1 AND the apostles and the brethren who were in Judµa heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

2 And when Simon Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who upheld the circumcision contended with him,

3 Saying he had entered into the houses of uncircumcised men and had eaten with them.

4 Then Simon began to recite the facts one after another, saying,

5 As I was praying in Joppa, I saw in a vision something like a linen cloth descending from the sky, and it was tied at its four corners; and it came even to me.

6 And as I looked at it, I saw that there were in it fourfooted beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and fowls of the air.

7 Then I heard a voice saying to me, Simon, arise, kill and eat.

8 And I said, Far be it, my Lord: for never has anything defiled and unclean entered my mouth.

9 But again the voice from heaven said to me, What God has cleansed, do not call unclean.

10 This happened three times: then everything was lifted up into heaven.

11 And in that very hour, three men who were sent to me by Cornelius from Cµs-are'a came and stood at the gate of the courtyard where I was staying.

12 And the spirit said to me, Go with them, doubting nothing. And these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.

13 And he related to us how he had seen an angel in his house, who stood and said to him, Send to the city of Joppa, and bring Simon who is called Peter;

14 And he shall speak to you words by which you and all of your household shall be saved.

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them, as on us at the beginning.

16 Then I remembered that word of our LORD, when he said, John indeed baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

17 Now, therefore, if God has equally given the gifts to the Gentiles who believe in our LORD Jesus Christ, just as he gave to us, who am I that I should dispute God?

18 When they heard these words, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Perhaps God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance unto life.

19 Now those who had been dispersed by the persecution which occurred on account of Stephen, traveled as far as Phoe-ni'ci-a and even to the land of Cyprus, and to An'tioch, preaching the word to none but to the Jews only.

20 But there were some men among them from Cyprus and from Cyrene; these men entered into An'ti-och and spoke to the Greeks and preached concerning our LORD Jesus.

21 And the hand of the LORD was with them: and a great number believed, and turned to the LORD.

22 Then tidings of these things came to the attention of the members of the congregation at Jerusalem: and they sent Bar'nabas to An'ti-och.

23 When he came there and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he pleaded with them that they should follow our LORD with all their hearts.

24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and many people were added to our LORD.

25 Then Bar'na-bas departed to Tar'sus, to seek for Saul.

26 And when he had found him, he brought him to An'ti-och. And for the whole year they assembled together in the church, and taught a great many people. The disciples were called Christians first at An'ti-och and from that time on.

27 And in those days came prophets from Jerusalem to An'ti-och.

28 And one of them, named Ag'a-bus, stood up and foretold by the spirit, that a great famine was to come throughout the land: the famine which occurred in the days of Clau'di-us Cµ'sar.

29 Then the disciples, each one according to his ability, determined to set aside for relief to the brethren who dwelt in Ju-dµ'a.

30 This they did, and sent it there to the elders by the hands of Bar'na-bas and Saul.