Acts 11

¹ Now the apostles and the brethren who are of Judea hear that the nations also receive the word of God. ² Now when Peter went up into Jerusalem, those of the Circumcision doubted him, ³ saying that "You entered to men having uncircumcision, and you ate with them!" ⁴ Now Peter begins and expounded it to them consecutively, ⁵ saying, "I was in the city of Joppa, praying; and I perceived, in an ecstasy, a vision, a certain utensil descending, as a large sheet with four edges, being let down out of heaven; and it came as far as me. ⁶ Into which, looking intently, I considered and perceived the quadrupeds of the earth and the wild beasts and the reptiles and the flying creatures of heaven. ⁷ Now I hear a voice also, saying to me, 'Rise, Peter! Sacrifice and eat!' ⁸ Yet I said, 'Far be it from me, Lord, for a thing contaminating or unclean never entered into my mouth!' ⁹ Yet the voice answered a second time out of heaven, 'What God cleanses, do not you count contaminating!' ¹⁰ Now this occurred thrice, and it is all pulled up again into heaven. ¹¹ And lo! forthwith three men stand by at the house in which we were, having been dispatched from Caesarea to me. ¹² Now the spirit said to me to come together with them, nothing doubting. Now these six brethren also came with me, and we entered into the man's house. ¹³ Now he reports to us how he perceived the messenger, standing in his house and saying, 'Dispatch to Joppa and send after Simon, who is surnamed Peter, ¹⁴ who will be speaking declarations to you by which you shall be saved, you and your entire house.' ¹⁵ Now as I begin to speak, the holy spirit falls on them, even as on us also in the beginning. ¹⁶ Now I am reminded of the declaration of the Lord, as He said that 'John, indeed, baptizes in water, yet you shall be baptized in holy spirit.' ¹⁷ If, then, God gives them the equal gratuity as to us also, when believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I - able to forbid God?" ¹⁸ Now, on hearing these things, they are quiet, and glorify God, saying, "Consequently, to the nations also God gives repentance unto life!" ¹⁹ Those indeed, then, who are dispersed from the affliction which is occurring over Stephen, passed through as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only. ²⁰ Now some of them were the Cyprian men and Cyrenians, who, coming into Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, evangelizing to them the Lord Jesus. ²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them. Besides, a vast number who believe turn back to the Lord. ²² Now the account concerning them is heard in the ears of the ecclesia which is in Jerusalem, and they delegate Barnabas to Antioch, ²³ who, coming along and perceiving the grace of God, rejoiced and entreated all with purpose of heart to be remaining in the Lord - ²⁴ for he was a good man and full of holy spirit and faith. And a considerable throng was added to the Lord. ²⁵ Now he came away to Tarsus to hunt Saul, ²⁶ and finding him, he led him to Antioch. Now it came that they are gathered a whole year, also, in the ecclesia, and teach a considerable throng. Besides, in Antioch first, the disciples are styled 'Christians.' ²⁷ Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ Now one of them, named Agabus, rising, signifies through the spirit, the great famine which is about to be on the whole inhabited earth, which occurred under Claudius. ²⁹ Now according as any of the disciples thrived, each of them designate something to send to the brethren dwelling in Judea, for dispensing; ³⁰ which they do also, dispatching to the elders through the hand of Barnabas and Saul.