Acts 11
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Gentile Salvation Defended
11 The apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had welcomed God’s message also. 2 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who stressed circumcision[a] argued with him,(A) 3 saying, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them!”(B)
4 Peter began to explain to them in an orderly sequence, saying: 5 “I(C) was in the town of Joppa praying, and I saw, in a visionary state, an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it came to me. 6 When I looked closely and considered it, I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky. 7 Then I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat!’
8 “‘No, Lord!’ I said. ‘For nothing common or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth!’ 9 But a voice answered from heaven a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call common.’
10 “Now this happened three times, and then everything was drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were. 12 Then the Spirit told me to accompany them with no doubts at all. These six brothers accompanied me, and we went into the man’s house.(D) 13 He reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send[b] to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 14 He will speak a message[c] to you that you and all your household(E) will be saved by.’
15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as on us at the beginning.(F) 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’(G) 17 Therefore, if God gave them the same gift that He also gave to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?”(H)
18 When they heard this they became silent. Then they glorified God, saying, “So God has granted repentance resulting in life[d] even to the Gentiles!”(I)
The Church in Antioch
19 Those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch,(J) speaking the message to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, Cypriot and Cyrenian men, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists,[e][f] proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.(K) 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.(L) 22 Then the report about them was heard by the church that was at Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel[g] as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with a firm resolve of the heart,(M) 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit(N) and of faith. And large numbers of people were added(O) to the Lord. 25 Then he[h] went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples(P) were first called Christians at Antioch.(Q)
Famine Relief
27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.(R) 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world.[i] This took place during the time of Claudius.[j](S) 29 So each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea.(T) 30 They did this, sending it to the elders(U) by means of Barnabas and Saul.
Footnotes
- Acts 11:2 Lit those of the circumcision
- Acts 11:13 Other mss add men
- Acts 11:14 Lit speak words
- Acts 11:18 Or repentance to life
- Acts 11:20 Other mss read Greeks
- Acts 11:20 In this context, a non-Jewish person who spoke Gk
- Acts 11:22 Other mss omit to travel
- Acts 11:25 Other mss read Barnabas
- Acts 11:28 Or the whole world
- Acts 11:28 Emperor a.d. 41–54; there was a famine a.d. 47–48.
Acts 11
English Standard Version
Peter Reports to the Church
11 Now the apostles and (A)the brothers[a] who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, (B)the circumcision party[b] criticized him, saying, 3 (C)“You went to uncircumcised men and (D)ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 (E)“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, (F)making no distinction. (G)These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 (H)he will declare to you a message by which (I)you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, (J)the Holy Spirit fell on them (K)just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, (L)‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then (M)God gave (N)the same gift to them as he gave to us (O)when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, (P)who was I (Q)that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they (R)glorified God, saying, (S)“Then to the Gentiles also God has (T)granted (U)repentance that leads to life.”
The Church in Antioch
19 (V)Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists[c] also, (W)preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And (X)the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed (Y)turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw (Z)the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord (AA)with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, (AB)full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people (AC)were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to (AD)Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called (AE)Christians.
27 Now in these days (AF)prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named (AG)Agabus stood up and foretold (AH)by the Spirit that there would be a great (AI)famine over all the world (this took place in the days of (AJ)Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, (AK)to send relief to (AL)the brothers[d] living in Judea. 30 (AM)And they did so, sending it to (AN)the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Footnotes
- Acts 11:1 Or brothers and sisters
- Acts 11:2 Or Jerusalem, those of the circumcision
- Acts 11:20 Or Greeks (that is, Greek-speaking non-Jews)
- Acts 11:29 Or brothers and sisters
Acts 11
Young's Literal Translation
11 And the apostles and the brethren who are in Judea heard that also the nations did receive the word of God,
2 and when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision were contending with him,
3 saying -- `Unto men uncircumcised thou didst go in, and didst eat with them!'
4 And Peter having begun, did expound to them in order saying,
5 `I was in the city of Joppa praying, and I saw in a trance a vision, a certain vessel coming down, as a great sheet by four corners being let down out of the heaven, and it came unto me;
6 at which having looked stedfastly, I was considering, and I saw the four-footed beasts of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the fowls of heaven;
7 and I heard a voice saying to me, Having risen, Peter, slay and eat;
8 and I said, Not so, Lord; because anything common or unclean hath at no time entered into my mouth;
9 and a voice did answer me a second time out of the heaven, What God did cleanse, thou -- declare not thou common.
10 `And this happened thrice, and again was all drawn up to the heaven,
11 and, lo, immediately, three men stood at the house in which I was, having been sent from Cesarea unto me,
12 and the Spirit said to me to go with them, nothing doubting, and these six brethren also went with me, and we did enter into the house of the man,
13 he declared also to us how he saw the messenger in his house standing, and saying to him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter,
14 who shall speak sayings by which thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house.
15 `And in my beginning to speak, the Holy Spirit did fall upon them, even as also upon us in the beginning,
16 and I remembered the saying of the Lord, how he said, John indeed did baptize with water, and ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit;
17 if then the equal gift God did give to them as also to us, having believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, I -- how was I able to withstand God?'
18 And they, having heard these things, were silent, and were glorifying God, saying, `Then, indeed, also to the nations did God give the reformation to life.'
19 Those, indeed, therefore, having been scattered abroad, from the tribulation that came after Stephen, went through unto Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none except to Jews only;
20 and there were certain of them men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who having entered into Antioch, were speaking unto the Hellenists, proclaiming good news -- the Lord Jesus,
21 and the hand of the Lord was with them, a great number also, having believed, did turn unto the Lord.
22 And the account was heard in the ears of the assembly that [is] in Jerusalem concerning them, and they sent forth Barnabas to go through unto Antioch,
23 who, having come, and having seen the grace of God, was glad, and was exhorting all with purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord,
24 because he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit, and of faith, and a great multitude was added to the Lord.
25 And Barnabas went forth to Tarsus, to seek for Saul,
26 and having found him, he brought him to Antioch, and it came to pass that they a whole year did assemble together in the assembly, and taught a great multitude, the disciples also were divinely called first in Antioch Christians.
27 And in those days there came from Jerusalem prophets to Antioch,
28 and one of them, by name Agabus, having stood up, did signify through the Spirit a great dearth is about to be throughout all the world -- which also came to pass in the time of Claudius Caesar --
29 and the disciples, according as any one was prospering, determined each of them to send for ministration to the brethren dwelling in Judea,
30 which also they did, having sent unto the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
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