1 ¶ And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received 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 W hen Peter was come up to Jerusalem, those that were of the circumcision contended with him,

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

3 s aying, Why didst thou go in to men uncircumcised and eat with them?

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

4 B ut Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

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

5 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,

“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 u pon 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.

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 unto me, Arise, Peter, slay and eat.

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

8 B ut I said, Not so, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth.

But I said, ‘No, Lord! Nothing that is unclean has ever gone into my mouth.’

9 B ut the voice answered me again from heaven, What God has cleansed, do not call common.

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

10 A nd this was done three times, and it was all drawn up again into heaven.

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

11 A nd, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

“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 bade me go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered 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 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,

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 w ho shall tell thee words, by which thou and all thy house shall be saved.

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

15 A nd as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as 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 remembered the word of the Lord, when he said, John indeed baptized in water, but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Then I remembered the Lord had said, ‘John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

17 S o 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?

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

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 ¶ 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.

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 A nd 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.

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 hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord.

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

22 T hen 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.

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

23 W ho, 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.

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 and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added unto the Lord.

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

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

From there Barnabas went on to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul.

26 A nd 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.

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 ¶ And in those days prophets came down from Jerusalem unto 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 signified by the Spirit that there should be great famine throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

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

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

30 w hich they likewise did and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

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