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Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
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And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,
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saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!"
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But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying:
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"I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me.
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When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.
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And I heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.'
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But I said, 'Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.'
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But the voice answered me again from heaven, 'What God has cleansed you must not call common.'
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Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
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At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.
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Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man's house.
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And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter,
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who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.'
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And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.
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Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
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If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?"
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When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."
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Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.
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But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
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And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
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Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
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When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
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For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.