Acts · Literal Standard Version
Acts 11 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And the apostles and the brothers who are in Judea heard that the nations also received the word of God,
1 Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
2 and when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of circumcision were contending with him,
2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,
3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!”
3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
4 And Peter having begun, set [it] forth to them in order, saying,
4 But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,
5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and I saw in a trance a vision, a certain vessel coming down, as a great sheet by four corners being let down out of Heaven, and it came to me;
5 “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.
6 at which having looked steadfastly, I was considering, and I saw the four-footed beasts of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the birds of the sky;
6 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.
7 and I heard a voice saying to me, Having risen, Peter, slay and eat;
7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’
8 and I said, Not so, Lord, because anything common or unclean has at no time entered into my mouth;
8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’
9 and a voice answered me a second time out of Heaven, What God cleansed, you do not declare common.
9 But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’
10 And this happened three times, and again was all drawn up to Heaven,
10 This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 and behold, immediately, three men stood at the house in which I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me,
11 Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.
12 and the Spirit said to me to go with them, doubting nothing, and these six brothers also went with me, and we entered into the house of the man,
12 The Spirit told me to go with them without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house.
13 he also declared to us how he saw the messenger standing in his house, and saying to him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter,
13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying to him, ‘Send to Joppa and get Simon, who is called Peter,
14 who will speak sayings by which you will be saved, you and all your house.
14 who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’
15 And in my beginning to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as also on us in the beginning,
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
16 and I remembered the saying of the LORD, how He said, John indeed immersed in water, but you will be immersed in the Holy Spirit;
16 I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’
17 if then God gave to them the equal gift as also to us, having believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, I—how was I able to withstand God?”
17 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?”
18 And they, having heard these things, were silent, and were glorifying God, saying, “Then, indeed, God also gave conversion to life to the nations.”
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”
19 Those, indeed, therefore, having been scattered abroad, from the tribulation that came after Stephen, went through to Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none except to Jews only;
19 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.
20 and there were certain of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who having entered into Antioch, were speaking to the Hellenists, proclaiming good news—the Lord Jesus,
20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 and the hand of the LORD was with them, a great number also, having believed, turned to the LORD.
21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 And the account was heard in the ears of the assembly that [is] in Jerusalem concerning them, and they sent forth Barnabas to go through to Antioch,
22 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,
23 who, having come, and having seen the grace of God, was glad, and was exhorting all with purpose of heart to cleave to the LORD,
23 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.
24 because he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit, and of faith, and a great multitude was added to the LORD.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.
25 And Barnabas went forth to Tarsus, to seek for Saul,
25 Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.
26 and having found him, he brought him to Antioch, and it came to pass that they assembled together a whole year in the assembly, and taught a great multitude, and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
26 When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
27 And in those days there came from Jerusalem prophets to Antioch,
27 Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 and one of them, by name Agabus, having stood up, signified through the Spirit a great scarcity is about to be throughout all the world—which also came to pass in the time of Claudius Caesar—
28 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.
29 and the disciples, according as anyone was prospering, determined each of them to send for ministry to the brothers dwelling in Judea,
29 As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;
30 which also they did, having sent to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
30 which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Agabus
A prophet who foretold a great famine in the days of Claudius and later bound his feet and hands with Paul's belt to predict Paul's arrest at Jerusalem.
Cited in the guide: Acts 11:28; Acts 21:10
Barnabas
A Levite from Cyprus named Joseph and nicknamed Barnabas, 'son of encouragement,' who sold a field for the church, brought Saul to the apostles, and traveled with him as a…
Cited in the guide: Acts 4:36; Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22
Claudius
The emperor in whose reign the great famine predicted by Agabus occurred; he ordered all Jews to leave Rome, which brought Aquila and Priscilla to Corinth.
Cited in the guide: Acts 11:28; Acts 18:2
Places
Antioch (Syrian)
The empire's third-largest city and the first major Gentile church — the launching base for Paul's journeys. (Distinct from Pisidian Antioch.)
Cited in the guide: Acts 11:26; Acts 13:1-3; Galatians 2:11
Cross references (29)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Psalm 22:27; Malachi 1:11; Romans 15:7–12; Isaiah 32:15; Acts 14:27
- 2 Acts 10:45; Acts 15:1; Galatians 2:12–14; Acts 21:20–23; Acts 10:9
- 3 Acts 10:28; Galatians 2:12; Luke 15:2; Acts 10:23; 1 Corinthians 5:11
- 4 Luke 1:3; Acts 14:27; Joshua 22:21–31; Proverbs 15:1
- 5 Acts 10:9–32; Amos 8:2; Acts 22:17; Amos 7:4–7; Acts 9:10
- 6 Luke 4:20; Acts 3:4
- 8 Romans 14:14; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Hosea 9:3; Leviticus 10:10; Leviticus 11:47
- 9 Acts 15:9; Hebrews 9:13–14; Acts 10:34–35; Acts 10:28; 1 Timothy 4:5
- 10 John 13:38; John 21:17; Numbers 24:10; 2 Corinthians 12:8
- 11 Acts 9:10–12; Exodus 4:27; Exodus 4:14; Acts 10:17–18
- 12 Acts 8:29; Romans 3:22; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; Acts 10:23; Acts 10:45
- 13 Acts 10:30–32; Acts 10:22; Acts 9:43; Acts 10:3–6; Acts 12:11
- 14 Acts 16:15; Acts 10:22; Acts 16:31–34; Acts 10:2; Genesis 17:7
- 15 Acts 19:6; Acts 10:34–46; Acts 2:2–12; Acts 4:31
- 16 Acts 1:5; Mark 1:8; Proverbs 1:23; Luke 3:16; Matthew 3:11
- 17 Acts 10:47; Romans 9:20–26; Romans 11:34–36; Job 33:13; Acts 15:8–9
- 18 Romans 10:12–13; 2 Corinthians 7:10; Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Timothy 2:25–26; Acts 20:21
- 19 Acts 15:35; Acts 15:3; Acts 21:2; Acts 4:36; Acts 15:22
- 20 Acts 13:1; Matthew 27:32; Ephesians 3:8; Acts 6:9; Acts 2:10
- 21 Acts 2:47; Luke 1:66; Acts 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Acts 9:35
- 22 Acts 9:27; Acts 15:22; Acts 8:14; Acts 11:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:6
- 23 1 Corinthians 15:58; Acts 14:22; 1 John 2:28; Acts 13:43; 2 Timothy 3:10
- 24 Acts 5:14; Acts 11:21; Psalm 112:5; Acts 9:31; Acts 6:5
- 25 Acts 9:11; Acts 9:30; Acts 9:27; Acts 21:39
- 26 1 Peter 4:16; Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:14; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 12:12
- 27 Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11; Matthew 23:34; Acts 15:32
- 28 Acts 21:10; Acts 18:2; Luke 2:1; Luke 3:1; 1 Kings 17:1–16
- 29 2 Corinthians 8:12–14; 2 Corinthians 8:2–4; Galatians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 16:1–2; Romans 15:25–27
- 30 Acts 12:25; Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 5:17; Acts 15:6; Acts 15:4
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The persecution turned out to be no slight benefit as "to them that love God all things work together for good." (Rom. viii. 28.) If they had made it their express study how best to establish the Church, they would have done no other thing than this--they dispersed the teachers. Mark in what quarters the preaching was extended.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 11 (1889)
Then the disciples, every one according to his ability, determined to send relief to the elders for the brethren which dwelt in Judæa, which also they did by the hands of Barnabas and Saul." And in the case of the necessaries presented to him, wherewith the same Apostle Paul when setting sail was laden, food seems to have been furnished …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
And ye, when there is a question of precedence, claim to take place of the whole word, forasmuch as our city first crowned itself with the name of Christian; but in the competition of chastity, ye are not ashamed to be behind the rudest cities.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians after the Lord's ascension, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles: and certain houses were afterwards called by the new names of hospices and monasteries; but the things themselves existed prior to their names, and are confirmed by religious truth, which also forms their defense against …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
For although the disciples of Christ were not yet called by such a name,--because it was after His ascension, in Antioch, first that the disciples began to be called Christians, --yet the thing itself, that afterwards assumed such a name, already existed, those who were afterwards called Christians were already disciples; and this common name, like the common faith, they …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)