Day 320 of 364

^11:1Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. ^11:2When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, ^11:3saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!” ^11:4But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying, ^11:5“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. ^11:6When 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. ^11:7I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’ ^11:8But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’ ^11:9But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’ ^11:10This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. ^11:11Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. ^11:12The Spirit told me to go with them without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house. ^11:13He 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, ^11:14who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’ ^11:15As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. ^11:16I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’ ^11:17If then God gave to them the same gift as us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?” ^11:18When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!” ^11:19They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews only. ^11:20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. ^11:21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. ^11:22The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch, ^11:23who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they should remain near to the Lord. ^11:24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord. ^11:25Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul. ^11:26When he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they were gathered together with the assembly, and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. ^11:27Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ^11:28One of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine all over the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius. ^11:29As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; ^11:30which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. ^12:1Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. ^12:2He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. ^12:3When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened bread. ^12:4When he had arrested him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of four soldiers each to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. ^12:5Peter therefore was kept in the prison, but constant prayer was made by the assembly to God for him. ^12:6The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison. ^12:7And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Stand up quickly!” His chains fell off his hands. ^12:8The angel said to him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” He did so. He said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” ^12:9And he went out and followed him. He didn’t know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he saw a vision. ^12:10When they were past the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened to them by itself. They went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. ^12:11When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.” ^12:12Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. ^12:13When Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ^12:14When she recognized Peter’s voice, she didn’t open the gate for joy, but ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. ^12:15They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” ^12:16But Peter continued knocking. When they had opened, they saw him and were amazed. ^12:17But he, beckoning to them with his hand to be silent, declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. ^12:18Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. ^12:19When Herod had sought for him and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, then commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there. ^12:20Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. ^12:21On an appointed day, Herod dressed himself in royal clothing, sat on the throne, and gave a speech to them. ^12:22The people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” ^12:23Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he didn’t give God the glory. Then he was eaten by worms and died. ^12:24But the word of God grew and multiplied. ^12:25Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.