New Living Translation

King James Bible

1Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God.

1And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

2But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him.

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

3“You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” they said.

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

4Then Peter told them exactly what had happened.

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

5“I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me.

5I 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:

6When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of tame and wild animals, reptiles, and birds.

6Upon 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.

7And I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.’

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

8“‘No, Lord,’ I replied. ‘I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean. ’

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

9“But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’

9But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

10This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven.

10And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11“Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying.

11And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

12The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon entered the home of the man who had sent for us.

12And the spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

13He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, ‘Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter.

13And 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;

14He will tell you how you and everyone in your household can be saved!’

14Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

15“As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning.

15And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

16Then 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.

17And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”

17Forasmuch 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?

18When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.” The Church in Antioch of Syria

18When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

19Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews.

19Now 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.

20However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus.

20And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

21And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

22When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

22Then 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.

23When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.

23Who, 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.

24Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

25Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul.

25Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

26When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)

26And 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.

27During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch.

27And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.)

28And 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.

29So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.

29Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

30This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.

30Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.