1 T he 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.

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

2 W hen Peter went up to Jerusalem, the Jewish followers argued with him.

And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,

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

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

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

But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying:

5 “ 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.

“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me.

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

When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

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

And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’

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

But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’

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

But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’

10 T his happened three times and then it was taken up again to heaven.

Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11 “ Three men had already come to the house where I was staying. They had been sent to me from the city of Caesarea.

At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

12 T he 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.

Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.

13 H e 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.

And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter,

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

who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’

15 “ As I began to talk to them, the Holy Spirit came down on them just as He did on us at the beginning.

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

16 T hen I remembered the Lord had said, ‘John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

17 I f 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?”

If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

18 W hen 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

When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” Barnabas and Saul at Antioch

19 T hose 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.

Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.

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

But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.

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

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

22 T he news of this came to the church in Jerusalem. They sent Barnabas to Antioch.

Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.

23 W hen 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.

When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

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

For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

25 F rom there Barnabas went on to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul.

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.

26 W hen 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

And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. Relief to Judea

27 A t that time some men who preached God’s Word came to Antioch and told what was going to happen. They were from Jerusalem.

And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28 O ne 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.

Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

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

Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.

30 T hey did this and sent it to the church leaders with Barnabas and Saul.

This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.