uno tenía, determinaron enviar una ayuda a los hermanos que habitaban en Judea(AU). 30 Y así lo hicieron, mandándola a los ancianos(AV) por mano de Bernabé(AW) y de Saulo(AX).

Footnotes

  1. 11:2 Lit. judíos cristianos.
  2. 11:5 O receptáculo.
  3. 11:6 Lit. y vi.
  4. 11:7 O sacrifica.
  5. 11:8 O no santo; lit. común.
  6. 11:9 O no santo; lit. común.
  7. 11:12 O sin hacer ninguna distinción.
  8. 11:13 Lit. y diciendo.
  9. 11:15 Lit. cayó.
  10. 11:16 Lit. cómo.
  11. 11:16 O en.
  12. 11:17 O impedir a Dios.
  13. 11:20 Muchos mss. dicen: helenistas.
  14. 11:22 Lit. palabra.
  15. 11:22 Lit. se oyó en los.
  16. 11:22 Lit. hasta.
  17. 11:23 Lit. con propósito de corazón.
  18. 11:26 Lit. una gran multitud.
  19. 11:27 Lit. En estos.
  20. 11:28 Lit. la tierra habitada.