1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
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Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 1:11
Trivia: What married couple was killed by God for not giving all their money to the church?
1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
The apostles heard that Gentiles had received the word of God.
2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
And when Peter arrived in Jerusalem,
those who were circumcised argued with him, saying,
3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
You ate with uncircumcised men.
4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
Peter told them about the dream that he'd had, saying, [1]
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:
I was in praying in Joppa when I had a trance and saw a vision in which a giant sheet came down from the sky.
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.
On the sheet were four-footed beasts, wild beasts, creeping things, and fowls.
7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
I heard a voice say to me,
Get up, Peter; kill and eat. [2]
8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
But I said to the voice,
No, Lord.
I've never eaten anything common or unclean.
9But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
The voice from heaven said to me,
Don't call what God has cleaned common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
The sheet was raised up to heaven and put down to earth three times.
11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
Then three men came to the house.
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:
The spirit told me to go with them, without doubting.
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;
The man told me that he'd seen an angel in his house, who said to him,
Go see a man in Joppa named Simon Peter.
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
He'll tell you the words to use that will save you and all of your family.
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.
As I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them.
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?
Since God gave to them the same gift he gave to us,
how could I go against 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.
When they heard these things, they said,
Okay. God lets the Gentiles repent to have life.
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, 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.
After Stephen's death, the believers traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cypress, and Antioch.
But they preached only to Jews.
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.
There were many converts.
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
Barnabas went to Tarsus looking for 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.
When he found him, they went to Antioch, where they stayed for a year.
It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
In those days, prophets came from Jerusalem to 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 Caesar.
Among them was Agabus who was inspired by the Spirit to predict that there would be a famine, which occurred during the reign of Claudius Caesar. [3]
29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea:
30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Peter repeats the vision that he had in the last chapter, in which all kinds of beasts, creeping things, and fowls drop down from the sky in a big sheet, and a voice (God's, Satan's?) tells him to "Arise, Peter; slay and eat."
Claudius Caesar reined from 41 to 54 CE. (Wikipedia: Claudius Caesar)
Christian Response