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.

1And the apostles and brethren, who were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

2And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

3Saying: Why didst thou go in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them?

4But Peter began and declared to them the matter in order, saying:

5I was in the city of Joppe praying, and I saw in an ecstasy of mind 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.

6Into which looking, I considered, and saw fourfooted creatures of the earth, and beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air:

7And I heard also a voice saying to me: Arise, Peter; kill and eat.

8And I said: Not so, Lord; for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.

9And the voice answered again from heaven: What God hath made clean, do not thou call common.

10And this was done three times: and all were taken up again into heaven.

11And behold, immediately there were three men come to the house wherein I was, sent to me from Caesarea.

12And the Spirit said to me, that I should go with them, nothing doubting. And these six brethren went with me also: and we entered into the man’s house.

13And he told us how he had seen an angel in his house, standing, and saying to him: Send to Joppe, and call hither Simon, who is surnamed Peter,

14Who shall speak to thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, and all thy house.

15And when I had begun to speak, the Holy Ghost fell upon them, as upon us also in the beginning.

16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said: John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

17If then God gave them the same grace, as to us also who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; who was I, that could withstand God?

18Having heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying: God then hath also to the Gentiles given repentance unto life.

19Now they who had been dispersed by the persecution that arose on occasion of Stephen, went about as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none, but to the Jews only.

20But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were entered into Antioch, spoke also to the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believing, were converted to the Lord.

22And the tidings came to the ears of the church that was at Jerusalem, touching these things: and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.

23Who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, rejoiced: and he exhorted them all with purpose of heart to continue in the Lord.

24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

25And Barnabas went to Tarsus to seek Saul: whom, when he had found, he brought to Antioch.

26And they conversed there in the church a whole year; and they taught a great multitude, so that at Antioch the disciples were first named Christians.

27And in these days there came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch:

28And one of them named Agabus, rising up, signified by the Spirit, that there should be a great famine over the whole world, which came to pass under Claudius.

29And the disciples, every man according to his ability, purposed to send relief to the brethren who dwelt in Judea:

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