Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



NOW the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. And when Peter went up to Jerusalem, they of the circumcision disputed with him, saying, Thou hast gone in to men holding uncircumcision, and hast eaten with them. read more.
Then Peter taking up the matter from the beginning, explained it to them regularly, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying and I saw in a trance a vision, a certain vessel descending as a vast sheet let down from heaven by its four corners; and it came close to me: on which looking attentively, I perceived, and saw the quadrupeds of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the birds of the air. Then I heard a voice saying to me, Rise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, By no means, Lord: for never yet hath any thing common or unclean entered into my mouth. But the voice replied the second time from heaven, What God hath cleansed, call not thou common. Now this was repeated thrice: and the whole withdrawn again into heaven. And, lo! immediately three men stood before the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no hesitation. But with me went also these six brethren, and we entered into the man's house: and he informed us how he had seen an angel in his house, standing and saying to him, Send men to Joppa, and invite Simon, who is surnamed Peter; who will speak words to thee, by which thou mayest be saved, and thy house. So when I had begun to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, just as on us at the beginning. Then I recollected the word of the Lord, how he had said, John indeed baptised with water; but ye shall be baptised with the Holy Ghost. If God then gave an equal gift to them even as to us, on believing on the Lord Jesus Christ; I, indeed, who was I, that I should be able to restrain God? So when they heard these things they were satisfied, and glorified God, saying, Well! then hath God even to the Gentiles given repentance unto life.

When after much dispute, Peter arose, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know that a considerable time ago God chose among us, by my mouth, that the Gentiles should hear the gospel-word, and believe. And God, who is the discerner of the heart, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as to us; and made no difference betwixt either us or them, purifying their hearts by faith. read more.
Why then now tempt ye God, by imposing a yoke on the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the same way as they.