1 Now the apostles, and the brethren who were in Judaea, heard that the gentiles also received the word of God. 2 And, when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision were contending with him, 3 saying, that he went in to men holding uncircumcision, and ate with them!
4 But Peter, beginning at the first, was explaining it 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 descending, as a large sheet, let down out of the heaven by four corners; and it came close to me: 6 into which gazing intently, I was considering, and saw the four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and the birds of the heaven. 7 And I heard also a voice, saying to me, 'Arising, Peter, kill and eat.'
8 But I said, 'By no means, Lord; because a common or an unclean thing never entered into my mouth!' 9 But a voice answered a second time out of the heaven, 'What God cleansed, make not common.'
10 And this took place thrice: and all were drawn up again into the heaven. 11 And, behold, immediately there stood three men at the house in which we were, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. And these six brethren also went with me; and we entered into the man's house. 13 And he told us how he saw the angel in his house, standing and saying, 'Send to Joppa, and call for Simon who is surnamed Peter, 14 who will speak to you words, by which you shall be saved, and all your house.'
15 And, as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as also on us at the beginning; 16 and I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John, indeed, immersed in water, but ye shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit.' 17 If, therefore, God gave them the like gift, as to us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?"
18 And, having heard these things, they were silent, and glorified God, saying, "Then, to the gentiles also God gave repentance unto life."
19 Those, therefore, who were dispersed by reason of the tribulation that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none but Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene; who, indeed, having come to Antioch, were speaking to the Greeks also, publishing the glad tidings of the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 And the report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem; and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch; 23 who, having come, and having seen the grace of God, rejoiced, and was exhorting all that, with purpose of heart, they should cleave to the Lord; 24 because he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit, and of faith; and a great multitude was added to the Lord. 25 And he departed to Tarsus to seek for Saul; 26 and, having found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass that, even for a whole year, they met together in the assembly, and taught a great multitude; and that the disciples got the name "Christian" first in Antioch.
27 And in those days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch; 28 and one of them??gabus by name??tanding up, signified through the Spirit that there was about to be a great famine over all the inhabited earth; which, indeed, happened under Claudius. 29 And the disciples, according as any one of them was being prospered, determined, each of them, to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judaea; 30 which also they did, sending it to the elders through the hands of Barnabas and Saul.