Acts Chapter 11
1 The apostles and family⁺ in Judea soon heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God.
2 So when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,
3 saying: You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them.
4 But Peter reviewed the matter with them from the beginning and explained⁺ it to them in detail⁺ saying:
5 I was in the city of Joppa praying. In a trance I saw a vision of a certain vessel like a great sheet descend, let down from heaven by four corners. It came directly to me.
6 When I fastened my eyes on it, I looked⁺ inside and saw four footed beasts of the Earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds⁺ of the air.
7 Then I heard a voice say to me, Arise, Peter. Slay and eat.
8 But I said: Surely not, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth at any time.
9 But the voice answered again from heaven, saying: What God has cleansed, do not call common.
10 This was done three times. Then everything⁺ was drawn up again into heaven.
11 And behold immediately there were three men who had already come to the house where I was staying, sent from Caesarea to me.
12 The Spirit told me to go with them, not doubting anything. These six brothers also accompanied me and we entered the man's house.
13 He told⁺ us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said to him: Send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose surname is Peter.
14 Peter will tell you words by which you and all your house will be saved.
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as it did upon us at the beginning.
16 Then I remembered the Word of the Lord, that He said: John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
17 Since⁺ God gave them the same⁺ gift as He did to us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they remained silent⁺ and glorified God saying: Then God has also granted repentance to eternal life to the Gentiles.
19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, proclaiming⁺ the Word, but only to the Jews and to no one else.
20 Some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks, proclaiming⁺ the Lord Jesus.
21 The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 Then news⁺ of all this came to the assembly⁺ in Jerusalem and they sent forth Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should be joined⁺ close to the Lord.
24 For Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith and many people were added to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul.
26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch, and it came to pass that for a whole year they joined⁺ with the assembly⁺ of believers there and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first there in Antioch.
27 In these days, prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 One of them named Agabus stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be a great famine⁺ throughout all the world. This soon came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Therefore, the disciples determined that everyone, according to their ability, should send relief to the family⁺ who lived⁺ in Judea.
30 So they did this and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.