The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 11 -

Now the Apostles and brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the Word of God.

Then, when Peter had gone up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision argued against him,

saying, “Why did you enter to uncircumcised men, and why did you eat with them?”

And Peter began to explain to them, in an orderly manner, saying:

“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and I saw, in an ecstasy of mind, a vision: a certain container descending, like a great linen sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners. And it drew near to me.

And looking into it, I considered and saw the four-footed beasts of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the flying things of the air.

Then I also heard a voice saying to me: ‘Rise up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

But I said: ‘Never, lord! For what is common or unclean has never entered into my mouth.’

Then the voice responded a second time from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, you shall not call common.’

Now this was done three times. And then everything was taken up again into heaven.

And behold, immediately there were three men standing near the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

Then the Spirit told me that I should go with them, doubting nothing. And these six brothers went with me also. And we entered into the house of the man.

And he described for us how he had seen an Angel in his house, standing and saying to him: ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is surnamed Peter.

And he shall speak to you words, by which you shall be saved with your whole house.’

And when I had begun to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as upon us also, in the beginning.

Then I remembered the words of the Lord, just as he himself said: ‘John, indeed, baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

Therefore, if God gave them the same grace, as also to us, who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I would be able to prohibit God?”

Having heard these things, they were silent. And they glorified God, saying: “So has God also given to the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

The Church at Antioch

And some of them, having been dispersed by the persecution that had occurred under Stephen, traveled around, even to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the Word to no one, except to Jews only.

But some of these men from Cyprus and Cyrene, when they had entered into Antioch, were speaking also to the Greeks, announcing the Lord Jesus.

And the hand of the Lord was with them. And a great number believed and were converted to the Lord.

Now the news came to the ears of the Church at Jerusalem about these things, and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch.

And when he had arrived there and had seen the grace of God, he was gladdened. And he exhorted them all to continue in the Lord with a resolute heart.

For he was a good man, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.

Then Barnabas set out for Tarsus, so that he might seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.

And they were conversing there in the Church for an entire year. And they taught such a great multitude, that it was at Antioch that the disciples were first known by the name of Christian.

Now in these days, prophets from Jerusalem went over to Antioch.

And one of them, named Agabus, rising up, signified through the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine over the entire world, which did happen under Claudius.(a)

Then the disciples declared, according to what each one possessed, what they would offer to be sent to the brothers living in Judea.

And so they did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Footnotes

(a)11:28 Although this famine did occur under Claudius, it will occur more generally over the world, twice. First, during the first part of the tribulation, there will be a severe famine; but this famine will be less harmful in the poorer nations and more harmful in the wealthy nations. Last, there will be a great famine, over nearly the whole world, during the time of the Antichrist’s reign, especially during the last half of that reign.(Conte)

Now the apostles and the brothers(a) who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,

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

But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,

“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.

When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky.

I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’

But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’

But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’

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

Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.

The Spirit told me to go with them without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house.

He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa and get Simon, who is called Peter,

who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.

I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’

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

When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”

The Church at Antioch

They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.

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

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

The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch,

who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord.

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

Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.

When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

One of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.

As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;

which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Footnotes

(a)11:1 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(b)11:20 A Hellenist is someone who keeps Greek customs and culture.