聖靈降臨

五旬節那天,門徒聚集在一起。 忽然,天上發出一陣響聲,好像狂風呼嘯而過,充滿了他們所在的房子, 又有火焰般的舌頭顯現出來,分別落在各人的頭上。 大家都被聖靈充滿,得到聖靈所賜的才能,說起別的語言來。

當時耶路撒冷住著從各國回來的虔誠的猶太人。 眾人聽見這陣響聲便趕過來,聽見門徒在說他們各自的語言,都十分納悶, 驚詫地說:「看啊!這些說話的不都是加利利人嗎? 怎麼會說我們各自的語言呢? 我們這裡有帕提亞人、瑪代人、以攔人,以及住在美索不達米亞、猶太、加帕多迦、本都、亞細亞、 10 弗呂迦、旁非利亞、埃及和靠近古利奈的利比亞的人,還有從羅馬來的猶太人和改信猶太教的人、 11 克里特人和阿拉伯人。我們都聽見他們在用我們各自的語言訴說上帝的偉大!」 12 他們都大感驚奇和困惑,彼此議論說:「這到底是怎麼回事?」

13 有些人就譏笑說:「他們不過是被新酒灌醉了!」

彼得講道

14 彼得和其他十一位使徒都站起來,他大聲對眾人說:「各位猶太同胞和住在耶路撒冷的人啊,請留心聽!我告訴你們這是怎麼回事。 15 你們以為這些人是醉了,其實不是,因為現在才早上九點鐘。 16 你們眼前看見的正是先知約珥所說的,

17 『上帝說,在末後的日子,
我要將我的靈澆灌所有的人,
你們的兒女要說預言,
青年要見異象,
老人要做異夢。
18 那時,我要將我的靈澆灌我的奴僕和婢女,
他們都要說預言。
19 在天上,我要顯異兆;
在地上,我要行神蹟,有血、有火、有濃煙。
20 太陽要變得昏暗,
月亮要變得血紅。
這都要發生在主偉大榮耀的日子來臨以前。
21 那時,凡求告主名的,都必得救。』

22 「各位以色列人啊,請留心聽。上帝藉著拿撒勒人耶穌在你們中間行了異能、奇事和神蹟,以證明拿撒勒人耶穌是祂派來的。這是你們都知道的。 23 上帝照著自己的計劃和預知把耶穌交在你們手裡,你們藉著邪惡之人的手把祂釘死在十字架上了。 24 但上帝為祂解除了死亡的痛苦,使祂從死裡復活,因為祂不可能被死亡拘禁。 25 論到耶穌,大衛曾說,

『我看見主常在我面前,
祂在我右邊,我必不動搖。
26 因此我的心歡喜,我的口頌讚,
我的身體也要活在盼望中。
27 因為你不會把我的靈魂撇在陰間,
也不會讓你的聖者身體朽壞。
28 你已把生命之路指示我,
叫我在你面前充滿喜樂。』

29 「弟兄們,我肯定地對你們說,先祖大衛死了,埋葬了,他的墳墓至今還在這裡。 30 大衛是先知,知道上帝曾起誓要從他的後裔中選立一人繼承他的王位。 31 他預先知道這事,講到基督的復活,說,『祂的靈魂不會被撇在陰間,祂的身體也不會朽壞』。 32 上帝已經使這位耶穌復活了!我們都是這件事的見證人。 33 現在祂升到上帝的右邊,從天父領受了所應許的聖靈,並將聖靈澆灌下來,你們今天也耳聞目睹了。 34 大衛並沒有升到天上,但他曾說,

『主對我主說,
你坐在我的右邊,
35 等我使你的仇敵成為你的腳凳。』

36 「所以,全體以色列人啊!你們應當確實地知道,上帝已經立這位被你們釘在十字架上的耶穌為主,為基督了。」

37 他們聽了彼得的話,覺得扎心,就對彼得和其他使徒說:「弟兄們,我們該怎麼辦呢?」 38 彼得說:「你們每一個人都要悔改,奉耶穌基督的名受洗,使你們的罪得到赦免,你們就必領受上帝所賜的聖靈。 39 因為這應許是給你們和你們的兒女,以及遠方的人,就是所有被主——我們的上帝呼召的人。」

40 然後,彼得還講了許多話警戒、勸勉他們,說:「你們要保守自己脫離這邪惡的世代。」

41 結果,那天約有三千人相信了他傳的道,接受了洗禮。 42 他們都一心遵守使徒的教導,一起團契、掰餅、禱告。

43 大家都滿心敬畏上帝。使徒又行了很多神蹟奇事。 44 信徒聚在一起,共用所有的東西。 45 他們把田產家業變賣了,按照各人的需要把錢分給大家。 46 他們天天同心合意地聚集在聖殿裡敬拜上帝,又在各人家中擘餅聚會,以歡喜、慷慨的心分享食物, 47 讚美上帝,受到眾人的喜愛。主使得救的人數與日俱增。

五旬节圣灵降临

五旬节到了,他们都聚集在一起。 忽然有一阵好象强风吹过的响声,从天而来,充满了他们坐在里面的整间屋子。 又有火焰般的舌头显现出来,分别落在他们各人身上。 他们都被圣灵充满,就照着圣灵所赐给他们的口才,用别种语言说出话来。

那时住在耶路撒冷的,有从天下各国来的虔诚的犹太人。 这声音一响,许多人都聚了来,人人都听见门徒讲出听众各人本乡的话,就莫名其妙。 他们又惊讶、又惊奇,说:“你看,这些说话的,不都是加利利人吗? 我们各人怎么听见他们讲我们从小所用的本乡话呢? 我们帕提亚人、玛代人、以拦人和住在美索不达米亚、犹太、加帕多家、本都、亚西亚、 10 弗吕家、旁非利亚、埃及,并靠近古利奈的利比亚一带地方的人,客居罗马的犹太人和归信犹太教的人, 11 克里特人以及阿拉伯人,都听见他们用我们的语言,讲说 神的大作为。” 12 众人还在惊讶迷惘的时候,彼此说:“这是甚么意思?” 13 另有些人讥笑说:“他们是给新酒灌醉了。”

彼得在五旬节的讲道

14 彼得和十一使徒站起来,他高声对众人说:“犹太人和所有住在耶路撒冷的人哪,你们应当明白这件事,也应该留心听我的话。 15 这些人并不是照你们所想的喝醉了,现在不过是上午九点钟罢了。 16 这正是约珥先知所说的:

17 ‘ 神说:在末后的日子,

我要把我的灵浇灌所有的人,

你们的儿女要说预言,

你们的青年人要见异象,

你们的老年人要作异梦。

18 在那些日子,

我也要把我的灵浇灌我的仆人和使女,他们就要说预言。

19 我要在天上显出奇事,

在地上显出神迹,

有血、有火、有烟雾;

20 太阳将变为黑暗,

月亮将变为血红,

在主伟大显赫的日子临到以前,这一切都要发生。

21 那时,凡求告主名的,都必得救。’

22 “以色列人哪,请听听这几句话:正如你们所知道的, 神已经借着拿撒勒人耶稣在你们中间施行了大能、奇事、神迹,向你们证明他是 神所立的。 23 他照着 神的定旨和预知被交了出去,你们就藉不法之徒的手,把他钉死了。 24  神却把死的痛苦解除,使他复活了,因为他不能被死亡拘禁。 25 大卫指着他说:

‘我时常看见主在我面前,

因他在我右边,我必不会动摇。

26 为此我的心快乐,我的口舌欢呼,

我的肉身也要安居在盼望中。

27 因你必不把我的灵魂撇在阴间,

也必不容你的圣者见朽坏。

28 你已经把生命之路指示了我,

必使我在你面前有满足的喜乐。’

29 “弟兄们,关于祖先大卫的事,我不妨坦白告诉你们,他死了,葬了,直到今日他的坟墓还在我们这里。 30 他是先知,既然知道 神向他起过誓,要从他的后裔中立一位,坐在他的宝座上, 31 又预先看见了这事,就讲论基督的复活说:

‘他不会被撇在阴间,

他的肉身也不见朽坏。’

32 这位耶稣, 神已经使他复活了,我们都是这事的见证人。 33 他既然被高举到 神的右边,从父领受了所应许的圣灵,就把他浇灌下来,这就是你们所看见所听见的。 34 大卫并没有升到天上,他却说:

‘主对我主说:

你坐在我的右边,

35 等我使你的仇敌作你的脚凳。’

36 因此,以色列全家应当确实知道,你们钉在十字架上的这位耶稣, 神已经立他为主为基督了。”

37 他们听了以后,觉得扎心,就对彼得和其余的使徒说:“弟兄们,我们应当作甚么呢?” 38 彼得说:“你们应当悔改,并且每一个人都要奉耶稣基督的名受洗,使你们的罪得赦,就必领受圣灵,那白白的恩典。 39 这应许原是给你们和你们的儿女,以及所有在远方的人,就是给凡是我们主 神召来归他的人。” 40 彼得还用许多别的话,郑重作证,并且劝勉他们,说:“你们应当救自己脱离这弯曲的世代!” 41 于是接受他话的人都受了洗,那一天门徒增加了约三千人。 42 他们恒心遵守使徒的教训,彼此相通、擘饼和祈祷。

信徒的团契生活

43 使徒行了许多奇事神迹,众人就都惧怕。 44 所有信的人都在一起,凡物公用, 45 并且变卖产业和财物,按照各人的需要分给他们。 46 他们天天同心在殿里恒切地聚集,一家一家地擘饼,存着欢乐和诚恳的心用饭, 47 又赞美 神,并且得到全民的喜爱。主将得救的人,天天加给教会。

And in the day of the Pentecost being fulfilled, they were all with one accord at the same place,

and there came suddenly out of the heaven a sound as of a bearing violent breath, and it filled all the house where they were sitting,

and there appeared to them divided tongues, as it were of fire; it sat also upon each one of them,

and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, according as the Spirit was giving them to declare.

And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation of those under the heaven,

and the rumour of this having come, the multitude came together, and was confounded, because they were each one hearing them speaking in his proper dialect,

and they were all amazed, and did wonder, saying one unto another, `Lo, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

and how do we hear, each in our proper dialect, in which we were born?

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and those dwelling in Mesopotamia, in Judea also, and Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia also, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya, that [are] along Cyrene, and the strangers of Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we did hear them speaking in our tongues the great things of God.'

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one unto another, `What would this wish to be?'

13 and others mocking said, -- `They are full of sweet wine;'

14 and Peter having stood up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and declared to them, `Men, Jews! and all those dwelling in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and harken to my sayings,

15 for these are not drunken, as ye take it up, for it is the third hour of the day.

16 `But this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

18 and also upon My men-servants, and upon My maid-servants, in those days, I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy;

19 and I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs upon the earth beneath -- blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke,

20 the sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the day of the Lord -- the great and illustrious;

21 and it shall be, every one -- whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, he shall be saved.

22 `Men, Israelites! hear these words, Jesus the Nazarene, a man approved of God among you by mighty works, and wonders, and signs, that God did through him in the midst of you, according as also ye yourselves have known;

23 this one, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, being given out, having taken by lawless hands, having crucified -- ye did slay;

24 whom God did raise up, having loosed the pains of the death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it,

25 for David saith in regard to him: I foresaw the Lord always before me -- because He is on my right hand -- that I may not be moved;

26 because of this was my heart cheered, and my tongue was glad, and yet -- my flesh also shall rest on hope,

27 because Thou wilt not leave my soul to hades, nor wilt Thou give Thy Kind One to see corruption;

28 Thou didst make known to me ways of life, Thou shalt fill me with joy with Thy countenance.

29 `Men, brethren! it is permitted to speak with freedom unto you concerning the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is among us unto this day;

30 a prophet, therefore, being, and knowing that with an oath God did swear to him, out of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, to raise up the Christ, to sit upon his throne,

31 having foreseen, he did speak concerning the rising again of the Christ, that his soul was not left to hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

32 `This Jesus did God raise up, of which we are all witnesses;

33 at the right hand then of God having been exalted -- also the promise of the Holy Spirit having received from the Father -- he was shedding forth this, which now ye see and hear;

34 for David did not go up to the heavens, and he saith himself: The Lord saith to my lord, Sit thou at my right hand,

35 till I make thy foes thy footstool;

36 assuredly, therefore, let all the house of Israel know, that both Lord and Christ did God make him -- this Jesus whom ye did crucify.'

37 And having heard, they were pricked to the heart; they say also to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, `What shall we do, men, brethren?'

38 and Peter said unto them, `Reform, and be baptized each of you on the name of Jesus Christ, to remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,

39 for to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all those afar off, as many as the Lord our God shall call.'

40 Also with many more other words he was testifying and exhorting, saying, `Be saved from this perverse generation;'

41 then those, indeed, who did gladly receive his word were baptized, and there were added on that day, as it were, three thousand souls,

42 and they were continuing stedfastly in the teaching of the apostles, and the fellowship, and the breaking of the bread, and the prayers.

43 And fear came on every soul, many wonders also and signs were being done through the apostles,

44 and all those believing were at the same place, and had all things common,

45 and the possessions and the goods they were selling, and were parting them to all, according as any one had need.

46 Daily also continuing with one accord in the temple, breaking also at every house bread, they were partaking of food in gladness and simplicity of heart,

47 praising God, and having favour with all the people, and the Lord was adding those being saved every day to the assembly.

Pentecost and the Coming of the Holy Spirit

And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in the same place. And suddenly a sound like a violent rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. And divided[a] tongues like fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages[b] as the Spirit gave them ability to speak out.

Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when[c] this sound occurred, the crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one was hearing them speaking in his own language. And they were astounded and astonished, saying, “Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how do we hear, each one of us, in our own native language?[d] Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those residing in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[e] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya toward Cyrene, and the Romans who were in town, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages the great deeds of God!” 12 And all were amazed and greatly perplexed, saying to one another,[f]What can this mean?[g] 13 But others jeered and[h] said, “They are full of sweet new wine!”

Peter’s Sermon on the Day of Pentecost

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them, “Judean men, and all those who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words! 15 For these men are not drunk, as you assume, because it is the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And it will be in the last days,’ God says,
    ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
        and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
        and your young men will see visions,
        and your old men will dream dreams.
18 And even on my male slaves and on my female slaves
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
19 And I will cause wonders in the heaven[i] above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun will be changed to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
    before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And it will be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.’[j]

22 “Israelite men, listen to these words! Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this man, delivered up by the determined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by[k] nailing to a cross[l] through the hand of lawless men. 24 God raised him[m] up, having brought to an end the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says with reference to him,

‘I saw the Lord before me continually,[n]
    for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.
26 For this reason my heart was glad
    and my tongue rejoiced greatly,
    furthermore also my flesh will live in hope,
27 because you will not abandon my soul in Hades,
    nor will you permit your Holy One to experience decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with gladness with your presence.’[o]

29 “Men and brothers, it is possible to speak with confidence to you about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us until this day. 30 Therefore, because he[p] was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants[q] on his throne, 31 by[r] having foreseen this,[s] he spoke about the resurrection of the Christ,[t] that neither was he abandoned in Hades nor did his flesh experience decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up, of which[u] we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out this that you see and hear.[v] 34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’[w]

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt, that God has made him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified!”

The Response to Peter’s Sermon

37 Now when they[x] heard this,[y] they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “What should we do, men and brothers?” 38 And Peter said[z] to them, “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 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all those who are far away, as many as the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly urged and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added.

The Fellowship of the First Believers

42 And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers. 43 And fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were being performed by the apostles. 44 And all who believed were in the same place, and had everything in common. 45 And they began selling[aa] their[ab] possessions and property, and distributing these things to all, to the degree that anyone had need. 46 And every day, devoting themselves to meeting[ac] with one purpose in the temple courts[ad] and breaking bread from house to house, they were eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to the total of those who were being saved.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 2:3 Or perhaps “distributed”
  2. Acts 2:4 Or “tongues”
  3. Acts 2:6 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“happened”)
  4. Acts 2:8 Literally “our own language in which we were born”
  5. Acts 2:9 A reference to the Roman province of Asia (modern Asia Minor)
  6. Acts 2:12 Literally “one to the other”
  7. Acts 2:12 Literally “what does this want to be”
  8. Acts 2:13 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“jeered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  9. Acts 2:19 Or “sky”
  10. Acts 2:21 A quotation from Joel 2:28–32
  11. Acts 2:23 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“nailing to”) which is understood as means
  12. Acts 2:23 The words “a cross” are not in the Greek text but are implied by the nature of the verb
  13. Acts 2:24 Literally “whom”; it is necessary to specify “him” in the translation to avoid confusion with the “lawless men” in the previous verse
  14. Acts 2:25 Literally “through everything”
  15. Acts 2:28 A quotation from Ps 16:8–11
  16. Acts 2:30 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“was”) which is understood as causal
  17. Acts 2:30 Literally “from the fruit of his loins”
  18. Acts 2:31 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“having foreseen”) which is understood as means
  19. Acts 2:31 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  20. Acts 2:31 Or “Messiah”
  21. Acts 2:32 Or “of whom,” referring to Jesus
  22. Acts 2:33 Some manuscripts have “both see and hear”
  23. Acts 2:35 A quotation from Ps 110:1
  24. Acts 2:37 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  25. Acts 2:37 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  26. Acts 2:38 Some manuscripts explicitly add “said”
  27. Acts 2:45 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began selling”)
  28. Acts 2:45 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  29. Acts 2:46 The words “to meeting” are not in the Greek text but are implied
  30. Acts 2:46 Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself