Acts 11

1 The Apostles and the Brethren throughout Judea heard that even the Gentiles had welcomed God’s Message.

Now the apostles and the brethren that were in Judæa heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

2 But, when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were converts from Judaism began to attack him,

And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

3 on the ground that he had visited people who were not circumcised, and had taken meals with them.

saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

4 So Peter began to relate the facts to them as they had occurred.

But Peter began, and expounded [the matter] unto them in order, saying,

5 “I was in the town of Jaffa,” he said, “and was praying; and, while in a trance, I saw a vision. There was something like a great sail descending, let down by its four corners out of the heavens; and it came right down to me.

I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even unto me:

6 Looking intently at it, I began to distinguish quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds;

upon which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the heaven.

7 and I also heard a voice saying to me — ‘Stand up, Peter, kill something and eat.’

And I heard also a voice saying unto me, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.

8 ‘No, Lord, I cannot,’ I answered, ‘for nothing ‘defiled’ or ‘unclean’ has ever passed my lips.’

But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.

9 Then a second time there came a voice from the heavens. “What God has pronounced ‘clean’,” it said, “you must not call ‘defiled’.”

But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.

10 This happened three times, and then all was drawn up again into the heavens.

And this was done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11 At that moment three men, who had been sent from Caesarea to see me, came up to the house in which we were.

And behold, forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were, having been sent from Cæsarea unto me.

12 The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six Brothers also went with me. And, when we came into the man’s house,

And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no distinction. And these six brethren also accompanied me; and we entered into the man’s house:

13 he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and how the angel had said to him — ‘Send to Jaffa and fetch the Simon, who is also known as Peter;

and he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, Send to Joppa, and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter;

14 for he will tell you truths, which will prove the means of Salvation to you and all your household.’

who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house.

15 I had but just begun to speak,” continued Peter, “when the Holy Spirit fell on them, exactly as on us at the first;

And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.

16 and I recalled the saying of the Master — ‘John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

17 Since then, God had given them the very same gift as he gave us when we became believers in Jesus Christ the Master — who was I that I could thwart God?”

If then God gave unto them the like gift as [he did] also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?

18 On hearing this statement, they said no more, but broke out into praise of God. “So even to the Gentiles,” they exclaimed, “God has granted the repentance which leads to Life!”

And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.

19 Now those who had been scattered in different directions, in consequence of the persecution that followed upon the death of Stephen, went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the Message — but only to Jews.

They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews.

20 Some of them, however, who were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, on coming to Antioch, addressed themselves also to the Jews of foreign birth, telling them the Good News about that Lord Jesus.

But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21 The power of the Lord was with them, so that a great number who had learned to believe came over to the Lord’s side.

And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord.

22 The news about them reached the ears of the Church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch:

23 On coming there he saw to his great joy these tokens of the loving-kindness of God, and encouraged them all to make up their minds to be faithful to the Lord —

who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord:

24 For Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith — and a large number of people took their stand on the Lord’s side.

for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

25 Afterwards Barnabas left for Tarsus to look for Saul;

And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul;

26 and, when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And so it came about that, for a whole year, they attended the meetings of the Church there, and taught a large number of people; and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’

and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

27 During this time, some Prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem.

Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28 One of them, named Agabus, came forward and, under the influence of the Spirit, foretold a great famine that was to spread over all the world — a famine which occurred in the reign of Claudius.

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.

29 So the disciples, without exception, determined, in proportion to their means, to send something to help the Brethren living in Judea.

And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judæa:

30 And this they did, sending it to the Officers of the Church by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.