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.

The missionaries and followers who were in the country of Judea heard that the people who were not Jews also had received the Word of God.

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

When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the Jewish followers argued with him.

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

They said, “Why did you visit those people who are not Jews and eat with them?”

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

Then Peter began to tell all that had happened from the beginning to the end. He said,

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.

“While I was praying in the city of Joppa, I saw in a dream something coming down from heaven. It was like a large linen cloth let down by the four corners until it came 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,

As I looked at it, I saw four-footed animals and snakes of the earth and birds of the sky.

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

I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter, kill something and eat it.’

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, ‘No, Lord! Nothing that is unclean has ever gone 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.

The voice from heaven said the second time, ‘What God has made clean you must not say is unclean.’

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

This happened three times and then it was taken up again to heaven.

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

“Three men had already come to the house where I was staying. They had been sent to me from the city of 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 Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not doubt about going. These six men also went with me to this 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;

He told us how he had seen an angel in his own home. The angel had stood in front of him and said, ‘Send men to Joppa to ask for Simon 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].

He will tell you and all your family how you can be saved from the punishment of sin.’

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

“As I began to talk to them, the Holy Spirit came down on them just as He did 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 Lord had said, ‘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?

If God gave to them the same gift He gave to us after we put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I stand against 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 words, they said nothing more. They thanked God, saying, “Then God has given life also to the people who are not Jews. They have this new life by being sorry for their sins and turning from them.” The Followers Are Called Christians First In 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.

Those who went different places because of the trouble that started over Stephen had gone as far as the cities of Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch. They had preached the Word, but only to 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.

Some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene returned to Antioch. They preached the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Greek people there.

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.

The Lord gave them power. Many people put their trust in the Lord and turned to Him.

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

The news of this came to the church in Jerusalem. They sent Barnabas 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.

When he got there and saw how good God had been to them, he was full of joy. He told them to be true and faithful 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.

Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And many people became followers of the Lord.

25 w ent on to Tarsus to hunt for Saul.

From there Barnabas went on to the city of 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.

When he found Saul, he brought him back with him to Antioch. For a year they taught many people in the church. The followers were first called Christians in Antioch. The Antioch Church Helps the Jerusalem Church

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

At that time some men who preached God’s Word came to Antioch and told what was going to happen. They were from Jerusalem.

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 was Agabus. The Holy Spirit told him to stand up and speak. He told them there would be very little food to eat over all the world. This happened when Claudius was leader of the country.

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

The Christians agreed that each one should give what money he could to help the Christians living in Judea.

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

They did this and sent it to the church leaders with Barnabas and Saul.