1News came to the apostles and the members of the church in Judaea that Gentiles too had accepted the word of God; 2and when Peter came up to Jerusalem those who were of Jewish birth raised the question with him. 3'You have been visiting men who are uncircumcised,' they said, 'and sitting at table with them!' 4Peter began by laying before them the facts as they had happened.
5'I was in the city of Joppa', he said, 'at prayer; and while in a trance I had a vision: a thing was coming down that looked like a great sheet of sail-cloth, slung by the four corners and lowered from the sky till it reached me. 6I looked intently to make out what was in it and I saw four-footed creatures of the earth, wild beasts, and things that crawl or fly. 7Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Up, Peter, kill and eat." 8But I said, "No, Lord, no: nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth." 9A voice from heaven answered a second time, "It is not for you to call profane what God counts clean." 10This happened three times, and then they were all drawn up again into the sky. 11At that moment three men, who had been sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where I was staying; 12and the Spirit told me to go with them. My six companions here came with me and we went into the man's house. 13He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house who said, "Send to Joppa for Simon also called Peter. 14He will speak words that will bring salvation to you and all your household." 15Hardly had I begun speaking, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, just as upon us at the beginning. 16Then I recalled what the Lord had said: "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 17God gave them no less a gift than he gave us when we put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ; then how could I possibly stand in God's way?'
18When they heard this their doubts were silenced. They gave praise to God and said, 'This means that God has granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles also.'
19MEANWHILE THOSE who had been scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen made their way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, bringing the message to Jews only and to no others. 20But there were some natives of Cyprus and Cyrene among them, and these, when they arrived at Antioch, began to speak to Gentiles as well, telling them the good news of the Lord Jesus. 21The power of the Lord was with them, and a great many became believers, and turned to the Lord.
22The news reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem; and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw the divine grace at work, he rejoiced, and encouraged them all to hold fast to the Lord with resolute hearts; 24for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers were won over to the Lord.
25He then went off to Tarsus to look for Saul; 26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year the two of them lived in fellowship with the congregation there, and gave instruction to large numbers. It was in Antioch that the disciples first got the name of Christians.
27During this period some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, Agabus by name, was inspired to stand up and predict a severe and world-wide famine, which in fact occurred in the reign of Claudius. 29So the disciples agreed to make a contribution, each according to his means, for the relief of their fellow-Christians in Judaea. 30This they did, and sent it off to the elders, in the charge of Barnabas and Saul.
| << | Acts:11 | >> |
|---|