1. The apostles and the brothers and sisters throughout Judea heard that even the Gentiles had welcomed God’s word.
2. When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him.
3. They accused him, "You went into the home of the uncircumcised and ate with them!"
4. Step-by-step, Peter explained what had happened.
5. "I was in the city of Joppa praying when I had a visionary experience. In my vision, I saw something like a large linen sheet being lowered from heaven by its four corners. It came all the way down to me.
6. As I stared at it, wondering what it was, I saw four-legged animals—including wild beasts—as well as reptiles and wild birds.
7. I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!’
8. I responded, ‘Absolutely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
9. The voice from heaven spoke a second time, ‘Never consider unclean what God has made pure.’
10. This happened three times, then everything was pulled back into heaven.
11. At that moment three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying.