Peter’s Report to Jerusalem
11 Now the emissaries and brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 But when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision took issue with him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
4 So Peter began explaining to them point by point, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision—something like a great sheet coming down, being lowered from heaven by its four corners, and it came right to me. 6 I looked inside, considering it carefully, and saw four-footed creatures of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
8 “But I said, ‘Certainly not, Lord! For never has anything unholy or unclean entered my mouth.’ 9 But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has made clean, you must not consider unholy.’ 10 This happened three times, and then everything was pulled up to heaven.
11 “At that very moment, three men arrived at the house where we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 The Ruach told me to go with them without hesitating. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He reported to us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter. 14 He will speak words to you by which you will be saved—you and all your household.’
15 “As I began to speak, the Ruach ha-Kodesh fell on them, just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John immersed with water, but you will be immersed in the Ruach ha-Kodesh.’ 17 Therefore if God gave them the same gift as also to us after we put our trust in the Lord Messiah Yeshua, who was I to stand in God’s way?”
18 When they heard this they became quiet, and they glorified God, saying, “Then even to the Gentiles God has granted repentance leading to life!”
Discipling in Diaspora
19 Now those scattered because of the persecution that happened in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Judeans. 20 However, there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Yeshua. 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
22 News about these things reached the ears of the community in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was thrilled. He encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with heartfelt devotion. 24 For Barnabas was a good man, full of the Ruach ha-Kodesh and faith. And a large number was added to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas left for Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met together with Messiah’s community and taught a large number. Now it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christianoi.”[a]
27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted through the Ruach that there was going to be a great famine over all the world. (This took place during the reign of Claudius.) 29 So the disciples decided to send relief to those brothers and sisters living in Judea, each according to his ability. 30 This they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Footnotes
- Acts 11:26 Grk. Christianoi (Christians); Heb. M’shichim (Messianics); Eng. anointed ones; cf. Acts 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16.