1
The apostles and the brothers in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

2
When Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him,

3
saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

4
But Peter explained everything to them in order, saying:

5
“I was praying in the city of Joppa, and in a trance I saw a vision: something like a great sheet, let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me.

6
I looked closely at it, and I saw in it all kinds of four-footed animals and wild beasts and creeping things and birds.

7
Then I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’

8
But I said, ‘No, Lord, no; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

9
But a second time a voice from heaven answered me, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call common.’

10
This happened three times, and then everything was drawn up again into heaven.

11
And at that very moment three men stood before the house where we were staying; they had been sent to me from Caesarea.

12
The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. And these six brothers accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.

13
He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter.

14
He will speak a message to you 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
Then I remembered the word of the Lord: ‘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 to stand in God’s way?”

18
When they heard these things, they were quiet, and they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

19
Meanwhile many of the brothers had been scattered because of the persecution that arose after Stephen was put to death. They were scattered as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch; yet they spoke the word to no one except Jews.

20
But among them there were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who came to Antioch and spoke also to the Greeks, preaching the gospel that Jesus is Lord.

21
And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

22
Then news of these things came to the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.

23
When Barnabas came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced. He exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord,

24
for Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a number were brought to the Lord.

25
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch.

26
They stayed with the church there for a whole year, teaching many people. And it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

27
At that time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.

28
One of them, named Agabus, stood up and by the power of the Spirit he said that a great famine would come upon the whole world. This also happened in the days of Claudius.

29
Then the disciples decided to gather a contribution, according to each one’s ability, and send it to the brothers who lived in Judea.

30
They did this, and they sent it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

📖 Acts 11 – The Gospel for All & the Beginning of the Church in Antioch

🧾 Summary of Acts 11

Acts 11 continues the events from the previous chapter, when Peter preached the gospel to Cornelius and the Gentiles. Here, Peter must give an account of his actions to the church in Jerusalem. Also, we see the beginning of the church in Antioch, where followers of Christ were first called “Christians.”

✨ Explanation of the Passage

1. Peter Defends His Ministry to the Gentiles (verses 1–18)

The believers in Jerusalem, especially those from among the Jews, criticized Peter for going into the house of the uncircumcised and eating with them.
Peter explains from the beginning:
- His vision of the sheet from heaven containing unclean animals.
- The Lord’s command: “What God has made clean, do not call unclean.”
- The coming of Cornelius’s messengers and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit coming upon Cornelius and the Gentiles, as happened on the day of Pentecost.
He said:

“If God gave the same gift to them as to us… who was I that I could hinder God?” (Acts 11:17)

At last they were silent and glorified God, because salvation had also been granted to the Gentiles.

2. The Church Grows in Antioch (verses 19–26)

After the persecution that arose because of Stephen’s death, the disciples were scattered to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch.
They began to proclaim the Gospel not only to Jews, but also to Greeks (non-Jews).
Many believed and turned to the Lord.
The report reached Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
Barnabas saw the grace of God and rejoiced. He encouraged them to remain faithful to the Lord.
Barnabas went to Tarsus to bring Saul (Paul) and brought him to Antioch.
There they taught for a full year.

“In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.” (Acts 11:26)

3. Aid for the Church in Judea (verses 27–30)

Some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
A man named Agabus prophesied that there would be a great famine.
The church in Antioch, which was mostly non-Jewish, gathered relief and sent it to the brothers in Judea through Barnabas and Saul.

📘 Main Teaching of Acts 11

Ministry across cultures is God’s plan, not a departure from tradition.
Peter submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit, even though it went against Jewish custom.
Believers are called to leave exclusiveness behind and welcome all whom God calls.
Antioch becomes a model mission church—multiethnic, active in proclaiming the Gospel, and caring for the needs of others.
The name “Christian” was born from a life identity that resembles Christ.

✨ Spiritual Meaning of Acts 11

The Lord is forming a global church that crosses the boundaries of race, culture, and tradition.
A personal experience with the Lord must be able to be accounted for and explained with humility.
Peter’s obedience and the generosity of the Antioch church reflect a church led by the Holy Spirit.
A healthy church is a missionary church, full of love, and united in faith.