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.

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

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

When Peter was come up to Jerusalem, those that were of the circumcision contended with him,

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

saying, Why didst thou go in to men uncircumcised and eat with them?

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

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning and expounded it by order unto them, 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 rapture of understanding I saw a vision: A certain vessel descended like a great sheet let down from heaven by the four corners, and it came 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 my eyes, I considered and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and reptiles and fowls of the air.

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

And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter, slay 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 has at any time 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 the voice answered me again from heaven, What God has cleansed, do not call common.

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

And this was done three times, and it was all 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, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, 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, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren 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 showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said unto him, Send to Joppa and call for 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 tell thee words, by which thou and all thy house shall be saved.

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, 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.

Then I remembered the word of the Lord, when he said, John indeed baptized in 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?

So then, if God gave them the same gift as he did unto us, who have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I should 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.

When they heard these things, they were silent and glorified God, saying, Then God has also granted repentance unto life to the Gentiles.

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.

¶ Now those who were scattered abroad by the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to no one except only unto the 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.

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they came into Antioch, spoke unto the Greeks, preaching the gospel of 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 believed and 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.

Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the congregation which was in Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas that he should go unto 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 came and had seen the grace of God, was glad and exhorted them all to remain in their purpose of heart in 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 many people were added unto the Lord.

25 w ent on to Tarsus to hunt for Saul.

Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus to seek Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch.

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 it came to pass that for a whole year they gathered themselves together with the congregation and taught many people. And 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.

¶ And in those days prophets came down 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 one of them named Agabus stood up and signified by the Spirit that there should be great famine throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

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

Then the disciples, each one according to what he had, determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea,

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

which they likewise did and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.