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Acts 11

Peter returns to Jerusalem

11 The apostles and the other believers in Judea heard that Gentiles had also believed the message from God. ² Peter then returned from Caesarea and he arrived in Jerusalem. Some of the Jews there who were believers spoke against him. These Jews thought that all believers should be circumcised. ³ So they said to Peter, ‘You stayed in the house of men who were not circumcised. You even ate meals with them!’ ^{[ a ]}

⁴ Peter then began to explain everything that had happened. He said to them, ⁵ ‘I was staying in a house in the city of Joppa. One day, when I was praying, I had a special dream. In this vision, I saw something that came down from heaven. It was like a large piece of cloth. Somebody held it at each of its four corners and let it come down to the ground next to me. ⁶ I looked carefully at it. I saw that there were farm animals with four legs inside the cloth. There were also wild animals, snakes, and birds in it. ⁷ Then I heard a voice that said to me, “Peter, stand up and kill some of these animals. Then you can cook them and eat the meat.”

⁸ But I answered, “No, Lord, I would certainly not do that. I have never eaten an animal that our Law says is unclean.”

⁹ Then the voice spoke to me from heaven again. It said, “God has made these animals good for people to eat. So you must not say that it is not right to eat them.” ¹⁰ All this happened three times. After that, the cloth went back up into heaven again.

¹¹ At that moment, three men from Caesarea arrived at the house where I was staying. Someone had sent these men to find me. ¹² The Holy Spirit told me that I should go with them. He said that I should not be afraid. These six believers from Joppa also went with me to Caesarea. We all went into Cornelius's house. ¹³ Then Cornelius told us what had happened to him. He had seen an angel who appeared in his house and said to him, “Send some men to Joppa to fetch a man who is called Simon Peter. ¹⁴ He will come and speak to you. His message will tell you how God will save you and everyone else in your house.”

¹⁵ When I started to speak to Cornelius and his family, the Holy Spirit came down on them. It happened in the same way that he first came down on us at the beginning. ¹⁶ Then I remembered what the Lord Jesus had said to us: “John baptized people with water, but God will baptize you with his Holy Spirit.” ¹⁷ So we see that God gave these Gentiles his gift of the Holy Spirit. This is the same gift that he gave to us Jews who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. So I could never try to stop God.’

¹⁸ The Jewish believers heard what Peter said. They could not say anything more against him. Instead, they praised God and they said, ‘We now see that God has also let Gentiles have life with him. He will accept them if they stop doing bad things and turn to him.’

The believers go to Antioch

¹⁹ After the Jewish leaders had killed Stephen, the believers had a lot of trouble. The believers left Jerusalem and they went to many different places. Some of them went away as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. They told God's message to people in these places. But they only told the message to Jews.

²⁰ Some of the believers were people who came from Cyprus and Cyrene. These men went to Antioch. There they told God's message to Gentiles, as well as to Jews. They told everyone the good news about the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The Lord God helped these men with his power. Very many people believed their message and they trusted in the Lord Jesus.

²² The believers in Jerusalem heard about what had happened in Antioch. So they decided to send Barnabas there. ²³ Barnabas arrived in Antioch. He saw how God had been kind to the people there and helped them. Barnabas was happy about this. So he said to the new believers, ‘Continue to trust the Lord Jesus completely.’

²⁴ Barnabas was a good man. The power of God's Holy Spirit was with him. He trusted God completely. Many people in Antioch believed in Jesus and joined the group of believers.

²⁵ Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. ²⁶ When Barnabas found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For one whole year, Barnabas and Saul met together with the group of believers there. They taught very many of them about Jesus. Antioch was the first place where the believers were called Christians.

²⁷ During this time, some prophets travelled from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of these men was called Agabus. The Holy Spirit gave him a message from God. He stood up and he said to the people there, ‘Soon people will be very hungry all over the world because there will be no food.’ (That happened when Claudius ruled the Roman world.) ^{[ b ]}

²⁹ The believers in Antioch wanted to help the other believers who lived in Judea. Each of them decided how much of their own money they could give. ³⁰ Then they gave the money to Barnabas and Saul. Barnabas and Saul took this gift to the leaders of the believers in Jerusalem.

Footnotes

11:3 The Jews that spoke to Peter believed in Jesus. They thought that Peter had done a wrong thing. He had stayed with people who were not Jews. And he had even eaten meals with them.
11:28 Claudius ruled the Roman world from AD 41 to 54. There was a famine in many parts of the Roman world at that time. In Judea, this happened in AD 46.

Peter Returns to Jerusalem

11 The apostles and the believers in Judea heard that non-Jewish people had accepted God’s teaching too. ² But when Peter came to Jerusalem, some Jewish believers ^{[ a ]} argued with him. ³ They said, “You went into the homes of people who are not Jews and are not circumcised, and you even ate with them!”

⁴ So Peter explained the whole story to them. ⁵ He said, “I was in the city of Joppa. While I was praying, I had a vision. I saw something coming down from heaven. It looked like a big sheet being lowered to the ground by its four corners. It came down close to me, ⁶ and I looked inside. I saw all kinds of animals, including wild ones, as well as reptiles and birds. ⁷ I heard a voice say to me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill anything here and eat it!’

⁸ “But I said, ‘I can’t do that, Lord! I have never eaten anything that is not pure or fit to be used for food.’

⁹ “But the voice from heaven answered again, ‘God has made these things pure. Don’t say they are unfit to eat!’

¹⁰ “This happened three times. Then the whole thing was taken back into heaven. ¹¹ Suddenly there were three men standing outside the house where I was staying. They had been sent from Caesarea to get me. ¹² The Spirit told me to go with them without wondering if it was all right. These six brothers here also went with me, and we went to the house of Cornelius. ¹³ He told us about the angel he had seen standing in his house. The angel said, ‘Send some men to Joppa to get Simon, the one who is also called Peter. ¹⁴ He will speak to you, and what he tells you will save you and everyone living in your house.’

¹⁵ “After I began speaking, the Holy Spirit came on them just as he came on us at the beginning. ^{[ b ]} ¹⁶ Then I remembered the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘John baptized people in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ God gave these people the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. So how could I object to what God wanted to do?”

¹⁸ When the Jewish believers heard this, they stopped arguing. They praised God and said, “So God is also allowing even those who are not Jews to change their hearts so that they can have the life he gives!”

The Good News Comes to Antioch

¹⁹ The believers were scattered by the persecution ^{[ c ]} that began when Stephen was killed. Some of them went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They told the Good News in these places, but only to Jews. ²⁰ Some of these believers were men from Cyprus and Cyrene. When these men came to Antioch, they began speaking to people who were not Jews. ^{[ d ]} They told them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The Lord was helping these men, and a large number of people believed and decided to follow the Lord.

²² When the church in Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ^23-24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. When he went to Antioch and saw how God had blessed the believers there, he was very happy. He encouraged them all, saying, “Always be faithful to the Lord. Serve him with all your heart.” Many more people became followers of the Lord.

²⁵ Then Barnabas went to the city of Tarsus to look for Saul. ²⁶ When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. They stayed there a whole year. Every time the church came together, Barnabas and Saul met with them and taught many people. It was in Antioch that the followers of the Lord Jesus were called “Christ-followers” for the first time.

²⁷ About that same time some prophets went from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of them, named Agabus, stood up and spoke with the help of the Spirit. He said, “A very bad time is coming to the whole world. There will be no food for people to eat.” (This time of famine happened when Claudius was emperor.) ²⁹ The Lord’s followers decided that they would each send as much as they could to help their brothers and sisters who lived in Judea. ³⁰ They gathered the money and gave it to Barnabas and Saul, who took it to the elders in Judea.

Footnotes

Acts 11:2 Jewish believers Literally, “those of circumcision.” This may mean Jews who thought all followers of Christ must be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses. See Gal. 2:12.
Acts 11:15 beginning The day of Pentecost described in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit came on Jesus’ first followers to give them power to begin their work of telling the world the Good News of salvation through Jesus.
Acts 11:19 persecution A time when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem were punishing people who believed in Christ. See Acts 8:1-4.
Acts 11:20 people who were not Jews Literally, “Hellenists,” meaning people who have been influenced by Greek culture. Some Greek copies have “Greeks.”

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

² And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

³ Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

⁴ But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

⁵ 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:

⁶ 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.

⁷ And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

⁸ But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

⁹ 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.

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 )} ² So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers ^{( C )} criticized him ³ and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” ^{( D )}

⁴ Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: ⁵ “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. ⁶ I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. ⁷ Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

⁸ “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

⁹ “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

Acts 11:16 Or in
Acts 11:16 Or in

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Table of Contents

Acts 11

Peter returns to Jerusalem

The believers go to Antioch

Footnotes

Peter Returns to Jerusalem

The Good News Comes to Antioch

Footnotes

Peter Reports in Jerusalem

The Church in Antioch

Footnotes

Cross references

Peter Explains His Actions

The Church in Antioch

Footnotes

Cross references

BibleStudyIt Acts 11

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Acts 11

Peter returns to Jerusalem

The believers go to Antioch

Footnotes

Peter Returns to Jerusalem

The Good News Comes to Antioch

Footnotes

Peter Reports in Jerusalem

The Church in Antioch

Footnotes

Cross references

Peter Explains His Actions

The Church in Antioch

Footnotes

Cross references

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