Acts 11: First Called Christians

Peter explained to the believers in Jerusalem how God gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles, and they glorified God for granting the Gentiles repentance to life. Scattered believers preached in Antioch, and a great number turned to the Lord. Barnabas, a good man full of the Spirit and faith, encouraged them and brought Saul to teach there for a year. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch, and they sent relief to the believers in Judea when a famine was foretold.

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World English Bible · 30 verses

¹ Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ When 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter, kill and eat!’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, ‘What God has cleansed, don’t you call unclean.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² The Spirit told me to go with them without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ He 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,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ If 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?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ They 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ But 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Jerusalem. They sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ who, 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ Barnabas went out to Tarsus to look for Saul.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ When 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ One 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ As any of the disciples had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Acts 11 · Preschool

Barnabas Encourages

Name Date

Color the believers in Antioch sharing gifts.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.”

Acts 11:21 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Acts 11 tells how the church in Antioch grew and shared with others. Make a card to encourage someone this week (Acts 11:21).

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Acts 11 · Grade 4

Repentance to Life

Name Date

Read and Think

The apostles heard that Gentiles had received the word of God. Some believers argued with Peter for eating with them. Peter explained everything in order: the vision, the voice, the three men, and the Spirit telling him to go without discriminating.

Peter said that as he began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on the apostles at the beginning. He asked who he was to withstand God. The believers held their peace and glorified God. They said, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!"

Those scattered after Stephen preached as far as Antioch. Some spoke to Greeks about the Lord Jesus, and a great number believed. Barnabas came and saw the grace of God. He urged them to remain near to the Lord with purpose of heart. He brought Saul from Tarsus, and they taught for a whole year.

In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. When Agabus foretold a famine, the disciples gave as each was able. They sent relief to Judea by Barnabas and Saul.

Show What You Know

What question did Peter ask about God?
What did the believers say God had granted the Gentiles?
What did Barnabas urge the believers in Antioch to do?
How did the disciples respond to the famine?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

PeterSpiritheardGodAntioch

The apostles that Gentiles had received the word of God.
Some believers argued with for eating with them.
Peter explained everything in order: the vision, the voice, the three men, and the telling him to go without discriminating.
He asked who he was to withstand .
Those scattered after Stephen preached as far as .

Think About It

Barnabas saw God's grace and was glad. Where have you seen God at work in someone else that you could celebrate?
The new church at Antioch gave to believers far away. How could your family help believers in another place?

Memory Verse

“The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.”

Acts 11:21 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the lesson of First Called Christians. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How did Peter explain what God did?
What made Barnabas a good encourager?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Acts 11 · Grade 5

A Church for Jews and Gentiles

Name Date

Read and Think

News spread that Gentiles had received the word of God, and some of the circumcision party contended with Peter for eating with uncircumcised men. Peter did not argue in general terms; he explained in order what happened: the sheet let down three times, the voice, the three men from Caesarea, and the Spirit's command to go without discriminating. The six brothers who went with him were witnesses.

The decisive point was God's action. As Peter began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles, as on the apostles at the beginning, and Peter remembered Jesus' word about being baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:16). If God gave them the same gift, who was Peter to withstand God? The critics held their peace and glorified God for granting the Gentiles repentance to life (Acts 11:18).

Meanwhile those scattered after Stephen reached Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. At first they spoke only to Jews, but men from Cyprus and Cyrene told the Greeks the good news of the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them. Barnabas, sent from Jerusalem, saw the grace of God and was glad; he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. He sought out Saul in Tarsus, and they taught a great crowd for a whole year.

The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch (Acts 11:26). When Agabus signified by the Spirit a great famine over all the world, which happened in the days of Claudius, the disciples determined, each according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers in Judea, and sent it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Show What You Know

How did Peter answer his critics?
Which word of Jesus did Peter remember?
Who first told the Greeks in Antioch the good news?
To whom was the relief sent?

Crossword

Across

When ____ had come up to Jerusalem.
And we entered into the man’s ____.

Down

The disciples were first called Christians in ____.
The hand of the ____ was with them.
But you will be baptized in the Holy ____.

Think About It

Peter answered criticism by telling what God had done. How might telling your story help when others question your faith?
The church in Antioch was a mix of people that once kept apart. What could help your church welcome people of every background?

Memory Verse

“For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.”

Acts 11:24 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the lesson of First Called Christians. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What does repentance to life mean?
How did the church at Antioch show love for believers far away?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Acts 11: First Called Christians

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Worksheets

Barnabas Encourages

Prayer

Take It Home

The Lord's Hand

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

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The Lord's Hand

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Match the Pictures

First Called Christians

Prayer

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Good News in Antioch

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

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The Church at Antioch

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

First Called Christians

Prayer

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Repentance to Life

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

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Prayer

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A Church for Jews and Gentiles

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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