[1] Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy,

the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. [2]

He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. [3] Paul wanted

Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the

Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. [4]

As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for

observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who

were in Jerusalem. [5] So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they

increased in numbers daily.

[1] Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the

Gentiles also had received the word of God. [2] So when Peter went up to

Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, [3] “You went to

uncircumcised men and ate with them.” [4] But Peter began and explained it to

them in order: [5] “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a

vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by

its four corners, and it came down to me. [6] Looking at it closely, I observed

animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. [7] And I heard a

voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ [8] But I said, ‘By no means, Lord;

for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ [9] But the voice

answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call

common.’ [10] This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into

heaven. [11] And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in

which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. [12] And the Spirit told me to go with

them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we

entered the man’s house. [13] And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in

his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; [14] he

will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your

household.’ [15] As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at

the beginning. [16] And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John

baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ [17] 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 stand in God’s way?” [18] When they heard these

things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also

God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

[19] Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over

Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word

to no one except Jews. [20] But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and

Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the

Lord Jesus. [21] And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number

who believed turned to the Lord. [22] The report of this came to the ears of the

church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. [23] 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] for he was a good man, full of the Holy

Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. [25] So

Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, [26] and when he had found him, he

brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a

great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

[6] And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been

forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. [7] And when they had

come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did

not allow them. [8] So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. [9] And a

vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there,

urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” [10] And when

Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia,

concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.