Acts 2
1 AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,2 When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting.3 And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them.4 And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].5 Now there were then residing in Jerusalem Jews, devout and God-fearing men from every country under heaven.6 And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together and they were astonished and bewildered, because each one heard them [the apostles] speaking in his own [particular] dialect.7 And they were beside themselves with amazement, saying, Are not all these who are talking Galileans?8 Then how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own (particular) dialect to which we were born?9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and [the province of] Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and the transient residents from Rome, both Jews and the proselytes [to Judaism from other religions],11 Cretans and Arabians too--we all hear them speaking in our own native tongues [and telling of] the mighty works of God!12 And all were beside themselves with amazement and were puzzled and bewildered, saying one to another, What can this mean?13 But others made a joke of it and derisively said, They are simply drunk and full of sweet [intoxicating] wine.14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: You Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be [explained] to you so that you will know and understand; listen closely to what I have to say.15 For these men are not drunk, as you imagine, for it is [only] the third hour (about 9:00 a.m.) of the day;16 But [instead] this is [the beginning of] what was spoken through the prophet Joel:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams.18 Yes, and on My menservants also and on My maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God’s kingdom].19 And I will show wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and smoking vapor;20 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the obvious day of the Lord comes--that great and notable and conspicuous and renowned [day].21 And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord--Christ] shall be saved. 22 You men of Israel, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and shown forth and commended and attested to you by God by the mighty works and [the power of performing] wonders and signs which God worked through Him [right] in your midst, as you yourselves know--23 This Jesus, when delivered up according to the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way [killing Him] by the hands of lawless and wicked men.24 [But] God raised Him up, liberating Him from the pangs of death, seeing that it was not possible for Him to continue to be controlled or retained by it.25 For David says in regard to Him, I saw the Lord constantly before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down [from my secure and happy state].26 Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted exceedingly; moreover, my flesh also will dwell in hope [will encamp, pitch its tent, and dwell in hope in anticipation of the resurrection].27 For You will not abandon my soul, leaving it helpless in Hades (the state of departed spirits), nor let Your Holy One know decay or see destruction [of the body after death].28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will enrapture me [diffusing my soul with joy] with and in Your presence. 29 Brethren, it is permitted me to tell you confidently and with freedom concerning the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.30 Being however a prophet, and knowing that God had sealed to him with an oath that He would set one of his descendants on his throne, [II Sam. 7:12-16; Ps. 132:11.]31 He, foreseeing this, spoke [by foreknowledge] of the resurrection of the Christ (the Messiah) that He was not deserted [in death] and left in Hades (the state of departed spirits), nor did His body know decay or see destruction. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all we [His disciples] are witnesses.33 Being therefore lifted high by and to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promised [blessing which is the] Holy Spirit, He has made this outpouring which you yourselves both see and hear.34 For David did not ascend into the heavens; yet he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand and share My throne35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet. 36 Therefore let the whole house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt and acknowledge assuredly that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (the Messiah)--this Jesus Whom you crucified.37 Now when they heard this they were stung (cut) to the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles (special messengers), Brethren, what shall we do?38 And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39 For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away, [even] to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself. 40 And [Peter] solemnly and earnestly witnessed (testified) and admonished (exhorted) with much more continuous speaking and warned (reproved, advised, encouraged) them, saying, Be saved from this crooked (perverse, wicked, unjust) generation.41 Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.42 And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord’s Supper] and prayers.43 And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers).44 And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common;45 And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need.46 And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord’s Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts,47 Constantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily those who were being saved [from spiritual death].
Acts 2
The Holy Spirit and the Day of Pentecost
1 Nowt when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.2 Suddenlyt a soundt like a violent wind blowingt came from heavent and filled the entire house where they were sitting.3 And tongues spreading out like a firet appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them.
4 Allt of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languagests as the Spirit enabled them.t
5 Now there were devout Jewst from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem.ts6 When this soundt occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion,t because each one heard them speaking in his own language.7 Completely baffled, they said,t “Aren’tt all these who are speaking Galileans?8 And how is it that each one of us hears themt in our own native language?t9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the province of Asia,t10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene,t and visitors from Rome,s11 both Jews and proselytes,s Cretans and Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!”t12 All were astounded and greatly confused, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13 But others jeered at the speakers,t saying, “They are drunk on new wine!”ts
Peter’s Address on the Day of Pentecost
14 But Peter stood upt with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “You men of Judeat and all you who live in Jerusalem,s know thist and listen carefully to what I say.15 In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk,t for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.t
16 But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:s
17 ‘And in the last dayssit will be,’ God says,
‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people,t
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
and your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants,tboth men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.s
19 And I will perform wonders in the skytabove
and miraculous signston the earth below,
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will be changed to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the great and glorioustday of the Lord comes.
21 And thenteveryone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’s
22 “Men of Israel,t listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds,t wonders, and miraculous signst that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know –23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executedt by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles.t24 But God raised him up,t having releasedt him from the painss of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power.t
25 For David says about him,
‘I saw the Lord always in front of me,t
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced;
my bodytalso will live in hope,
27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades,t
nor permit your Holy One to experiencetdecay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of joy with your presence.’s
29 “Brothers,t I can speak confidentlys to you about our forefathert David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.30 So then, becauset he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendantston his throne,s31 David by foreseeing thist spoke about the resurrection of the Christ,ts that he was neither abandoned to Hades,t nor did his bodytexperiencetdecay.s32 This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it.t33 So then, exaltedt to the right hands of God, and having receivedt the promise of the Holy Spiritt from the Father, he has poured outs what you both see and hear.
34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my lord,
“Sitsat my right hand
35 until I make your enemies a footstoolsfor your feet.”’s
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubtt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucifiedt both Lords and Christ.”ts
The Response to Peter’s Address
37 Now when they heard this,t they were acutely distressedt and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What should we do, brothers?”38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptizedt in the name of Jesus Christts fort the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.t39 For the promises is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”40 With many other words he testifiedt and exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this perverset generation!”
41 So those who acceptedt his messaget were baptized, and that day about three thousand peoplet were added.t
The Fellowship of the Early Believers
42 They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,s to the breaking of bread and to prayer.t43 Reverential awet came over everyone,t and many wonders and miraculous signst came about by the apostles.44 All who believed were together and heldt everything in common,45 and they began sellingt their propertyt and possessions and distributing the proceedst to everyone, as anyone had need.46 Every dayt they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts,t breaking bread fromt house to house, sharing their food with glads and humble hearts,t
47 praising God and having the good willt of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every dayt those who were being saved.