Peter Explains His Vision
1. Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2. And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,
3. saying, “You went in to men uncircumcised and did eat with them.”
4. But Peter began and explained it to them step by step, saying,
5. “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet coming down, being lowered from heaven by its four corners. And it came to me.
6. And I looked upon it, and I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the birds of the sky.
7. And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’
8. But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9. But the voice spoke to me again the second time, ‘What God has cleansed, do not call common.’
10. This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
11. And behold, at that very moment three men came to the house where we were, sent to me from Caesarea.
12. And the Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. And these six brethren also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.
13. And he declared to us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter.
14. He will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, even as upon us at the beginning.
16. And 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. If then God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”
18. And when they heard these things, they were silent, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life.”
The Church at Antioch Grows
19. Now those who were scattered because of the persecution in the matter of Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews only.
20. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22. And the report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
23. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
24. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great number was added to the Lord.
25. Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus to seek Saul.
26. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass that for a whole year they met with the assembly and taught a great number of people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Agabus Predicts a Famine
27. And in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28. And one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world. This indeed happened in the days of Claudius.
29. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
30. Which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
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