Acts 11
New Matthew Bible
Peter explains the reason why he went in to the heathen. Barnabas and Paul preach to the heathen. Agabus prophesies of the famine to come.
11 And the apostles and the brethren that were throughout Judea heard that the heathen had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!
4 Then Peter began and explained the matter in order to them, saying, 5 I was in the city of Joppa, praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descend, like a large linen cloth let down from heaven by the four corners; and it came to me. 6 When I looked into it, I considered and saw four-footed animals of the earth, and wild beasts and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, Arise, Peter; kill and eat. 8 And I said, God forbid, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has at any time entered into my mouth. 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven: Do not judge common those things that God has cleansed.
10 And this was done three times, and everything was taken up again into heaven.
11 And behold, immediately three men came to the house where I was, sent from Caesarea to me. 12 And the Spirit said to me that I should go with them, without doubting. Moreover, the six brethren accompanied me. And we entered into the man’s house. 13 And he described to us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said to him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, named also Peter. 14 He will speak words to you whereby both you and all your house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to preach, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as he did on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the words of the Lord, how he said John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. 17 Inasmuch then as God gave them the same gift as he did to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I should have withstood God?
18 When they heard this, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then God has granted repentance unto life to the Gentiles also.
19 Those who were scattered abroad through the affliction that arose about Stephen walked throughout till they came to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they came to Antioch, spoke to the Greeks and preached the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 Reports of these things came to the ears of the congregation that was in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should continually cleave unto the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas departed to Tarsus, to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came about that for a whole year they were with the congregation there, and taught many people. And the disciples of Antioch were the first that were called Christian.
27 In those days, prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them, named Agabus, stood up and signified by the Spirit that there would be great dearth throughout all the world, which came to pass in the days of the Emperor Claudius. 29 Then the disciples, everyone according to his ability, determined to send aid to the brethren who dwelt in Judea. 30 Which thing they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 11
Authorized (King James) Version
11 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judæa 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 Cæsarea 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 Cæsar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judæa: 30 which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.