Acts 11

Peter Defends God’s Grace

1 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, *Acts 10:45those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, *Matt. 9:11; Acts 10:28"You went in to uncircumcised men *Gal. 2:12and ate with them!"

4 But Peter explained it to them *Luke 1:3in order from the beginning, saying: 5 *Acts 10:9"I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6 When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 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 at any time entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’10 Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12 Then *(John 16:13); Acts 10:19; 15:7the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover *Acts 10:23these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 *Acts 10:30And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, *Acts 2:1–4; 15:7–9as upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, *Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; John 1:26, 33; Acts 1:5; 19:4‘John indeed baptized with water, but *Is. 44:3you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’17 *(Acts 15:8, 9)If therefore God gave them the same gift as Hegave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, *Acts 10:47who was I that I could withstand God?"

18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, *Is. 42:1, 6; 49:6; Luke 2:32; John 11:52; Rom. 10:12, 13; 15:9, 16"Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."

Barnabas and Saul at Antioch

19 *Acts 8:1, 4Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to *Acts 6:1; 9:29the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And *Luke 1:66; Acts 2:47the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and *Acts 9:35; 14:1turned to the Lord.

22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out *Acts 4:36; 9:27Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and *Acts 13:43; 14:22encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, *Acts 6:5full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. *Acts 5:14; 11:21And a great many people were added to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas departed for *Acts 9:11, 30Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Relief to Judea

27 And in these days *Acts 2:17; 13:1; 15:32; 21:9; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named *John 16:13; Acts 21:10Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of *Acts 18:2Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send *Rom. 15:26; 1 Cor. 16:1; 2 Cor. 9:1relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 *Acts 12:25This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.