Paul and Barnabas got into a fierce argument with them about this, so it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others in Antioch should go to Jerusalem and see the apostles and elders about this matter.

There was a sharp argument, and they separated: Barnabas took Mark and sailed off for Cyprus,

Do everything without complaining or arguing,

And now send some men to Joppa for a certain man whose full name is Simon Peter.

He is a guest in the home of a tanner of leather named Simon, who lives by the sea."

So get ready and go down, and do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."

Send someone to Joppa for a man whose full name is Simon Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner of leather, who lives by the sea.'

Peter began to speak: "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis.

You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

You know about Jesus of Nazareth and how God poured out on him the Holy Spirit and power. He went everywhere, doing good and healing all who were under the power of the Devil, for God was with him.

But God raised him from death three days later and caused him to appear,

And he commanded us to preach the gospel to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God has appointed judge of the living and the dead.

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who were listening to his message.

For they heard them speaking in strange tongues and praising God's greatness. Peter spoke up:

So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for a few days.

The Spirit told me to go with them without hesitation. These six fellow believers from Joppa accompanied me to Caesarea, and we all went into the house of Cornelius.

He will speak words to you by which you and all your family will be saved.'

Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

When they heard this, they stopped their criticism and praised God, saying, "Then God has given to the Gentiles also the opportunity to repent and live!"

And so I tell you, Peter: you are a rock, and on this rock foundation I will build my church, and not even death will ever be able to overcome it.

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven; what you prohibit on earth will be prohibited in heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."

Then they prayed, "Lord, you know the thoughts of everyone, so show us which of these two you have chosen

The Lord said to him, "Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel.

While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said to them, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them."

The LORD, the God of Israel, chose me and my descendants to rule Israel forever. He chose the tribe of Judah to provide leadership, and out of Judah he chose my father's family. From all that family it was his pleasure to take me and make me king over all Israel.

He gave me many sons, and out of them all he chose Solomon to rule over Israel, the LORD's kingdom.

John answered, "No one can have anything unless God gives it.

You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.

On the contrary, they saw that God had given me the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the task of preaching the gospel to the Jews.

James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be the leaders, recognized that God had given me this special task; so they shook hands with Barnabas and me, as a sign that we were all partners. We agreed that Barnabas and I would work among the Gentiles and they among the Jews.

"My friends," he said, "the scripture had to come true in which the Holy Spirit, speaking through David, made a prediction about Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus.

God announced long ago through all the prophets that his Messiah had to suffer; and he made it come true in this way.

By means of the Holy Spirit you spoke through our ancestor David, your servant, when he said, 'Why were the Gentiles furious; why did people make their useless plots?

Now, go! I will help you to speak, and I will tell you what to say."

Then the LORD reached out, touched my lips, and said to me, "Listen, I am giving you the words you must speak.

So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ.

But I ask: Is it true that they did not hear the message? Of course they did---for as the scripture says: "The sound of their voice went out to all the world; their words reached the ends of the earth."