Acts 2-6

New American Standard Bible

The Day of Pentecost

2 When ^(A)the day of Pentecost ^[a]had come, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled ^(B)the whole house where they were sitting. ³ And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, ^[b]distributing themselves, and a tongue ^[c]rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all ^(C)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^(D)speak with different ^[d]tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.

⁵ Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, ^(E)devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And when ^(F)this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own ^[e]language. ^7 (G)They were amazed and astonished, saying, “^[f]Why, are not all these who are speaking ^(H)Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we each hear them in our own ^[g]language ^[h]to which we were born? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and ^(I)Cappadocia, ^(J)Pontus and ^[i](K)Asia, ^10 (L)Phrygia and ^(M)Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around ^(N)Cyrene, and ^[j](O)visitors from Rome, both Jews and ^[k](P)proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own ^[l]tongues of the mighty deeds of God.” ¹² And ^(Q)they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others were jeering and saying, “^(R)They are full of ^[m]sweet wine!”

Peter’s Sermon

¹⁴ But Peter, taking his stand with ^(S)the other eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, ^[n]know this, and pay attention to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you assume, ^(T)since it is only the ^[o]third hour of the day; ¹⁶ but this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

²² “Men of Israel, listen to these words: ^(W)Jesus the Nazarene, ^(X)a Man ^[u]attested to you by God with ^[v]miracles and ^(Y)wonders and ^[w]signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— ²³ this Man, delivered over by the ^(Z)predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, ^(AA)you nailed to a cross by the hands of ^[x]godless men and put Him to death. ^24 [y]But ^(AB)God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the ^[z]agony of death, since it ^(AC)was impossible for Him to be held ^[aa]in its power. ²⁵ For David says of Him,

²⁹ “^[ae]Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the ^(AG)patriarch David that he both ^(AH)died and ^(AI)was buried, and ^(AJ)his tomb is ^[af]with us to this day. ³⁰ So because he was ^(AK)a prophet and knew that ^(AL)God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one ^[ag]of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the ^[ah]Christ, that ^(AM)He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh ^[ai]suffer decay. ³² It is this Jesus whom ^(AN)God raised up, ^[aj]a fact to which we are all ^(AO)witnesses. ³³ Therefore, ^[ak]since He has been exalted ^[al](AP)at the right hand of God, and ^(AQ)has received ^(AR)the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has ^(AS)poured out this which you both see and hear. ³⁴ For it was not David who ascended into ^[am]heaven, but he himself says:

³⁶ Therefore let all the ^(AU)house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both ^(AV)Lord and ^[an]Christ—this Jesus ^(AW)whom you crucified.”

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were ^[ao]pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “^[ap]Brothers, ^(AX)what are we to do?” ³⁸ Peter said to them, “^(AY)Repent, and each of you be ^(AZ)baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For ^(BA)the promise is for you and your children and for all who are ^(BB)far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he solemnly ^(BC)testified and kept on urging them, saying, “^[aq]Be saved from this ^(BD)perverse generation!” ⁴¹ So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand ^[ar](BE)souls. ⁴² They were ^(BF)continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to ^(BG)the breaking of bread and ^(BH)to ^[as]prayer.

^43 [at]Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many ^(BI)wonders and ^[au]signs were taking place through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all the believers ^[av]were together and ^(BJ)had all things in common; ⁴⁵ and they ^(BK)would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. ^46 (BL)Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and ^(BM)breaking bread ^[aw]from house to house, they were taking their ^[ax]meals together with gladness and ^[ay]sincerity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and ^(BN)having favor with all the people. And the Lord ^(BO)was adding to ^[az]their number day by day ^(BP)those who were being saved.

Healing the Beggar Who Was Unable to Walk

3 Now ^(BQ)Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ^[ba]ninth hour, ^(BR)the hour of prayer. ² And ^(BS)a man who had been unable to walk from ^[bb]birth was being carried, whom they ^(BT)used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, ^(BU)in order for him to beg for charitable gifts from those entering the temple grounds. ³ When he saw ^(BV)Peter and John about to go into the temple grounds, he began asking to receive a charitable gift. ⁴ But Peter, along with John, ^(BW)looked at him intently and said, “Look at us!” ⁵ And he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “I do not have silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: ^(BX)In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!” ⁷ And grasping him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. ⁸ And ^(BY)leaping up, he stood and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And ^(BZ)all the people saw him walking and praising God; ¹⁰ and they recognized him as being the very one who used to ^(CA)sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg for charitable gifts, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter’s Second Sermon

¹¹ While he was clinging to ^(CB)Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the ^[bc](CC)portico named Solomon’s, completely astonished. ¹² But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why are you staring at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? ^13 (CD)The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, ^(CE)the God of our fathers, has glorified His ^[bd](CF)servant Jesus, the one whom ^(CG)you handed over and disowned in the presence of ^(CH)Pilate, when he had ^(CI)decided to release Him. ¹⁴ But you disowned ^(CJ)the Holy and Righteous One, and ^(CK)asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ but put to death the ^[be](CL)Prince of life, whom ^(CM)God raised from the dead, ^[bf]a fact to which we are ^(CN)witnesses. ¹⁶ And on the basis of faith ^(CO)in His name, it is ^[bg]the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

¹⁷ “And now, brothers, I know that you acted ^(CP)in ignorance, just as your ^(CQ)rulers also did. ¹⁸ But the things which ^(CR)God previously announced by the mouths of all the prophets, ^(CS)that His ^[bh]Christ would suffer, He has fulfilled in this way. ¹⁹ Therefore ^(CT)repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that ^(CU)times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ and that He may send Jesus, the ^[bi]Christ appointed for you, ^21 (CV)whom heaven must receive until the ^[bj]period of ^(CW)restoration of all things, about which ^(CX)God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times. ²² Moses said, ‘^(CY)The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your countrymen; to Him you shall listen regarding everything He says to you. ^23 (CZ)And it shall be that every ^(DA)soul that does not listen to that prophet ^(DB)shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ ²⁴ And likewise, ^(DC)all the prophets who have spoken from Samuel and his successors onward, have also announced these days. ²⁵ It is you who are ^(DD)the sons of the prophets and of the ^(DE)covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘^(DF)And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ ²⁶ God ^(DG)raised up His ^[bk]Servant for you ^(DH)first, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

Peter and John Arrested

4 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and ^(DI)the captain of the temple guard and ^(DJ)the Sadducees ^(DK)came up to them, ² being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^[bl](DL)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them and ^(DM)put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the ^[bm]message believed; and ^(DN)the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day, their ^(DO)rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; ⁶ and ^(DP)Annas the high priest was there, and ^(DQ)Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. ⁷ When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” ⁸ Then Peter, ^[bn](DR)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “^[bo](DS)Rulers and elders of the people, ⁹ if we are ^[bp]on trial today for ^(DT)a benefit done to a sick man, as to ^[bq]how this man has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that ^[br](DU)by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom ^(DV)God raised from the dead—^[bs]by ^[bt]this name this man stands here before you in good health. ^11 [bu](DW)He is the ^(DX)stone which was ^(DY)rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. ¹² And there is salvation in ^(DZ)no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”

Threat and Release

¹³ Now as they observed the ^(EA)confidence of ^(EB)Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and ^(EC)began to recognize them ^[bv]as having been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. ¹⁵ But when they had ordered them to leave the ^[bw](ED)Council, they began to confer with one another, ¹⁶ saying, “^(EE)What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a ^(EF)noteworthy ^[bx]miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any longer to any person ^(EG)in this name.” ¹⁸ And when they had summoned them, they ^(EH)commanded them not to speak or teach at all ^[by]in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But ^(EI)Peter and John answered and said to them, “^(EJ)Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; ²⁰ for ^(EK)we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” ²¹ When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) ^(EL)on account of the people, because they were all ^(EM)glorifying God for what had happened; ²² for the man on whom this ^[bz]miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

²³ When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “^[ca]Lord, it is You who ^(EN)made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, ²⁵ who ^(EO)by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

²⁷ For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy ^[ce](ES)servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both ^(ET)Herod and ^(EU)Pontius Pilate, along with ^(EV)the ^[cf]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do whatever Your hand and ^(EW)purpose predestined to occur. ²⁹ And ^[cg]now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to ^(EX)speak Your word with all ^(EY)confidence, ³⁰ while You extend Your hand to heal, and ^[ch](EZ)signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy ^[ci](FA)servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the ^(FB)place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all ^(FC)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to ^(FD)speak the word of God with ^(FE)boldness.

Sharing among Believers

³² And the ^[cj]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them ^[ck]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but ^(FF)all things were common property to them. ³³ And ^(FG)with great power the apostles were giving ^(FH)testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. ³⁴ For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses ^(FI)would sell them and bring the ^[cl]proceeds of the sales ³⁵ and ^(FJ)lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be ^(FK)distributed to each to the extent that any had need.

³⁶ Now Joseph, a Levite of ^(FL)Cyprian birth, who was also called ^(FM)Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of ^[cm](FN)Encouragement), ^37 [cn]owned a tract of land. So he sold it, and brought the money and ^(FO)laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Fate of Ananias and Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and ^(FP)kept back some of the ^[co]proceeds for himself, with his wife’s ^[cp]full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he ^(FQ)laid it at the apostles’ feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^(FR)Satan filled your heart to lie ^(FS)to the Holy Spirit and to ^(FT)keep back some of the ^[cq]proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not ^[cr]under your control? Why is it that you have ^[cs]conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but ^(FU)to God.” ⁵ And as he heard these words, Ananias ^(FV)collapsed and ^[ct]died; and ^(FW)great fear came over all who heard about it. ⁶ The young men got up and ^(FX)covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

⁷ Now an interval of about three hours elapsed, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land ^(FY)for ^[cu]this price?” And she said, “Yes, for ^[cv]that price.” ⁹ Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to ^(FZ)put ^(GA)the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” ¹⁰ And immediately she ^(GB)collapsed at his feet and ^[cw]died; and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And ^(GC)great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard about these things.

^12 [cx]At the hands of the apostles many ^[cy](GD)signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all ^[cz]together in ^(GE)Solomon’s ^[da]portico. ¹³ But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, ^(GF)the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And increasingly ^(GG)believers in the Lord, large numbers of men and women, were being ^(GH)added to their number, ¹⁵ to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by ^(GI)at least his shadow might fall on any of them. ¹⁶ The ^[db]people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together as well, bringing people who were sick ^[dc]or tormented with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

Imprisonment and Release

¹⁷ But the high priest stood up, along with all his associates (that is ^(GJ)the sect of ^(GK)the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. ¹⁸ They laid hands on the apostles and ^(GL)put them in a public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night ^(GM)an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and leading them out, he said, ²⁰ “Go, stand and ^[dd]speak to the people in the temple area ^[de](GN)the whole message of this Life.” ²¹ Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple area ^(GO)about daybreak and began to teach.

Now when ^(GP)the high priest and his associates came, they called ^(GQ)the ^[df]Council together, that is, all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison for them to be brought. ²² But ^(GR)the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported, ²³ saying, “We found the prison locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when ^(GS)the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what ^[dg]would come of this. ²⁵ But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple area and teaching the people!” ²⁶ Then ^(GT)the captain went along with ^(GU)the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for ^(GV)they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

²⁷ When they had brought them, they had them stand ^[dh]before ^(GW)the Council. The high priest interrogated them, ²⁸ saying, “We gave you ^(GX)strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and ^[di]yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and ^(GY)intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “^(GZ)We must obey God rather than men. ^30 (HA)The God of our fathers ^(HB)raised up Jesus, whom you ^(HC)put to death by hanging Him on ^[dj](HD)a cross. ^31 (HE)He is the one whom God exalted ^[dk]to His right hand as a ^[dl](HF)Prince and a ^(HG)Savior, to grant ^(HH)repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are ^(HI)witnesses ^[dm]of these things; and ^(HJ)so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel’s Counsel

³³ But when they heard this, they became ^(HK)infuriated and nearly decided to execute them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named ^(HL)Gamaliel, a ^(HM)teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in ^(HN)the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For, some time ago Theudas appeared, ^(HO)claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined him. ^[dn]But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee appeared in the days of ^(HP)the census and drew away some people after him; he also perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, for if the source of this plan or ^[do]movement ^(HQ)is men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found ^(HR)fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ They followed his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they ^(HS)flogged them and ordered them not to ^[dp]speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. ⁴¹ So they went on their way from the presence of the ^[dq](HT)Council, ^(HU)rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame ^(HV)for His name. ^42 (HW)And every day, in the temple and ^[dr]from house to house, they did not stop teaching and ^(HX)preaching the good news of Jesus as the ^[ds]Christ.

Choosing of the Seven

6 Now ^[dt]at this time, as the ^(HY)disciples were ^(HZ)increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the ^[du](IA)Hellenistic Jews against the native ^(IB)Hebrews, because their ^(IC)widows were being overlooked in ^(ID)the daily serving of food. ² So the twelve summoned the ^[dv]congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. ³ Instead, ^(IE)brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, ^(IF)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. ⁴ But we will ^(IG)devote ourselves to prayer and to the ^[dw]ministry of the word.” ⁵ The ^[dx]announcement found approval with the whole ^[dy]congregation; and they chose ^(IH)Stephen, a man ^(II)full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and ^(IJ)Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and ^[dz]Nicolas, a ^[ea](IK)proselyte from ^(IL)Antioch. ⁶ And they brought these men before the apostles; and after ^(IM)praying, they ^(IN)laid their hands on them.

^7 (IO)The word of God kept spreading; and ^(IP)the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to ^(IQ)the faith.

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great ^(IR)wonders and ^[eb]signs among the people. ⁹ But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both ^(IS)Cyrenians and ^(IT)Alexandrians, and some from ^(IU)Cilicia and ^[ec](IV)Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they were unable to ^[ed]cope with his wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. ¹¹ Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹² And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they ^(IW)came up to him and dragged him away, and brought him ^[ee]before ^(IX)the ^[ef]Council. ¹³ They put forward ^(IY)false witnesses who said, “This man does not stop ^[eg]speaking against this ^(IZ)holy place and the Law; ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that ^(JA)this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and change ^(JB)the customs which Moses handed down to us.” ¹⁵ And all who were sitting in the ^[eh](JC)Council stared at him, and they saw his face, which was like the face of an angel.