34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritismq 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.r 36 You know the messages God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good newst of peaceu through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.v 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—38 how God anointedw Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healingx all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.y

39 “We are witnessesz of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,a 40 but God raised him from the deadb on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people,c but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ated and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the peoplee and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.f 43 All the prophets testify about himg that everyoneh who believesi in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”j

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came onk all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peterl were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured outm even on Gentiles.n 46 For they heard them speaking in tonguesb o and praising God.

Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.p They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”q 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.r Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Peter Explains His Actions

11 The apostles and the believerss throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.t 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believersu criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”v

4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision.w I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’x 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesareay stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit toldz me to have no hesitation about going with them.a These six brothersb also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angelc appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a messaged through which you and all your householde will be saved.’

15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came onf them as he had come on us at the beginning.g 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized witha water,h but you will be baptized withb the Holy Spirit.’i 17 So if God gave them the same giftj he gave usk who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”l