brothers*1 who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had
also received the word of God. 2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem,
those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, “You went
in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!”
4 But 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. 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. 7 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.’ 9 But a voice
answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t
you call unclean.’ 10 This was done three times, and all were drawn up
again into heaven. 11 Behold, immediately three men stood before the house
where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to 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. 13 He told us how he had seen the
angel standing in his house, and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa, and get
Simon, whose surname is Peter, 14 who will speak to you words by which you
will be saved, you and all your house.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy
Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. 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.’ 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?”
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!”
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. 20 But there were some of them, men of
Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks,
preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a
great number 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, 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. 24 For he was a good man, and full of
the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.
25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he had found
him, he brought him to Antioch. It happened, that for a whole year they were
gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples
were first called Christians in Antioch.
27 Now in these days, 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. 29 As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined
to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; 30 which they also did,
sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
1 The word for “brothers”
here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and
sisters” or “siblings.”
World English Bible - Public Domain