Peter's Report at Jerusalem

1Now the apostles and the brothers being in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision began contending with him, 3saying, “You went to men having uncircumcision, and ate with them.”

4Now Peter having begun, set forth to them in order, saying, 5“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel like a great sheet descending, being let down out of heaven by four corners, and it came down as far as me. 6Having looked intently on it, I was observing it, and I saw the quadrupeds of the earth and the wild beasts and the creeping things and the birds of the air. 7And also I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Having risen up, Peter, kill and eat.’

8But I said, ‘In no way, Lord. For nothing ever common or unclean has entered into my mouth.’

9But for a second time the voice answered out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, you do not call unholy.’

10Now this happened on three times, and all was drawn up into heaven again.

11And behold, immediately three men having been sent to me from Caesarea stood at the house in which I was. 12Now the Spirit told me to go with them, not having discriminated. Now these six brothers also went with me, and we entered into the man’s house, 13and he related to us how he had seen the angel having stood in his house and having said, ‘Send forth to Joppa, and send for Simon who is called Peter, 14who will speak words to you in which will be saved, you and all your household.’

15And in my beginning to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, even as also upon us in the beginning. 16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said, ‘John indeed baptized with water,a but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17If then God has given to them the same gift as also to us having believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how was I able to forbid God?”

18And having heard these things, they were silent and glorified God, saying, “Then indeed God has given also to the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

The Church at Antioch

19So indeed those having been scattered by the tribulation having taken place over Stephen passed through to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 20But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who having come into Antioch, were speaking also to the Hellenists, proclaiming the gospel—the Lord Jesus. 21And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number, having believed, turned to the Lord.

22Now the report concerning them was heard in the ears of the church being in Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, 23who having come and having seen the grace of God, rejoiced and was exhorting all to abide in the Lord with resolute purpose of heart. 24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large crowd was added to the Lord.

25And he went forth to Tarsus to seek Saul, 26and having found him, he brought him to Antioch. Now it came to pass that they also gathered together an entire year in the church, and taught a large crowd. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

27Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28And one of them named Agabus, having risen up, signified by the Spirit that a great famine is about to be over the whole world—which came to pass under Claudius. 29And the disciples, as anyone was prospered, each of them determined to send for ministry to the brothers dwelling in Judea, 30which also they did, having sent it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.