Continued You know what took place throughout all Judea starting from Galilee After John’s proclamation of baptism. (You know) how Jesus of Nazareth was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and power and he went about doing good and curing all the people oppressed by the devil because God was with him. We are witnesses of all the things he did both in the country of the Jews and Jerusalem. (But) they killed him by hanging him on a tree. This same person was raised by God on the third day

afterwards and God made him visible, not to all the people, but to us, witnesses previously appointed by God. We ate and drank with him after he rose again from the dead. He commanded us to proclaim to the people and give solemn witness that this man is the one designated by God to be judge of the living and of the dead. It is to this man that all the prophets give witness so that forgiveness of sin is to be received though his name by everyone believing in him. While Peter was still speaking these words the Holy Spirit fell on those who

heard him. And those in favour of circumcision who accompanied Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on people of ‘the nations’ as well. They heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter answered. “Nobody can forbid the water of baptism to these people who have received the Holy Spirit in the same way as ourselves.” He commanded that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then the people asked him to remain with them for some days longer.

8. . Be ready to adjust

11:1-18

Jerusalem

Ones of circumcision & Peter

11:1-18 Now the apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the non-Jewish people ('the nations') also received the word of God. When Peter went up to Jerusalem those people who stressed the need for circumcision disputed with him. They were saying. "You went into the houses of people who were uncircumcised and ate with them." Peter began to explain why he did this saying "I was in the city of Joppa praying. And I saw in an ecstasy a vision. It was coming down as a kind of vessel in the shape of a great sheet. The four corners were as though they were being let down out of heaven. It came up to me. Looking into it I perceived the quadrupeds of the earth and the wild beasts and the reptiles and the birds of heaven. I also heard a voice saying to me. "Get up Peter. Kill and eat." I said "Not at all Lord because a common or unclean thing has never gone into my mouth." A second time a voice out of heaven answered. "What God has cleaned, you are not to regard as common." This took place on three occasions and again all the things were

pulled back up to heaven. And behold at once there were three men who stood at the house in which I was staying. They had been sent down from Caesarea to me. The Spirit told me to go with them and doubt nothing. Also there were six brothers who came with me. We entered into the house of the man. He reported to us how he saw the angel in his house standing there and saying. "Send to Joppa and summon Simon who is surnamed Peter. He will speak words to you by which you and all your household may be saved." As I began to speak the Holy Spirit descended on them just as it did onto us at the beginning (of our ministry). Then I remembered the word of the Lord and how he said "John indeed baptized you with water. But you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit." If therefore God gave them a gift equal to what was given to us on believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who I was I to be able to hinder God?" And so on hearing these things they (the ones supporting circumcision) kept silence. They glorified God saying "Then God has also given to non-Jews his repentance into life?"