11:1 Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
11:2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him,
11:3 saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?"
11:4 But Peter began and explained to them in order:
11:5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, something descending, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to me.
11:6 Looking at it closely I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air.
11:7 And I heard a voice saying to me, `Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'
11:8 But I said, `No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'
11:9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, `What God has cleansed you must not call common.'
11:10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
11:11 At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesare'a.
11:12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.
11:13 And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter;
11:14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.'
11:15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
11:16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, `John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
11:17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
11:18 When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life."
11:19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoeni'cia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews.
11:20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyre'ne, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord.
11:22 News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
11:23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose;
11:24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord.
11:25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul;
11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.
11:27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
11:28 And one of them named Ag'abus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius.
11:29 And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea;
11:30 and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
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