Acts

Peter’s Report at Jerusalem

1The apostles and brothers throughout Judea soon heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believerstook issue with him

3and said, “You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

4But Peter began and explained to them the whole sequence of events:

5“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.

6I looked at it closely and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air.

7Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter, kill and eat.’

8‘No, Lord,’ I said, ‘for nothing impureor unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

9But the voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’

10This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven.

11Just then three men sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying.

12The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s home.

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

14He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’

15As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He had fallen upon us at the beginning.

16Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

17So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?”

18When they heard this, they had no further objections, and they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

The Church at Antioch

19Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.

20But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeksas well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.

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

22When news of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

23When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to abide in the Lord with all their hearts.

24Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,

26and when he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. So for a full year they met together with the church and taught large numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

27In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world.(This happened under Claudius.)

29So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

30This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.

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

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

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

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

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.

6When 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

13He 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,

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

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

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

17If 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?”

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

19They 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.

20But 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.

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

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

23who, 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.

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

25Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.

26When 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.

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

28One 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.

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

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