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
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
King James Version
11 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
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