Acts 2
Expanded Bible
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the day of Pentecost [C a harvest festival fifty days after Passover, celebrating the firstfruits of the crops (while on this day the firstfruits of the Spirit); Ex. 34:22; Deut. 16:10, 16] ·came [arrived], they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a ·noise [roar] like a ·strong [violent], ·blowing [rushing] wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw something like ·flames [L tongues] of fire ·that were separated [that were divided; or that spread out] and ·stood [came to rest] over each person there. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak ·different [other; or foreign] ·languages [L tongues] by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them [C reversing the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel; Gen. 11:1–9].
5 There were some ·religious [devout; God-fearing] Jews ·staying [living] in Jerusalem who were from every ·country [nation] ·in the world [L under heaven]. 6 When they heard this noise, a crowd came together. They were all ·surprised [or confused; bewildered], because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were ·completely [L astounded and] amazed at this. They said, “Look! Aren’t all these people that we hear speaking ·from Galilee [L Galileans]? 8 Then how is it possible that we each hear them in our own [native] languages? We are: 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia [C a Roman province, in present-day Turkey], 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near Cyrene, [visitors from] Rome 11 (both Jews and ·those who had become Jews [proselytes]), Crete, and Arabia. But we hear them telling in our own ·languages [tongues] about the ·great things [mighty acts] 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 [sneered], saying, “They have had too much [sweet; new] wine [C they accuse them of being intoxicated and speaking nonsense].”
Peter Speaks to the People
14 But Peter stood up with the eleven apostles, and in a loud voice he ·spoke to [addressed] the crowd: “·My fellow Jews [or Judeans], and all of you who ·are [are living/staying] in Jerusalem, ·listen to me [L let this be known to you]. 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 [L the third hour of the day]! 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 [people; humanity; T flesh].
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 [servants] and female ·slaves [servants],
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show ·miracles [wonders; marvels]
in the ·sky [or heaven] above
and ·signs [miracles] on the earth below:
blood, fire, and ·thick [L a cloud/billow of] smoke.
20 The sun will ·become dark [L be turned to darkness],
the moon ·red as blood [L to blood],
before the ·overwhelming [great] and glorious day of the Lord will come.
21 Then anyone who calls on [L the name of] the Lord will be saved [Joel 2:28–32].’
22 “·People of Israel [L Men, Israelites], ·listen to [hear] these words: Jesus ·from Nazareth [or the Nazarene] was a very special man. God clearly ·showed [attested; pointed out] this to you by the ·miracles [mighty deeds], wonders, and signs he did through Jesus. You all know this, because it happened ·right here among you [L in your midst]. 23 Jesus was ·given [handed over] to you, and ·with the help [L by the hands] of ·those who don’t know the law [or lawless ones; wicked people; C a reference to the Gentiles/Romans who crucified Jesus], you put him to death by nailing him to a cross. But this was ·God’s plan which he had made long ago [L according to God’s predetermined plan]; ·he knew all this would happen [L …and his foreknowledge]. 24 God raised Jesus from the dead and set him free from the ·pain [agony; birthpains] of death, because death could not hold him. 25 For David said this about him:
‘I ·keep [L saw] the Lord before me always.
Because he is ·close by my side [L at my right hand; C a soldier’s shieldbearer would stand at his right side to protect him],
[L so that] I will not be ·hurt [L shaken].
26 So ·I am [L my heart was] glad, and ·I rejoice [L my tongue rejoiced].
Even my body ·has [L will live in; or will rest in] hope,
27 because you will not ·leave [abandon] ·me [L my soul/life] in ·the grave [L Hades; C the underworld].
You will not let your Holy One [experience; L see] decay.
28 You ·will teach me [L have made known to me] ·how to live a holy life [L the way/path of life].
·Being with you [Your presence; L Your face] will fill me with joy [Ps. 16:8–11].”
29 “·Brothers and sisters [L Men, brothers], I can tell you ·truly [or with confidence] that David, ·our ancestor [L the patriarch], died and was buried. His ·grave [tomb] is still here with us today. 30 [But because] He was a prophet and knew God had ·promised him [sworn with an oath] that he would ·make a person from David’s family a king just as he was [L put one of his descendants on his throne; C a reference to the Davidic covenant; 2 Sam. 7:13; Ps. 132:11]. 31 ·Knowing this before it happened [L Foreseeing this], David talked about the ·Christ [Messiah] rising from the dead. He said:
‘He was not ·left [abandoned] in ·the grave [Hades].
His ·body [flesh] did not ·rot [L see/experience decay; 2:27].’
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 [L exalted to] God’s right ·side [L hand; C a position of highest honor beside the king]. 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 [went up; ascended] to heaven, but he said:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit by me at my right ·side [L hand; v. 33],
35 until I ·put your enemies under your control [L make your enemies a footstool for your feet; Ps. 110:1].”’
36 “·So [Therefore], all the ·people [L house] of Israel should know this ·truly [with certainty]: God has made Jesus—the man you ·nailed to the cross [crucified]—both Lord and ·Christ [Messiah].”
37 When the people heard this, they ·felt guilty [were deeply distressed; L were cut/pierced to the heart] and asked Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do, ·brothers [L men, brothers]?”
38 Peter said to them, “·Change your hearts and lives [Repent] 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 [L For] This promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away [C both in space and time; may refer to Gentiles and/or Jews scattered outside the land of Israel]. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself [Joel 2:32].”
40 Peter ·warned [testified to] them with many other ·words [arguments]. He ·begged [pleaded with; exhorted; urged] them, “Save yourselves from ·the evil of today’s people [L this corrupt/crooked/perverse generation]!” 41 Then those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About three thousand ·people [souls] were added to the number of believers that day. 42 They ·spent [devoted] their time learning the apostles’ teaching, ·sharing [fellowship], breaking bread [C this may refer to a meal as in v. 46, or to the Lord’s Supper; Luke 22:14–20], and praying together.
The Believers Share
43 The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and ·everyone [every soul] felt great ·respect [fear; awe; Prov. 1:7] for God. 44 All the believers were ·together [in one place; or in close fellowship] and ·shared everything [L had/held all things in common]. 45 They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide ·the money [the proceeds; L them] and give it to anyone who needed it. 46 The believers met together in the Temple [C not the Temple building where only priests went, but the outer courts] every day. They ate together ·in their homes [or from home to home], sharing their food with joyful and ·sincere [or generous; or humble; or simple] hearts. 47 They praised God and were ·liked by [looked upon favorably by] all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.
Acts 2
Legacy Standard Bible
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
2 And when (A)the day of Pentecost [a]had fully come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing (B)wind, and it filled (C)the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues like fire [b](D)distributing themselves, and [c]they [d]rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all (E)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (F)speak with other [e]tongues, as the Spirit was giving them [f]utterance.
5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, (G)devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when (H)this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own [g]language. 7 (I)So they were astounded and marveling, saying, “Behold, are not all these who are speaking (J)Galileans? 8 And how is it that we each hear them in our own [h]language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and (K)Cappadocia, (L)Pontus and [i](M)Asia, 10 (N)Phrygia and (O)Pamphylia, Egypt and the district of Libya around (P)Cyrene, and [j](Q)visitors from Rome, both Jews and [k](R)proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” 12 And (S)they all continued in astonishment and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others, mocking, were saying, “(T)They are full of new wine.”
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
14 But Peter, [l]taking his stand with (U)the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, (V)for it is the [m]third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘(W)And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all [n]mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
18 Even on My male slaves and female slaves,
I will in those days pour out My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
19 And I will put wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and awesome day of the [o]Lord comes.
21 And it will be that (X)everyone who calls on the name of the [p]Lord will be saved.’
22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: (Y)Jesus the Nazarene, (Z)a man [q]attested to you by God with [r]miracles and (AA)wonders and [s]signs which God did through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the (AB)predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, (AC)you nailed to a cross by the hands of lawless men and put Him to death. 24 [t]But (AD)God raised Him up again, putting an end to the [u]agony of death, since it (AE)was impossible for Him to be held [v]in its power. 25 For David says of Him,
‘(AF)I saw the [w]Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;
27 Because You will not forsake my soul to (AG)Hades,
(AH)Nor give Your [x]Holy One over to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’
29 “Men, brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the (AI)patriarch David that he both (AJ)died and (AK)was buried, and (AL)his tomb is [y]with us to this day. 30 And so, because he was (AM)a prophet and knew that (AN)God had sworn to him with an oath to set one of the fruit [z]of his body on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the [aa]Christ, that (AO)He was neither forsaken to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus (AP)God raised up again, to which we are all (AQ)witnesses. 33 Therefore having been exalted [ab](AR)to the right hand of God, and (AS)having received from the Father (AT)the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has (AU)poured out this which you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says:
‘(AV)The [ac]Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Until I put Your enemies as a footstool for Your feet.”’
36 Therefore let all the (AW)house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both (AX)Lord and [ad]Christ—this Jesus (AY)whom you crucified.”
About Three Thousand Souls Saved
37 Now when they heard this, they were [ae]pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, (AZ)what should we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “(BA)Repent, and each of you be (BB)baptized in the name of Jesus Christ [af]for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For (BC)the promise is for you and your children and for all who are (BD)far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly (BE)bore witness and kept on exhorting them, saying, “[ag]Be saved from this (BF)crooked generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand (BG)souls. 42 And they were (BH)continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to (BI)the breaking of bread and (BJ)to the prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul; and many (BK)wonders and [ah]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [ai]were together and (BL)had all things in common; 45 and they (BM)began selling their property and possessions and were (BN)dividing them up with all, as anyone might have need. 46 (BO)And daily devoting themselves with one accord in the temple and (BP)breaking bread [aj]from house to house, they were taking their [ak]meals together with gladness and [al]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and (BQ)having favor with all the people. And the Lord (BR)was adding [am]to their number daily (BS)those who were being saved.
Footnotes
- Acts 2:1 Lit was being fulfilled
- Acts 2:3 Or being distributed
- Acts 2:3 Lit it
- Acts 2:3 Or sat
- Acts 2:4 Or languages
- Acts 2:4 Or ability to speak out
- Acts 2:6 Or dialect
- Acts 2:8 Or dialect
- Acts 2:9 West coast province of Asia Minor
- Acts 2:10 Lit the sojourning Romans
- Acts 2:10 Gentile converts to Judaism
- Acts 2:14 Or being put forward as spokesman
- Acts 2:15 9 a.m.
- Acts 2:17 Lit flesh
- Acts 2:20 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Joel 2:31
- Acts 2:21 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Joel 2:32
- Acts 2:22 Or exhibited, accredited
- Acts 2:22 Or works of power
- Acts 2:22 Or attesting miracles
- Acts 2:24 Lit Whom God raised up
- Acts 2:24 Lit birth pains
- Acts 2:24 Lit by it
- Acts 2:25 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 16:8
- Acts 2:27 Or devout, pious
- Acts 2:29 Lit among
- Acts 2:30 Offspring; lit of his loins
- Acts 2:31 Messiah
- Acts 2:33 Or by
- Acts 2:34 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 110:1
- Acts 2:36 Messiah
- Acts 2:37 Or wounded in conscience
- Acts 2:38 Or because of
- Acts 2:40 Or Escape
- Acts 2:43 Or attesting miracles
- Acts 2:44 One early ms omits were and and
- Acts 2:46 Or in the various private homes
- Acts 2:46 Lit food
- Acts 2:46 Or simplicity
- Acts 2:47 Lit together
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