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 who were throughout Judea 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 came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him,

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

saying, “ You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

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

But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, 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, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to 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,

and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air.

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

I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, 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, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered 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 from heaven answered a second time, ‘ What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’

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

This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky.

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

And behold, at that moment three men appeared at the house in which we were staying, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

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.

The Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. These six brethren also went with me and we entered 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 reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;

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].

and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’

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 upon them just as He did upon 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 used to say, ‘ John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with 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?

Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

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 this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” The Church at Antioch

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.

So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

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 came to Antioch and began speaking to 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 large number who believed turned to the Lord.

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

The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to 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.

Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to 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 considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.

25 w ent on to Tarsus to hunt for Saul.

And he left for Tarsus to look 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 to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians 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 at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to 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.

One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign 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 in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.

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

And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.