First ReadingActs 11:1-18
From the Acts of the Apostles
1Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heardthat the Gentiles had also received the word of God.2When Peter had come up to Jerusalem,those who were of the circumcision contended with him,3saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
4But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,5“I was in the city of Joppa praying,and in a trance I saw a vision:a certain container descending,like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners.It came as far as me.6When I had looked intently at it,I considered,and saw the four-footed animals of the earth,wild animals, creeping things,and birds of the sky.7I also heard a voice saying to me,‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’8But I said, ‘Not so,Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’9But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven,‘What God has cleansed,don’t you call unclean.’10This was done three times,and all were drawn up again into heaven.11Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was,having been sent from Caesarea to me.12The Spirit told me to go with them without discriminating.These six brothers also accompanied me,and we entered into the man’s house.13He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying to him,‘Send to Joppa and get Simon,who is called Peter,14who will speak to you words by which you will be saved,you and all your house.’15As I began to speak,the Holy Spirit fell on them,even as on us at the beginning.16I remembered the word of the Lord,how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water,but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’17If then God gave to them the same gift as uswhen we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ,who was I, that I could withstand God?”
18When they heard these things,they held their peace and glorified God,saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”