⁷ And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: ^(A)“Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

⁷ But on the contrary, ^(A)when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised ^(B)had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter ⁸ (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the ^(C)circumcised ^(D)also ^(E)worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), ⁹ and when James, ^[a]Cephas, and John, who seemed to be ^(F)pillars, perceived ^(G)the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, ^(H)that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

¹⁸ But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:

² Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that ^(A)Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

⁴ However the Lord God of Israel ^(A)chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for He has chosen ^(B)Judah to be the ruler. And of the house of Judah, ^(C)the house of my father, and ^(D)among the sons of my father, He was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel. ^5 (E)And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) ^(F)He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.

^24 [a]But ^(A)none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, ^(B)so that I may finish my ^[b]race with joy, ^(C)and the ministry ^(D)which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

³² Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. ^[a]When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³ So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

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 ^[b]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. ³⁹ And we are ^(J)witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom ^[c]they ^(K)killed by hanging on a tree. ⁴⁰ Him ^(L)God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, ^41 (M)not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us ^(N)who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. ⁴² And ^(O)He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify ^(P)that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge ^(Q)of the living and the dead. ^43 (R)To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, ^(S)whoever believes in Him will receive ^(T)remission^[d] of sins.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, ^(U)the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ^45 (V)And ^[e]those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, ^(W)because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit ^(X)just as we have?” ^48 (Y)And he commanded them to be baptized ^(Z)in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

^20 (A)Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

¹⁴ Do all things ^(A)without ^[a]complaining and ^(B)disputing,^[b]