The verb rendered they stopped their criticism (see New English Bible “their doubts were silenced”) is probably to be taken in this sense rather than as “they were silenced” (Revised Standard Version). The verse affirms that (1) negatively, they stopped their criticism of Peter and (2) positively, they started praising God.

God has given to the Gentiles also the opportunity to repent and live is rendered rather literally in most translations (as an example, see the Revised Standard Version “to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance unto life”). The expression “repentance unto life” means “repentance which leads to life,” thereby providing the basis for translating the opportunity to repent and live.

This last verse of the first section would seem to indicate quite clearly that those who criticized Peter (spoken of in v. 2) were Christians and not Jews.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .