1 N ow the apostles (special messengers) and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles (heathen) also had received and accepted and welcomed the Word of God.

Now the apostles and the brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

2 S o when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party found fault with him,

And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

3 S aying, Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?

saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

4 B ut Peter began and narrated and explained to them step by step. He said:

But Peter began, and expounded the matter unto them in order, saying,

5 I was in the town of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision of something coming down from heaven, like a huge sheet lowered by the four corners; and it descended until it came to me.

I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even unto me:

6 G azing intently and closely at it, I observed in it four-footed animals and wild beasts and reptiles of the earth and birds of the air,

upon which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the heaven.

7 A nd I heard a voice saying to me, Get up, Peter; kill and eat.

And I heard also a voice saying unto me, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.

8 B ut I said, No, by no means, Lord; for nothing common or unhallowed or unclean has ever entered my mouth.

But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.

9 B ut the voice answered a second time from heaven, What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not you defile and profane by regarding or calling it common or unhallowed or unclean.

But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.

10 T his occurred three times, and then all was drawn up again into heaven.

And this was done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11 A nd right then the three men sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house in which we were.

And behold, forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were, having been sent from Caesarea unto me.

12 A nd the Spirit instructed me to accompany them without hesitation or misgivings or discrimination. So these six brethren accompanied me also, and we went into the man’s house.

And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no distinction. And these six brethren also accompanied me; and we entered into the man's house:

13 A nd he related to us how he had seen the angel in his house which stood and said to him, Send men to Joppa and bring Simon who is surnamed Peter;

and he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, Send to Joppa, and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter;

14 H e will give and explain to you a message by means of which you and all your household will be saved '> from eternal death].

who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house.

15 W hen I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as He did on us at the beginning.

And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.

16 T hen I recalled the declaration of the Lord, how He said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with ( be placed in, introduced into) the Holy Spirit.

And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

17 I f then God gave to them the same Gift as He gave to us when we believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I and what power or authority had I to interfere or hinder or forbid or withstand God?

If then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?

18 W hen they heard this, they were quieted and made no further objection. And they glorified God, saying, Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life.

And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.

19 M eanwhile those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen had traveled as far away as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, without delivering the message '> the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God] to anyone except Jews.

They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews.

20 B ut there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on returning to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news (the Gospel) about the Lord Jesus.

But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21 A nd the presence of the Lord was with them with power, so that a great number to believe (to adhere to and trust in and rely on the Lord) and turned and surrendered themselves to Him.

And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord.

22 T he rumors of this came to the ears of the church (assembly) in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch:

23 W hen he arrived and saw what grace (favor) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with purpose of heart.

who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord:

24 F or he was a good man '> good in himself and also at once for the good and the advantage of other people], full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit and full of faith (of his belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation). And a large company was added to the Lord.

for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

25 w ent on to Tarsus to hunt for Saul.

And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul;

26 A nd when he had found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year they assembled together with and were guests of the church and instructed a large number of people; and in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people, and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

27 A nd during these days prophets (inspired teachers and interpreters of the divine will and purpose) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28 A nd one of them named Agabus stood up and prophesied through the Spirit that a great and severe famine would come upon the whole world. And this did occur during the reign of Claudius.

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.

29 S o the disciples resolved to send relief, each according to his individual ability, to the brethren who lived in Judea.

And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea:

30 A nd so they did, sending to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.