A paraphrased study
1 - The apostles and brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party (Hebrew believers) criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to the uncircumcised and ate with them!” [Israel was strictly separated from others, in order to birth Messiah, the “savior of the world” into a comparatively prepared nation.] 4 But Peter began to explain to them what had happened, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance [ekstasis - a displacement of the mind, state of ecstasy] and I saw a vision. There was something like a great sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners. It came down to me 6 and looking at it closely, I saw animals and beasts of prey, reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth!’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from above saying, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 And this happened three times. And then “all” [hápas - from háma - all together, and pás - each, every – thus each and every one as a comprehensive unit] was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And look! At that very moment three men arrived at the house, who were sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them. And to ask no questions and make no distinction. These six brothers as well, accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel coming into his house and the angel said, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ [This was now the “good news for all” beginning to earnestly go out to the nations, called gentiles/non-hebrew.] 15 And even as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit(/Presence of God) fell upon them. Just as it had upon us at the beginning [Acts 2]. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So then, if God gave the same gift to them, as he gave to us - when we believed in the Lord Jesus - who was I that I should stand in God's way?!” [An answer to the I.O./Israel only doctrine.] 18 When the brothers heard these things they fell silent, and they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also, God has granted repentance that leads to Life.”
19 Now in those days, those who were scattered because of the persecution that had risen after Stephen’s stoning, had traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the message to no one except to Jews/Hebrews. 20 But there were some, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who upon coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists (Greeks) also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, so they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was happy, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul/Paul. 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church (the believers) and taught a great many people. And it was in Antioch that the followers [mathétés - learners, disciples, pupils] were first called Christians.
27 It was at about this time, that prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the civilized world (and the famine took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the believers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders there by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
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