Acts 11
Worldwide English (New Testament)
11 The apostles and other Christian brothers were in Judea. They heard that some people who were not Jews had also believed God's message.
2 When Peter went back to Jerusalem, the leaders of the Jews found fault with him.
3 They asked, `Why did you visit people who are not Jews? Why did you eat with them?'
4 Peter explained to them all that had happened from the beginning.
5 `I was in the city of Joppa talking with God,' he said. `Something like a dream came over me. I saw a vision. I saw a bundle like a big blanket tied by the corners. It was let down from the sky. It came down to me.
6 When I looked at it, I wondered about it. I saw different kinds of tame animals, wild animals, snakes, and birds.
7 And I heard a voice say to me, "Get up, Peter. Kill some and eat."
8 But I said, "No, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is not holy or clean."
9 Then the voice spoke from the sky a second time, saying, "What God has made clean, you must not call unholy."
10 This happened three times. Then everything was taken up into the sky again.
11 Right then three men came to the house where we were. They had come from Caesarea for me.
12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to fear. These six brothers went with me too. We went into the man's house.
13 He told us that he had seen God's angel standing in his house. The angel said to him, "Send men to Joppa to call Simon whose other name is Peter.
14 He will tell you and all your family how to be saved."
15 And when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them just as he had come on us at the beginning.
16 Then I remembered that the Lord said, "John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit."
17 God gave then the same gift as he gave to us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. If God gave them this gift, how could I stop him? I am only a man.'
18 When the people heard this, they were satisfied. They praised God saying, `God has allowed the people who are not Jews to turn to him and live.'
19 Some of the people had gone to other countries because of the big trouble when Stephen was killed. They went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They told God's word to the Jews only.
20 Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene. They went to Antioch. They also spoke to those who were not Jews, and they told them about the Lord Jesus.
21 The Lord was with them. Many believed and turned to the Lord.
22 The people in the Jerusalem church heard this news. They sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
23 When he reached there, he saw what had been done by the power of God. He was very glad. He talked to them. He begged them all to keep on following the Lord with all their heart.
24 Barnabas was a good man. He believed in God and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Many people came to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to get Saul.
26 When he found him, he took him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with all who believed in Jesus Christ. They taught many people. Antioch was the first place where the disciples were called Christians.
27 At that time, prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 One of them named Agabus stood up. He told them the Spirit had shown him that much trouble would come to all the world. There would not be much food for the people. (This trouble came when Claudius Caesar was ruler.)
29 Then the disciples decided to help the Christian brothers who lived in Judea. They would each one send what he could.
30 They did so. They sent Barnabas and Saul to carry it to the church leaders [in Jerusalem].
Acts 11
New King James Version
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. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, (A)those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, (B)“You went in to uncircumcised men (C)and ate with them!”
4 But Peter explained it to them (D)in order from the beginning, saying: 5 (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. 6 When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ 9 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.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
