Acts 11

1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

Now the Apostles, and the brethren in various parts of Judaea, heard that the Gentiles also had received God's Message;

2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,

and, when Peter returned to Jerusalem, the champions of circumcision found fault with him.

3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”

"You went into the houses of men who are not Jews," they said, "and you ate with them."

4 But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,

Peter, however, explained the whole matter to them from the beginning.

5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.

"While I was in the town of Jaffa, offering prayer," he said, "in a trance I saw a vision. There descended what seemed to be an enormous sail, being let down from the sky by ropes at the four corners, and it came close to me.

6 When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky.

Fixing my eyes on it, I examined it closely, and saw various kinds of quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles and birds.

7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’

I also heard a voice saying to me, "'Rise, Peter, kill and eat.'

8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’

"'On no account, Lord,' I replied, 'for nothing unholy or impure has ever gone into my mouth.'

9 But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’

"But a voice answered, speaking a second time from the sky, "'What God has purified, you must not regard as unholy.'

10 This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.

"This was said three times, and then everything was drawn up again out of sight.

11 Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.

"Now at that very moment three men came to the house where we were, having been sent from Caesarea to find me.

12 The Spirit told me to go with them without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house.

And the Spirit told me to accompany them without any misgivings. There also went with me these six brethren who are now present, and we reached the Centurion's house.

13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa and get Simon, who is called Peter,

Then he described to us how he had seen the angel come and enter his house and say, "'Send to Jaffa and fetch Simon, surnamed Peter.

14 who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’

He will teach you truths by which you and all your family will be saved.'"

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

"And," said Peter, "no sooner had I begun to speak than the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He fell upon us at the first.

16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’

Then I remembered the Lord's words, how He used to say, "'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'

17 If then God gave to them the same gift as us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?”

"If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, why, who was I to be able to thwart God?"

18 When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”

This statement of Peter's silenced his opponents. They extolled the goodness of God, and said, "So, then, to the Gentiles also God has given the repentance which leads to Life."

19 They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.

Those, however, who had been driven in various directions by the persecution which broke out on account of Stephen made their way to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, delivering the Message to none but Jews.

20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.

But some of them were Cyprians and Cyrenaeans, who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks also and told them the Good News concerning the Lord Jesus.

21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

The power of the Lord was with them, and there were a vast number who believed and turned to the Lord.

22 The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch,

When tidings of this reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.

23 who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.

On getting there he was delighted to see the grace which God had bestowed; and he encouraged them all to remain, with fixed resolve, faithful to the Lord.

24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.

For he was a good man, and was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith; and the number of believers in the Lord greatly increased.

25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.

Then Barnabas paid a visit to Tarsus to try to find Saul.

26 When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

He succeeded, and brought him to Antioch; and for a whole year they attended the meetings of the Church, and taught a large number of people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples first received the name of 'Christians.'

27 Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

At that time certain Prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch,

28 One of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.

one of whom, named Agabus, being instructed by the Spirit, publicly predicted the speedy coming of a great famine throughout the world. (It came in the reign of Claudius.)

29 As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;

So the disciples decided to send relief, every one in proportion to his means, to the brethren living in Judaea.

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

This they did, forwarding their contributions to the Elders by Barnabas and Saul.