Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, saying: You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them. read more.
And Peter began, and laid the matter before them in order, saying: I was in the city of Joppa, praying; and, while in a trance, I saw a vision, some vessel like a great sheet, descending, let down from heaven by the four corners; and it came even to me. When I had looked attentively into it, I observed and saw four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the air. And I heard a voice saying to me, Rise, Peter, kill and eat. But I said, By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth. But the voice answered me a second time from heaven, What God has cleansed, you must not call common. This was done the third time, and all was drawn up again into heaven. And behold, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea, immediately came to the house where I was. And the Spirit commanded me to go with them without hesitation. And these six brethren accompanied me. And we entered the man's house: and he told us how he had seen an angel in his house, standing and saying to him, Send to Joppa and call for Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he will tell you words by which you and all your house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, as he said, John immersed in water, but you shall be immersed in the Holy Spirit. If, then, God gave them the like gift that he gave to us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I, that I could withstand God? And when they heard these things, they ceased to contend; and they glorified God, saying: Then, indeed, has God given to the Gentiles also repentance in order to life.

And after there had been much disputing, Peter arose, and said to them: Brethren, you know that, at the beginning, God made choice among us, that, by my mouth, the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel, and believe. And God, who knows the heart, became a witness for them, by giving them the Holy Spirit, as he gave it also to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. read more.
Now, therefore, why do you put God to the proof, by placing a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers, nor we ourselves, were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved, even as they, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.