Acts 2

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.2 Suddenly a noise like a strong, blowing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.3 They saw something like flames of fire that were separated and stood over each person there.4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages 5 There were some religious Jews staying in Jerusalem who were from every country in the world.6 When they heard this noise, a crowd came together. They were all surprised, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.7 They were completely amazed at this. They said, “Look! Aren’t all these people that we hear speaking from Galilee?8 Then how is it possible that we each hear them in our own languages? We are from different places:9 Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near Cyrene, Rome11 (both Jews and those who had become Jews), Crete, and Arabia. But we hear them telling in our own languages about the great things God has done!”

12 They were all amazed and confused, asking each other, “What does this mean?”

13 But others were making fun of them, saying, “They have had too much wine.”

Peter Speaks to the People

14 But Peter stood up with the eleven apostles, and in a loud voice he spoke to the crowd: “My fellow Jews, and all of you who are in Jerusalem, listen to me. Pay attention to what I have to say.15 These people are not drunk, as you think; it is only nine o’clock in the morning!

16 But Joel the prophet wrote about what is happening here today:

17 ‘God says: In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

18 At that time I will pour out my Spirit also on my male slaves and female slaves, and they will prophesy.

19 I will show miracles in the sky and on the earth: blood, fire, and thick smoke.

20 The sun will become dark, the moon red as blood, before the overwhelming and glorious day of the Lord will come.

21 Then anyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.’ t
22 “People of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a very special man. God clearly showed this to you by the miracles, wonders, and signs he did through Jesus. You all know this, because it happened right here among you.23 Jesus was given to you, and with the help of those who don’t know the law, you put him to death by nailing him to a cross. But this was God’s plan which he had made long ago; he knew all this would happen.24 God raised Jesus from the dead and set him free from the pain of death, because death could not hold him.

25 For David said this about him:
‘I keep the Lord before me always. Because he is close by my side, I will not be hurt.

26 So I am glad, and I rejoice. Even my body has hope,

27 because you will not leave me in the grave. You will not let your Holy One rot.

28 You will teach me how to live a holy life. Being with you will fill me with joy.’ t
29 “Brothers and sisters, I can tell you truly that David, our ancestor, died and was buried. His grave is still here with us today.30 He was a prophet and knew God had promised him that he would make a person from David’s family a king just as he was. 

31 Knowing this before it happened, David talked about the Christ rising from the dead. He said:
‘He was not left in the grave. His body did not rot.’
32 So Jesus is the One whom God raised from the dead. And we are all witnesses to this.33 Jesus was lifted up to heaven and is now at God’s right side. The Father has given the Holy Spirit to Jesus as he promised. So Jesus has poured out that Spirit, and this is what you now see and hear.

34 David was not the one who was lifted up to heaven, but he said:
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by me at my right side,
35 until I put your enemies under your control.” ’ 

36 “So, all the people of Israel should know this truly: God has made Jesus —the man you nailed to the cross—both Lord and Christ.”

37 When the people heard this, they felt guilty and asked Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 This promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself.”
40 Peter warned them with many other words. He begged them, “Save yourselves from the evil of today’s people!”41 Then those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About three thousand people were added to the number of believers that day.42 They spent their time learning the apostles’ teaching, sharing, breaking bread, 

The Believers Share

43 The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and everyone felt great respect for God.44 All the believers were together and shared everything.45 They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide the money and give it to anyone who needed it.46 The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts.47 They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.

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.