Acts 11

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

The apostles and the followers throughout Judea heard that even the Gentiles had welcomed God’s message.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

‘I was in the town of Joppa,’ 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.

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.

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

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

and I also heard a voice saying to me – “Stand up, Peter, kill something and eat.”

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

“No, Lord, I cannot,” I answered, “for nothing defiled or unclean has ever passed my lips.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and how the angel had said to him – “Send to Joppa and fetch the Simon, who is also known as Peter;

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

for he will tell you truths, which will prove the means of salvation to you and all your household.”

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

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

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

and I recalled the saying of the Master – “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

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

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?’

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!”

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!’

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

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

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

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.

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, so that a great number who had learned to believe came over to the Lord’s side.

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,

The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to 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 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 –

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 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.

25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.

Afterwards Barnabas left for Tarsus to look for 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 Messianic in Antioch.

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.”

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

During this time, some prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem.

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 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.

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

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

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

And this they did, sending it to the church elders by Barnabas and Saul.