Деяния апостолов, глава 11,15,22 (Деян. 11,15,22) на английском (nkjv) языке - Новый Завет

«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.

When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

And I heard a voice saying to me, «Rise, Peter; kill and eat.́

But I said, «Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.́

But the voice answered me again from heaven, «What God has cleansed you must not call common.́

Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.

At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea.

Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the mańs house.

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,

who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.́

And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.

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.́

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?»

When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, «Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.»

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.

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.

And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

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.

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.

For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.

Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.

And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.

Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.

This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, «Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.»

Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.

And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, «It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.»

Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.

And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: «Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,

and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.»

Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, «Men and brethren, listen to me:

Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

́After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up;

So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD. Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.́

«Known to God from eternity are all His works.

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,

but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.

For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.»

Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

They wrote this, letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, «You must be circumcised and keep the law» –-to whom we gave no such commandment--

it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.

Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.

And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.

However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.

Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, «Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.»

Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.

But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.

Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;

but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

«Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.»

And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent. Then he said:

«I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fatherś law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today.

I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women,

as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

«Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.

And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, «Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?́

So I answered, «Who are You, Lord?́ And He said to me, «I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.́

«And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.

So I said, «What shall I do, Lord?́ And the Lord said to me, «Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.́

And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

«Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,

came to me; and he stood and said to me, «Brother Saul, receive your sight.́ And at that same hour I looked up at him.

Then he said, «The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.

For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.́

«Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance

and saw Him saying to me, «Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.́

So I said, «Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You.

And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.́

Then He said to me, «Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.»́

And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, «Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!»

Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air,

the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him.

And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, «Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?»

When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, «Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.»

Then the commander came and said to him, «Tell me, are you a Roman?» He said, «Yes.»

The commander answered, «With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.» And Paul said, «But I was born a citizen.»

Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

Acts, Chapters 11-22