Acts:11

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* Now the apostles and the brothers {The word for "brothers " here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters " or "siblings ."} who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God . * When Peter had come up to Jerusalem , those who were of the circumcision contended with him , * saying , "You went in to uncircumcised men , and ate with them !" * But Peter began , and explained to them in order , saying , * "I was in the city of Joppa praying , and in a trance I saw a vision : a certain container descending , like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners . It came as far as me . * When I had looked intently at it , I considered , and saw the four-footed animals of the earth , wild animals , creeping things , and birds of the sky . * I also heard a voice saying to me , 'Rise , Peter , kill and eat !' * But I said , 'Not so , Lord , for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth .' * But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven , 'What God has cleansed , don 't you call unclean .' * This was done three times , and all were drawn up again into heaven . * Behold , immediately three men stood before the house where I was , having been sent from Caesarea to me . * The Spirit told me to go with them , without discriminating . These six brothers also accompanied me , and we entered into the man 's house . * He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house , and saying to him , 'Send to Joppa , and get Simon , whose surname is Peter , * who will speak to you words by which you will be saved , you and all your house .' * As I began to speak , the Holy Spirit fell on them , even as on us at the beginning . * I remembered the word of the Lord , how he said , 'John indeed baptized in water , but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit .' * If then God gave to them the same gift as us , when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ , who was I , that I could withstand God ?" * When they heard these things , they held their peace , and glorified God , saying , "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life !" * They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia , Cyprus , and Antioch , speaking the word to no one except to Jews only . * But there were some of them , men of Cyprus and Cyrene , who , when they had come to Antioch , spoke to the Hellenists , {A Hellenist is someone who keeps Greek customs and culture .} preaching the Lord Jesus . * The hand of the Lord was with them , and a great number believed and turned to the Lord . * The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem . They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch , * who , when he had come , and had seen the grace of God , was glad . He exhorted them all , that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord . * For he was a good man , and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith , and many people were added to the Lord . * Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul . * When he had found him , he brought him to Antioch . It happened , that for a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly , and taught many people . The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch . * Now in these days , prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch . * One of them named Agabus stood up , and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world , which also happened in the days of Claudius . * As any of the disciples had plenty , each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea ; * which they also did , sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul .

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