Acts 11
11
Peter Explains His Actions
1The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
4Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8“I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9“The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
11“Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’
15“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with#11:16 Or in water, but you will be baptized with#11:16 Or in 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 think that I could stand in God’s way?”
18When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
The Church in Antioch
19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
22News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He 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 to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
27During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Acts 11
11
Peter Defends God’s Grace
1Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, #Acts 10:45those of the circumcision contended with him, 3saying, #Matt. 9:11; Acts 10:28“You went in to uncircumcised men #Gal. 2:12and ate with them!”
4But Peter explained it to them #Luke 1:3in order from the beginning, saying: 5#Acts 10:9“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ 9But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ 10Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12Then #(John 16:13); Acts 10:19; 15:7the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover #Acts 10:23these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13#Acts 10:30And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, #Acts 2:1–4; 15:7–9as upon us at the beginning. 16Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, #Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; John 1:26, 33; Acts 1:5; 19:4‘John indeed baptized with water, but #Is. 44:3you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17#(Acts 15:8, 9)If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, #Acts 10:47who was I that I could withstand God?”
18When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, #Is. 42:1, 6; 49:6; Luke 2:32; John 11:52; Rom. 10:12, 13; 15:9, 16“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
Barnabas and Saul at Antioch
19#Acts 8:1, 4Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to #Acts 6:1; 9:29the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21And #Luke 1:66; Acts 2:47the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and #Acts 9:35; 14:1turned to the Lord.
22Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out #Acts 4:36; 9:27Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and #Acts 13:43; 14:22encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24For he was a good man, #Acts 6:5full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. #Acts 5:14; 11:21And a great many people were added to the Lord.
25Then Barnabas departed for #Acts 9:11, 30Tarsus to seek Saul. 26And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Relief to Judea
27And in these days #Acts 2:17; 13:1; 15:32; 21:9; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28Then one of them, named #John 16:13; Acts 21:10Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of #Acts 18:2Claudius Caesar. 29Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send #Rom. 15:26; 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 9:1relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30#Acts 12:25This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.