Common English Bible CEB
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 The apostles and the brothers and sisters throughout Judea heard that even the Gentiles had welcomed God's word.
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Now the apostles and the brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.
2 When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him.
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So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him,
3 They accused him, "You went into the home of the uncircumcised and ate with them!"
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saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?"
4 Step-by-step, Peter explained what had happened.
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But Peter began and explained to them in order:
5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying when I had a visionary experience. In my vision, I saw something like a large linen sheet being lowered from heaven by its four corners. It came all the way down to me.
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"I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, something descending, like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to me.
6 As I stared at it, wondering what it was, I saw four-legged animals—including wild beasts—as well as reptiles and wild birds.
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Looking at it closely I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air.
7 I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!'
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And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'
8 I responded, ‘Absolutely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'
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But I said, 'No, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'
9 The voice from heaven spoke a second time, ‘Never consider unclean what God has made pure.'
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But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 'What God has cleansed you must not call common.'
10 This happened three times, then everything was pulled back into heaven.
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This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven.
11 At that moment three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying.
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At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesare'a.
12 The Spirit told me to go with them even though they were Gentiles. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered that man's house.
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And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brethren also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.
13 He reported to us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is known as Peter.
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And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter;
14 He will tell you how you and your entire household can be saved.'
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he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.'
15 When I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as the Spirit fell on us in the beginning.
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As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.
16 I remembered the Lord's words: ‘John will baptize with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
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And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
17 If God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, then who am I? Could I stand in God's way?"
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If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
18 Once the apostles and other believers heard this, they calmed down. They praised God and concluded, "So then God has enabled Gentiles to change their hearts and lives so that they might have new life."
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When they heard this they were silenced. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life."
19 Now those who were scattered as a result of the trouble that occurred because of Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. They proclaimed the word only to Jews.
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Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoeni'cia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except Jews.
20 Among them were some people from Cyprus and Cyrene. They entered Antioch and began to proclaim the good news about the Lord Jesus also to Jews who spoke Greek.
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But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyre'ne, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 The Lord's power was with them, and a large number came to believe and turned to the Lord.
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And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord.
22 When the church in Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
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News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23 When he arrived and saw evidence of God's grace, he was overjoyed and encouraged everyone to remain fully committed to the Lord.
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When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose;
24 Barnabas responded in this way because he was a good man, whom the Holy Spirit had endowed with exceptional faith. A considerable number of people were added to the Lord.
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for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord.
25 Barnabas went to Tarsus in search of Saul.
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So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul;
26 When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. They were there for a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching large numbers of people. It was in Antioch where the disciples were first labeled "Christians."
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and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.
27 About that time, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
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Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 One of them, Agabus, stood up and, inspired by the Spirit, predicted that a severe famine would overtake the entire Roman world. (This occurred during Claudius' rule.)
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And one of them named Ag'abus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world; and this took place in the days of Claudius.
29 The disciples decided they would send support to the brothers and sisters in Judea, with everyone contributing to this ministry according to each person's abundance.
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And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea;
30 They sent Barnabas and Saul to take this gift to the elders.
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and they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.