⁴ Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens,^(A) so that we may make a name^(B) for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered^(C) over the face of the whole earth.”^(D)

⁵ But the Lord came down^(E) to see the city and the tower the people were building. ⁶ The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language^(F) they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. ⁷ Come, let us^(G) go down^(H) and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”^(I)

⁸ So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth,^(J) and they stopped building the city. ⁹ That is why it was called Babel^[a](K)—because there the Lord confused the language^(L) of the whole world.^(M) From there the Lord scattered^(N) them over the face of the whole earth.

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning^(A) as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,^(B) groan^(C) inwardly as we wait eagerly^(D) for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.^{(E) 24} For in this hope we were saved.^(F) But hope that is seen is no hope at all.^(G) Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.^(H)

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit^(I) himself intercedes for us^(J) through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts^(K) knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes^(L) for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

²⁶ “When the Advocate^(A) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father^(B)—the Spirit of truth^(C) who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.^{(D) 27} And you also must testify,^(E) for you have been with me from the beginning.^(F)

⁴ I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember^(A) that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you,^{(B) 5} but now I am going to him who sent me.^(C) None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’^{(D) 6} Rather, you are filled with grief^(E) because I have said these things. ⁷ But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate^(F) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.^{(G) 8} When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ about sin,^(H) because people do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness,^(I) because I am going to the Father,^(J) where you can see me no longer; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the prince of this world^(K) now stands condemned.

¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.^{(L) 13} But when he, the Spirit of truth,^(M) comes, he will guide you into all the truth.^(N) He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is mine.^(O) That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost^(A) came, they were all together^(B) in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.^{(C) 3} They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit^(D) and began to speak in other tongues^[a](E) as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing^(F) Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. ⁷ Utterly amazed,^(G) they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?^{(H) 8} Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,^(I) Pontus^(J) and Asia,^{[b](K) 10} Phrygia^(L) and Pamphylia,^(M) Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene;^(N) visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”