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Now the apostles and ^(C1)the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, ^(F1)(C1)the Jewish believers took issue with him,

saying, "^(C1)You ^(F1)went to ^(F2)uncircumcised men and ate with them."

But Peter began and explained at length to them ^(C1)in an orderly sequence, saying,

"^(C1)I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw ^(C2)a vision, an ^(F1)object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came to where I was,

and I stared at it and was thinking about it, and I saw the four-footed animals of the earth, the wild animals, the ^(F1)crawling creatures, and the birds of the sky.

"I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; ^(F1)kill and eat.'

"But I said, 'By no means, Lord, for nothing ^(F1)unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'

"But a voice from heaven answered a second time, '^(C1)What God has cleansed, no longer ^(F1)consider unholy.'

"This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky.

"And behold, at that moment three men who had been sent to me from ^(C1)Caesarea came up to the house where we were staying.

"^(C1)And the Spirit told me to go with them ^(C2)without ^(F1)misgivings. ^(C3)These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house.

"And he reported to us how he had seen the angel ^(F1)standing in his house, and saying, 'Send some men to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;

and he will speak ^(C1)words to you by which you will be saved, you and ^(C2)all your household.'

"And as I began to speak, ^(C1)the Holy Spirit fell upon them just ^(C2)as He did upon us at the beginning.

"And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, '^(C1)John baptized with water, but you will be baptized ^(F1)with the Holy Spirit.'

"Therefore, if ^(C1)God gave them the same gift as He also gave to us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(C2)who was I that I could ^(F1)stand in God's way?"

When they heard this, they ^(F1)quieted down and ^(C1)glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has also granted to the Gentiles the ^(C2)repentance that leads to life."

^(C1)So then those who were scattered because of the ^(F1)persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way ^(F2)to ^(C2)Phoenicia, ^(C3)Cyprus, and ^(C4)Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.

But there were some of them, men of ^(C1)Cyprus and ^(C2)Cyrene, who came to ^(C3)Antioch and began speaking to the ^(F1)(C4)Greeks as well, ^(C5)preaching the good news of the Lord Jesus.

And ^(C1)the hand of the Lord was with them, and ^(C2)a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

The ^(F1)news about them ^(F2)reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent ^(C1)Barnabas off ^(F3)to ^(C2)Antioch.

Then when he arrived and ^(F1)witnessed ^(C1)the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with ^(F2)resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;

for he was a good man, and ^(C1)full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And ^(F1)(C2)considerable numbers were added to the Lord.

And he left for ^(C1)Tarsus to look for Saul;

and when he had found him, he brought him to ^(C1)Antioch. And for an entire year they ^(F1)met with the church and taught ^(F2)considerable numbers of people; and ^(C2)the disciples were first called ^(C3)Christians in ^(C1)Antioch.

Now ^(F1)at this time some ^(C1)prophets came down from Jerusalem to ^(C2)Antioch.

One of them, named ^(C1)Agabus, stood up and ^(F1)indicated ^(F2)by the Spirit that there would definitely be a severe famine ^(C2)all over the ^(F3)world. ^(F4)And this took place in the reign of ^(C3)Claudius.

And to the extent that any of ^(C1)the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the ^(F1)relief of ^(C2)the brothers and sisters living in Judea.

^(C1)And they did this, sending it ^(F1)with ^(C2)Barnabas and Saul to the ^(C3)elders.

Now after ^(C1)five days the high priest ^(C2)Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they ^(F1)brought charges against Paul to ^(C3)the governor.

After ^(F1)Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began accusing him, saying to the governor, "Since we have attained great peace through you, and since reforms are being carried out for this nation by your foresight,

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we acknowledge this in every way and everywhere, ^(C1)most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.

"But, that I may not ^(F1)weary you further, I beg you ^(F2)to grant us a brief hearing, by your kindness.

"For we have found this man a public menace and one who stirs up dissensions among all the Jews throughout ^(F1)the world, and a ringleader of the ^(C1)sect of the Nazarenes.

"And he even tried to ^(C1)desecrate the temple, so indeed we arrested him.^(F1)

By interrogating him yourself concerning all these matters, you will be able to ascertain the things of which we are accusing him."

^(C1)The Jews also joined in the attack, asserting that these things were so.

And when ^(C1)the governor had nodded for him to speak, Paul responded: "Knowing that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, I cheerfully make my defense,

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since you can take note of the fact that no more than ^(C1)twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship.

"^(C1)And neither in the temple did they find me carrying on a discussion with anyone or ^(C2)causing ^(F1)a riot, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city itself.

"^(C1)Nor can they prove to you the things of which they now accuse me.

"But I confess this to you, that in accordance with ^(F1)(C1)the Way, which they call a ^(C2)sect, I do serve ^(C3)the God of our fathers, ^(C4)believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and is written in the Prophets;

having a hope in God, which ^(C1)these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

"In view of this ^(C1)I also do my best to maintain a blameless conscience both before God and before other people, always.

"Now ^(C1)after several years I ^(C2)came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and to present offerings,

in which they found me occupied in the temple, having been ^(C1)purified, without any ^(C2)crowd or uproar. But there were some ^(C3)Jews from ^(F1)Asia—

who ought to have been present before you and to have been ^(C1)bringing charges, if they should have anything against me.

"Or else have these men themselves declare what violation they discovered when I stood before ^(C1)the ^(F1)Council,

other than in regard to this one declaration which ^(C1)I shouted while standing among them, 'For the resurrection of the dead I am on trial before you today!'"

But Felix, ^(F1)having quite accurate knowledge about ^(F2)(C1)the Way, adjourned them, saying, "When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case."

He gave orders to the centurion for ^(F1)Paul to be ^(C1)kept in custody and yet ^(C2)have some freedom, and not to prevent any of ^(C3)his friends from providing for his needs.

Now some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla his ^(F1)wife, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about ^(C1)faith in Christ Jesus.

But as he was discussing ^(C1)righteousness, ^(C2)self-control, and ^(C3)the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and responded, "Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will summon you."

At the same time he was also hoping that ^(C1)money would be given to him by Paul; therefore he also used to send for him quite often and talk with him.

But after two years had passed, Felix ^(F1)was succeeded by Porcius ^(C1)Festus; and Felix, ^(C2)wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul ^(C3)imprisoned.