Acts 11

1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the gentiles had also accepted the word of God.ISV — Acts 11:1

2 But when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who emphasized circumcision ^{a11:2 Lit. those of the circumcision} disagreed with him.ISV — Acts 11:2

3 They said, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”ISV — Acts 11:3

4 Then Peter began to explain to them point by point what had happened. He said,ISV — Acts 11:4

5 “I was in the town of Joppa praying when in a trance I saw a vision: Something like a large linen sheet descended down from heaven, lowered by its four corners, and it came right down to me.ISV — Acts 11:5

6 When I examined it closely, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the air.ISV — Acts 11:6

7 I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter! Kill something and eat it.’ISV — Acts 11:7

8 But I replied, ‘Absolutely not, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth!’ISV — Acts 11:8

9 Then the voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘You must stop calling common what God has made clean!’ISV — Acts 11:9

10 This happened three times. Then everything was pulled back up to heaven.ISV — Acts 11:10

11 “At that very moment three men arrived at the house where we were staying. They had been sent to me from Caesarea.ISV — Acts 11:11

12 The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitating. These six brothers went with me, too, and we entered the house of the man from Caesarea. ^{b11:12 The Gk. lacks from Caesarea}ISV — Acts 11:12

13 Then he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his home and saying, ‘Send messengers ^{c11:13 The Gk. lacks messengers} to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter.ISV — Acts 11:13

14 He will discuss with you how you and your entire household will be saved.’ISV — Acts 11:14

15 “When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he was first given to us.ISV — Acts 11:15

16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with ^{d11:16 Or in} water, but you will be baptized with ^{e11:16 Or in} the Holy Spirit.’ISV — Acts 11:16

17 Now if God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, ^{f11:17 Or Christ} who was I to try to stop God?”ISV — Acts 11:17

18 When they heard this, they calmed down, and praised God by saying, “So God has given repentance that leads to life even to gentiles.”ISV — Acts 11:18

19 Now the people who were scattered by the persecution that started because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.ISV — Acts 11:19

20 But among them were some men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began proclaiming the Lord Jesus even to the Hellenistic Jews. ^{g11:20 Other mss. read to the Greeks}ISV — Acts 11:20

21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number of people believed and turned to the Lord.ISV — Acts 11:21

22 When the church in Jerusalem heard this news, they sent Barnabas all the way to Antioch.ISV — Acts 11:22

23 When he arrived, he rejoiced to see what the grace of God had done, ^{h11:23 Lit. to see the grace of God} and with hearty determination he kept encouraging all of them to remain faithful to the Lord,ISV — Acts 11:23

24 because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And so a large number of people was brought to the Lord.ISV — Acts 11:24

25 Then Barnabas left for Tarsus to look for Saul.ISV — Acts 11:25

26 When he found him, he brought him to Antioch, and for a whole year they were guests of the church and taught many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.ISV — Acts 11:26

27 At that time some prophets from Jerusalem came down to Antioch.ISV — Acts 11:27

28 One of them named Agabus got up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine all over the world. This happened during the reign of Claudius.ISV — Acts 11:28

29 So all of the disciples decided they would send a contribution to the brothers living in Judea, as they were able,ISV — Acts 11:29

30 by sending it through ^{i11:30 Lit. sending by the hand of} Barnabas and Saul to the elders.ISV — Acts 11:30