11 2 Peter being accused for going to the Gentiles,  5 defendeth himself. 22 Barnabas is sent to Antioch,  26 where the disciples are called Christians: 28 and there Agabas foretelleth a famine to come.

Now [a]the Apostles and the brethren that were in Judea, heard, that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they of the circumcision contended against him,

Saying, Thou wentest into men uncircumcised, and hast eaten with them.

Then Peter began, and expounded the thing in order to them, saying,

I was in the city of Joppa, praying, and in a trance I saw this vision, A certain vessel coming down as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by the four corners, and it came to me,

Toward the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the heaven.

Also I heard a voice, saying unto me, Arise, Peter: slay and eat.

And I said, God forbid, Lord: for nothing polluted or unclean hath at anytime entered into my mouth.

But the voice answered me the second time from heaven, The things that God hath purified, pollute thou not.

10 And this was done three times, and all were taken up again into heaven.

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

12 And the Spirit said unto me, that I should go with them, without doubting: moreover these six brethren came with me, and we entered into the man’s house.

13 And he showed us, how he had seen an Angel in his house, which stood and said to him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter.

14 He shall speak words unto thee, whereby both thou and all thine house shall be saved.

15 And as I began to speak, the holy Ghost fell on them, (A)even as upon us at the beginning.

16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, (B)John baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the holy Ghost.

17 For as much then as God gave them a like gift, as he did unto us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could let God?

18 [b]When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

19 [c]And they which were (C)scattered abroad because of the affliction that arose about Stephen, went throughout till they came unto Phonicia and Cyprus, and [d]Antioch, preaching the word to no man, but unto the Jews only.

20 [e]Now some of them were men of Cyprus and of Cyrene, which when they were come into Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, and preached the Lord Jesus.

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

22 [f]Then tidings of those things came unto the ears of the Church, which was in Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go unto Antioch.

23 Who when he was come and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted all, that with purpose of heart they would continue in the Lord.

24 For he was a good man, and full of the holy Ghost, and faith and much people joined themselves unto the Lord.

25 [g]Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus to seek Paul:

26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch: and it came to pass that a whole year they were conversant with the Church, and taught much people, insomuch that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

27 [h]In those days also came Prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit, that there should be great famine throughout all the world, which also came to pass under Claudius Caesar.

29 [i]Then the disciples every man according to his ability, purposed to send [j]succor unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea.

30 Which thing they also did, and sent it to the Elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 11:1 Peter being without cause reprehended of the unskillful and ignorant, doth not object that he ought not to be judged of any, but openly giveth an account of his doing.
  2. Acts 11:18 Such as ask a question of the truth which they know not, ought to be quietly heard, and must also quietly yield to the declaration thereof.
  3. Acts 11:19 The scattering abroad of the Church of Jerusalem is the cause of the gathering together of many other Churches.
  4. Acts 11:19 He speaketh of Antioch which was in Syria and bordered upon Cilicia.
  5. Acts 11:20 The Church of Antioch, the new Jerusalem of the Gentiles was extraordinarily called.
  6. Acts 11:22 The Apostles do not rashly condemn an extraordinary vocation, but yet they judge it by the effects.
  7. Acts 11:25 There was no contention amongst the Apostles either of usurping, or of holding places and degrees.
  8. Acts 11:27 God doth so wrap up his Church with the wicked, in his scourges and plagues which he sendeth upon the earth, that notwithstanding he provideth for it conveniently.
  9. Acts 11:29 All Congregations or Churches make one body.
  10. Acts 11:29 That is, that thereof the Deacons might succor the poor: for it behooved to have all these things done orderly, and decently, and therefore it is said, that they sent these things to the Elders, that is, to the governors of the Church.

Peter Explains His Actions

11 The apostles and the believers(A) throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.(B) So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers(C) criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”(D)

Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision.(E) I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

“I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

“The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’(F) 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea(G) stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told(H) me to have no hesitation about going with them.(I) These six brothers(J) also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel(K) appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message(L) through which you and all your household(M) will be saved.’

15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on(N) them as he had come on us at the beginning.(O) 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with[a] water,(P) but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.’(Q) 17 So if God gave them the same gift(R) he gave us(S) who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”(T)

The Church in Antioch

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed(U) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,(V) spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus(W) and Cyrene,(X) went to Antioch(Y) and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news(Z) about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them,(AA) and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.(AB)

22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas(AC) to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,(AD) he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.(AE) 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit(AF) and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.(AG)

25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus(AH) to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples(AI) were called Christians first(AJ) at Antioch.

27 During this time some prophets(AK) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus,(AL) stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.(AM) (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)(AN) 29 The disciples,(AO) as each one was able, decided to provide help(AP) for the brothers and sisters(AQ) living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders(AR) by Barnabas(AS) and Saul.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 11:16 Or in
  2. Acts 11:16 Or in

11 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

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

12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

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

22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

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