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。

圣灵的来临

五旬节 [a]到了,他们都聚在一个地方。 突然,从天上传来一个声音,好似狂风大作一般,充满了他们所在的屋子。 一团火舌般的烈焰出现在他们面前,然后分别落在了每个人的身上。所有的人于是都充满了圣灵, 并且按照圣灵赐予的能力,开始讲不同的语言。

那时候,来自世界各国的虔诚的犹太人住在耶路撒冷。 他们听到响声后,都来聚在一起。他们都很纳闷,因为当他们讲话时,每人都听到了自己的乡音。 他们无法理解怎么可能发生这种事情,都很吃惊,惊讶之余,他们说∶“说话的这些人难道不都是加利利人吗? 那么为什么每个人听到的都是他自己的语言呢? 其中有帕提亚人、玛代人、以拦人;还有从米所波大米、犹太、加帕多家、本都、亚西亚、 10 弗吕家、旁非利亚、埃及和古利奈附近的吕彼亚一带来的人;还有从罗马来的访问者, 11 有犹太人和皈依犹太教的人;还有克里特人以及阿拉伯人。我们听见那些人在用我们自己的母语讲述着上帝的伟迹!” 12 人们都感到十分惊奇和不解,彼此说道∶“这意味着什么呢?” 13 也有人取笑他们说∶“他们不过是喝多了!”

彼得对众人讲话

14 这时,彼得和另外十一个使徒站起身来。彼得提高了嗓门,对众人说∶“犹太同胞和所有住在耶路撒冷的人们,让我来告诉你们这是什么意思吧。请仔细听我说。 15 这些人并不像你们以为的那样是喝醉了,因为现在只是早晨九点钟, 16 但是,这情形正是先知约珥所说过的:

17 上帝说,
在最后的日子里,
我要把我的圣灵倾注给所有的人,
你们的儿女将会预言未来,
你们的年轻男子要看到异象,
你们的老年人要做出奇异的梦。
18 是的,在那些日子里,
我会把我的圣灵倾洒给我的奴仆,无论男女,
因此,他们都会预言。
19 我要在天上展示奇迹,
在地下显示迹象:有血、火以及烟雾,
20 在主的伟大、荣耀的那一天到来之前,
太阳要变得一团漆黑,
月亮会变成一片血红。
21 而所有信任主的人,都将得到拯救。 (A)

22 我的同胞以色列人,听着:拿撒勒的耶稣是一个非常特殊的人,上帝通过他在你们中间所行的奇迹、异象和神迹证实了这一点,你们都已看到了这些事情,你们自己知道这都是真实的。 23 上帝把这个人交给了你们,而你们却在恶人的帮助下,把他钉死在十字架上了。上帝知道这将会发生。这是按照他已决定的计划发生的。 24 然而,上帝却让他起死回生,把他从死亡的痛苦中解脱出来,因为他不可能受到死的束缚。 25 大卫是这样形容他的:

我总是看见主在我的面前,
他站在我的右侧,因而我不会受到困扰,
26 正因为如此,我的心充满了欢喜,
我的嘴伴着快乐说话;
我的身体也生在希望之中。
27 因为你不会把我丢弃在坟墓里,
你不会让你的圣者经历腐朽。
28 你已经告知我通向生活的道路;
与你同在,欢乐会充满我。 (B)

29 我的兄弟们,我可以确切地告诉大家,先祖大卫死了,被埋葬了。他的坟墓保留至今。 30 但是,他是一位先知,他知道上帝曾用誓言向他许诺,要把他的一个后代置于他的宝座上, 31 他看到了未来的事情,所以谈到基督复活时,他说:

‘他没有被丢弃在坟墓里,
他的身体也不会经历腐朽。’

32 上帝使这个耶稣从死里复活,我们都是这一事实的见证人。 33 耶稣被升至上帝的右侧,领受了天父许下的圣灵,并把它抛洒出去,即你们现在的所见所闻的。 34 大卫并没有到天上去,然而他却说:

‘主对我主说:
坐在我的右侧,
35 直到我把你的敌人置于你的脚下,
变成你的垫脚凳。’ (C)

36 因此,让所有的以色列人都肯定地知道,上帝让你们钉死在十字架上的这个耶稣成为主和基督了。”

37 众人听到这里,仿佛感到一把刀刺进了他们的心脏。他们对彼得和其他的使徒说∶“弟兄们,我们该怎么办呢?”

38 彼得对他们说∶“改变你们的内心与生活吧,你们中间的每一个人都应该奉耶稣基督的名义接受洗礼,使你们的罪得到宽恕。那么你们就会领受到圣灵的馈赠, 39 因为他的诺言是为了你们、你们的后代以及所有远方的人们-即所有那些受到主我们的上帝的召唤,来到他身边的人们。”

40 彼得又讲了很多话来警诫众人,然后又请求他们说∶“把你们自己从这邪恶的一代人里救出来吧!” 41 那些接受了他的信息的人们,都受了洗礼。那一天,大约有三千人增加到信徒的行列。 42 他们把时间都花在倾听他们的教导、同分享、同吃 [b]和祷告上。

信徒同分享

43 使徒们又行了很多奇事神迹,每个人的心里都生出敬畏之情。 44 信徒们呆在一起,分享他们的所有。 45 他们卖掉财物和家产,把它们分给所需要的人。 46 每天,他们都在大殿院里聚会,在家里同吃,并带着快乐与真挚的心享用, 47 他们赞美上帝,深得所有人的好感。每天主都增加人到得救的人的行列里去。

Footnotes

  1. 使 徒 行 傳 2:1 五旬节: 犹太人庆祝麦收的节日。它在逾越节后的50天。
  2. 使 徒 行 傳 2:42 同吃: 直译为分吃饼,其意为吃一顿饭或吃主的晚餐,即耶稣告诉他的信徒们为了记念他所吃的那顿特殊的晚餐。《路加福音》22:14-20。

Pentecost

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.(A) Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind(B) came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.(C) And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled(D) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.(E)

There were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation(F) under heaven. When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were astounded and amazed, saying,[a] “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?(G) How is it that each of us can hear in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,(H) 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,(I) 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking the magnificent acts of God in our own languages.” 12 They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What could this be?” 13 But some sneered and said, “They’re full of new wine!”(J)

Peter’s Sermon

14 But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this[b] to you and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning.[c] 16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 And it will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity;
then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.(K)
18 I will even pour out My Spirit
on My male and female slaves in those days,
and they will prophesy.(L)
19 I will display wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below:
blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood(M)
before the great and remarkable Day of the Lord(N) comes.
21 Then everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.(O)[d]

22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know.(P) 23 Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used[e] lawless people[f] to nail Him to a cross and kill Him.(Q) 24 God raised Him up, ending the pains of death,(R) because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. 25 For David says of Him:

I saw the Lord ever before me;
because He is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart was glad,
and my tongue rejoiced.
Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope,
27 because You will not leave me in Hades
or allow Your Holy One to see decay.(S)
28 You have revealed the paths of life to me;
You will fill me with gladness
in Your presence.(T)[g]

29 “Brothers, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.(U) 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants[h][i] on his throne.(V) 31 Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah:

He[j] was not left in Hades,
and His flesh did not experience decay.(W)[k]

32 “God has resurrected(X) this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. 33 Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God(Y) and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit,(Z) He has poured out(AA) what you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:

The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at My right hand
35 until I make Your enemies Your footstool.’(AB)[l]

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”(AC)

Forgiveness through the Messiah

37 When they heard this, they came under deep conviction[m] and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?”(AD)

38 “Repent,”(AE) Peter said to them, “and be baptized,(AF) each of you, in the name(AG) 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 who are far off,[n](AH) as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt[o] generation!”(AI)

A Generous and Growing Church

41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,(AJ) to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.(AK)

43 Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.(AL) 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.(AM) 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need.[p] 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude,(AN) 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them[q] those who were being saved.(AO)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 2:7 Other mss add to one another
  2. Acts 2:14 Lit let this be known
  3. Acts 2:15 Lit it’s the third hour of the day
  4. Acts 2:21 Jl 2:28-32
  5. Acts 2:23 Other mss read you have taken
  6. Acts 2:23 Or used the hand of lawless ones
  7. Acts 2:28 Ps 16:8-11
  8. Acts 2:30 Other mss add according to the flesh to raise up the Messiah
  9. Acts 2:30 Lit one from the fruit of his loin
  10. Acts 2:31 Other mss read His soul
  11. Acts 2:31 Ps 16:10
  12. Acts 2:35 Ps 110:1
  13. Acts 2:37 Lit they were pierced to the heart
  14. Acts 2:39 For distant generations or perhaps Gentiles
  15. Acts 2:40 Or crooked, or twisted
  16. Acts 2:45 Or to all, according to one’s needs
  17. Acts 2:47 Other mss read to the church