Peter’s Report at Jerusalem

1In the mean time, the apostles, and the brethren, who were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles had likewise receiv'd the word of God. 2and when Peter was return'd to Jerusalem, the Jewish converts objected to his conduct, 3and ask'd him, why did you go to eat with the uncircumcised? 4but Peter represented the whole affair to them, 5saying, as I was at prayers in Joppa, I saw something like a great sheet, tied at the four corners, which descended from heaven, and came just to me. 6as I was considering it very attentively, I saw several quadrupeds, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7then I heard a voice, which said, rise, Peter; kill and eat. 8but I said, Lord, by no means: for I never did eat any thing impure, and defiled. 9but the voice from heaven address'd it self to me again, and said, don't call that impure, which God has purified. 10this was done three times, and then the whole scene was mounted to heaven. 11at that very instant three men, dispatch'd from Cesarea to me, were just arrived at the house, where I was. 12and the spirit bid me make no difficulty of going with them, these six brethren accompany'd me, and we went together to the man's house. 13he told us how he had seen an angel, who had presented himself to him, and had said, send to Joppa, to fetch Simon, surnam'd Peter: 14who will give you such instructions, as will be the means of saving both you and all your family. 15and while I was speaking to them, the holy spirit descended upon them, as it did on us, at the beginning. 16then I remember'd that expression of the Lord, "John baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the holy spirit." 17if therefore God has bestow'd the same favour upon them, as on us, after we had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I make any opposition to the divine will? 18Having heard this, they were appeas'd, and glorified God, saying, God has then granted salvation likewise to the gentiles, on the terms of their repentance.

The Church at Antioch

19In the mean time they who were dispers'd upon the persecution that arose after Stephen's time, had travell'd as far as Phenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, without preaching the gospel to any, but Jews only. 20some of them were of Cyprus and Cyrene, and upon their arrival at Antioch they address'd themselves to the Greeks, and preach'd to them the Lord Jesus. 21and as the divine assistance accompany'd them, a great number of persons believed and became converts. 22Of this the church at Jerusalem being appriz'd, they order'd Barnabas to go to Antioch; 23who upon his arrival there, was glad to see such effects of the divine grace, and exhorted them all to remain firmly attach'd to the christian profession: 24for he was a good man, and full of the holy spirit and of faith: so that many converts were added to the church. 25at length Barnabas departed to Tarsus in quest of Saul, and having found him, he conducted him to Antioch: 26where they resided a whole year with that church, and instructed abundance of disciples, and these disciples were the first that were denominated Christians.

27About that time some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch: 28and one of them named Agabus foretold by the spirit, that there should be a great famine, thro' all the world: which accordingly happen'd in the reign of Claudius Cesar. 29then the disciples determin'd to send, each of them answerably to his abilities, some relief to the brethren residing in Judea: which they actually perform'd, 30and sent it by the hands of Saul and Barnabas to the presbyters at Jerusalem.