प्रेरितों के काम 2
Hindi Bible: Easy-to-Read Version
पवित्र आत्मा का आगमन
2 जब पिन्तेकुस्त का दिन आया तो वे सब एक ही स्थान पर इकट्ठे थे। 2 तभी अचानक वहाँ आकाश से भयंकर आँधी का शब्द आया और जिस घर में वे बैठे थे, उसमें भर गया। 3 और आग की फैलती लपटों जैसी जीभें वहाँ सामने दिखायी देने लगीं। वे आग की विभाजित जीभें उनमें से हर एक के ऊपर आ टिकीं। 4 वे सभी पवित्र आत्मा से भावित हो उठे। और आत्मा के द्वारा दिये गये सामर्थ्य के अनुसार वे दूसरी भाषाओं में बोलने लगे।
5 वहाँ यरूशलेम में आकाश के नीचे के सभी देशों से आये यहूदी भक्त रहा करते थे। 6 जब यह शब्द गरजा तो एक भीड़ एकत्र हो गयी। वे लोग अचरज में पड़े थे क्योंकि हर किसी ने उन्हें उसकी अपनी भाषा में बोलते सुना।
7 वे आश्चर्य में भर कर विस्मय के साथ बोले, “ये बोलने वाले सभी लोग क्या गलीली नहीं हैं? 8 फिर हममें से हर एक उन्हें हमारी अपनी मातृभाषा में बोलते हुए कैसे सुन रहा है? 9 वहाँ पारथी, मेदी और एलामी, मिसुपुतामिया के निवासी, यहूदिया और कप्पूदूकिया, पुन्तुस और एशिया। 10 फ्रूगिया और पम्फूलिया, मिसर और साइरीन नगर के निकट लीबिया के कुछ प्रदेशों के लोग, रोम से आये यात्री जिनमें जन्मजात यहूदी और यहूदी धर्म ग्रहण करने वाले लोग, क्रेती तथा अरब के रहने वाले 11 हम सब परमेश्वर के आश्चर्यपूर्ण कामों को अपनी अपनी भाषाओं में सुन रहे हैं।”
12 वे सब विस्मय में पड़ कर भौंचक्के हो आपस में पूछ रहे थे, “यह सब क्या हो रहा है?” 13 किन्तु दूसरे लोगों ने प्रेरितों का उपहास करते हुए कहा, “ये सब कुछ ज्यादा ही, नयी दाखरस चढ़ा गये हैं।”
पतरस का संबोधन
14 फिर उन ग्यारहों के साथ पतरस खड़ा हुआ और ऊँचे स्वर में लोगों को सम्बोधित करने लगा, “यहूदी साथियो और यरूशलेम के सभी निवासियो! इसका अर्थ मुझे बताने दो। मेरे शब्दों को ध्यान से सुनो। 15 ये लोग पिये हुए नहीं हैं, जैसा कि तुम समझ रहे हो। क्योंकि अभी तो सुबह के नौ बजे हैं। 16 बल्कि यह वह बात है जिसके बारे में योएल नबी ने कहा था:
17 ‘परमेश्वर कहता है:
अंतिम दिनों में ऐसा होगा कि मैं सभी मनुष्यों पर अपनी आत्मा उँड़ेल दूँगा
फिर तुम्हारे पुत्र और पुत्रियाँ भविष्यवाणी करने लगेंगे।
तथा तुम्हारे युवा लोग दर्शन पायेंगे
और तुम्हारे बूढ़े लोग स्वप्न देखेंगे।
18 हाँ, उन दिनों मैं अपने सेवकों और सेविकाओं पर अपनी आत्मा उँड़ेल दूँगा
और वे भविष्यवाणी करेंगे।
19 मैं ऊपर आकाश में अद्भुत कर्म
और नीचे धरती पर चिन्ह दिखाऊँगा
लहू, आग और धुएँ के बादल।
20 सूर्य अन्धेरे में और
चाँद रक्त में बदल जायेगा।
तब प्रभु का महान और महिमामय दिन आएगा।
21 और तब हर उस किसी का बचाव होगा जो प्रभु का नाम पुकारेगा।’(A)
22 “हे इस्राएल के लोगों, इन वचनों को सुनो: नासरी यीशु एक ऐसा पुरुष था जिसे परमेश्वर ने तुम्हारे सामने अद्भुत कर्मों, आश्चर्यों और चिन्हों समेत जिन्हें परमेश्वर ने उसके द्वारा किया था तुम्हारे बीच प्रकट किया। जैसा कि तुम स्वयं जानते ही हो। 23 इस पुरूष को परमेश्वर की निश्चित योजना और निश्चित पूर्व ज्ञान के अनुसार तुम्हारे हवाले कर दिया गया, और तुमने नीच मनुष्यों की सहायता से उसे क्रूस पर चढ़ाया और कीलें ठुकवा कर मार डाला। 24 किन्तु परमेश्वर ने उसे मृत्यु की वेदना से मुक्त करते हुए फिर से जिला दिया। क्योंकि उसके लिये यह सम्भव ही नहीं था कि मृत्यु उसे अपने वश में रख पाती। 25 जैसा कि दाऊद ने उसके विषय में कहा है:
‘मैंने प्रभु को सदा ही अपने सामने देखा है।
वह मेरी दाहिनी ओर विराजता है, ताकि मैं डिग न जाऊँ।
26 इससे मेरा हृदय प्रसन्न है
और मेरी वाणी हर्षित है;
मेरी देह भी आशा में जियेगी,
27 क्योंकि तू मेरी आत्मा को अधोलोक में नहीं छोड़ देगा।
तू अपने पवित्र जन को क्षय की अनुभूति नहीं होने देगा।
28 तूने मुझे जीवन की राह का ज्ञान कराया है।
अपनी उपस्थिति से तू मुझे आनन्द से पूर्ण कर देगा।’(B)
29 “हे मेरे भाईयों। मैं विश्वास के साथ आदि पुरूष दाऊद के बारे में तुमसे कह सकता हूँ कि उसकी मृत्यु हो गयी और उसे दफ़ना दिया गया। और उसकी कब्र हमारे यहाँ आज तक मौजूद है। 30 किन्तु क्योंकि वह एक नबी था और जानता था कि परमेश्वर ने शपथपूर्वक उसे वचन दिया है कि वह उसके वंश में से किसी एक को उसके सिंहासन पर बैठायेगा। 31 इसलिये आगे जो घटने वाला है, उसे देखते हुए उसने जब यह कहा था:
‘उसे अधोलोक में नहीं छोड़ा गया
और न ही उसकी देह ने सड़ने गलने का अनुभव किया।’
तो उसने मसीह की फिर से जी उठने के बारे में ही कहा था। 32 इसी यीशु को परमेश्वर ने पुनर्जीवित कर दिया। इस तथ्य के हम सब साक्षी हैं। 33 परमेश्वर के दाहिने हाथ सब से ऊँचा पद पाकर यीशु ने परम पिता से प्रतिज्ञा के अनुसार पवित्र आत्मा प्राप्त की और फिर उसने इस आत्मा को उँड़ेल दिया जिसे अब तुम देख रहे हो और सुन रहे हो। 34 दाऊद क्योंकि स्वर्ग में नहीं गया सो वह स्वयं कहता है:
‘प्रभु परमेश्वर ने मेरे प्रभु से कहा:
मेरे दाहिने बैठ,
35 जब तक मैं तेरे शत्रुओं को तेरे चरणों तले पैर रखने की चौकी की तरह न कर दूँ।’(C)
36 “इसलिये समूचा इस्राएल निश्चयपूर्वक जान ले कि परमेश्वर ने इस यीशु को जिसे तुमने क्रूस पर चढ़ा दिया था प्रभु और मसीह दोनों ही ठहराया था!”
37 लोगों ने जब यह सुना तो वे व्याकुल हो उठे और पतरस तथा अन्य प्रेरितों से कहा, “तो बंधुओ, हमें क्या करना चाहिये?”
38 पतरस ने उनसे कहा, “मन फिराओ और अपने पापों की क्षमा पाने के लिये तुममें से हर एक को यीशु मसीह के नाम से बपतिस्मा लेना चाहिये। फिर तुम पवित्र आत्मा का उपहार पा जाओगे। 39 क्योंकि यह प्रतिज्ञा तुम्हारे लिये, तुम्हारी संतानों के लिए और उन सबके लिये है जो बहुत दूर स्थित हैं। यह प्रतिज्ञा उन सबके लिए है जिन्हें हमारा प्रभु परमेश्वर को अपने पास बुलाता है।”
40 और बहुत से वचनों द्वारा उसने उन्हें चेतावनी दी और आग्रह के साथ उनसे कहा, “इस कुटिल पीढ़ी से अपने आपको बचाये रखो।” 41 सो जिन्होंने उसके संदेश को ग्रहण किया, उन्हें बपतिस्मा दिया गया। इस प्रकार उस दिन उनके समूह में कोई तीन हज़ार व्यक्ति और जुड़ गये।
विश्वासियों का साझा जीवन
42 उन्होंने प्रेरितों के उपदेश, संगत, रोटी के तोड़ने और प्रार्थनाओं के प्रति अपने को समर्पित कर दिया। 43 हर व्यक्ति पर भय मिश्रित विस्मय का भाव छाया रहा और प्रेरितों द्वारा आश्चर्य कर्म और चिन्ह प्रकट किये जाते रहे। 44 सभी विश्वासी एक साथ रहते थे और उनके पास जो कुछ था, उसे वे सब आपस में बाँट लेते थे। 45 उन्होंने अपनी सभी वस्तुएँ और सम्पत्ति बेच डाली और जिस किसी को आवश्यकता थी, उन सब में उसे बाँट दिया। 46 मन्दिर में एक समूह के रूप में वे हर दिन मिलते-जुलते रहे। वे अपने घरों में रोटी को विभाजित करते और उदार मन से आनन्द के साथ, मिल-जुलकर खाते। 47 सभी लोगों की सद्भावनाओं का आनन्द लेते हुए वे प्रभु की स्तुति करते, और प्रतिदिन परमेश्वर, जिन्हें उद्धार मिल जाता, उन्हें उनके दल में और जोड़ देता।
Acts 2
King James Version
2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass 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 on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Gevurot 2
Orthodox Jewish Bible
2 And when the day of Shavuos is fulfilled, they were all together in one place. [Lv 23:15,16]
2 And there was mitamuhl (suddenly) from Shomayim a sound like the rushing of a violent wind, and it filled the whole bais where they were sitting.
3 And leshonot appeared to them, being divided as eish resting on each one of them,
4 And all were filled with the Ruach Hakodesh, and they began to speak in leshonot acherot as the Ruach Hakodesh was giving the utterance to them.
5 Now there were in Yerushalayim frum, charedi (orthodox) Yehudim from all the nations under Shomayim.
6 And at this sound, the multitude assembled and was bewildered, because they were hearing, each one in his own native language, the Achim b’Moshiach speaking.
7 And they were mishpoyel (standing in awe) and marveled, saying, "Hinei, are not all of these Galileans speaking?
8 "And how are we hearing, each in our own language in which we were born?
9 "We Parthians and Medes and Elamites; the ones living in Mesopotamia, Yehudah, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Mitzrayim (Egypt), and the regions of Libya around Cyrene; and the visiting Romans,
11 Both Yehudim and Gerim (Proselytes), Cretan, and Arabic, we hear them speaking in other languages [than their own] of the Gevurot (mighty acts) of Hashem".
12 And all had real hispailus (overwhelming awe) and were bewildered saying one to another, "What can this mean?"
13 But others, mocking, were saying, "Of sweet wine they have been filled!”
14 But Kefa, having stood with the Achad Asar, lifted up his voice and declared to them, "Anashim Yehudim! And the ones inhabiting Yerushalayim, have da’as of all this and be goires (listen to) my dvarim:
15 "For these ones are not, as you assume, in their schnaps, for it is only the third hour of the day (nine o’clock in the morning).
16 "But this is what has been spoken by Yoel HaNavi;
17 `And it shall be in the Acharit Hayamim, ne’um Hashem, ESHPOCH ES RUCHI AL KOL BASAR V’NIB’U BNEICHEM U’VENOTEICHEM ZIKNEICHEM CHALOMOT YACHALOMUN BACHUREICHEM CHEZYONOT YIRU ("I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh: and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams and your bochrim will see visions": Yoel 3:1 [2:28]) [Num 11:25; Isa 44:3; Ezek 39:29]
18 ‘And upon My avadim and upon My shfakhot in BAYYAMIM HAHEMMAH ESHPOCH ES RUCHI ("in those days I will pour out my Ruach Hakodesh") and they will speak dvarim hanevu’ah:
19 ‘And I will give MOFTIM BASHOMAYIM and signs on ha’aretz below DAHM VA’EISH V’TIMROT ASHAM ("blood and fire and billows of smoke")
20 ‘The shemesh (sun) will be transformed into choshech (darkness) and the moon into blood before the great and dreadful YOM HASHEM.")
21 ("And it will be that everyone whoever calls upon the Name of Adonoi will be saved".)' [BERESHIS 4:26; 26:25; TEHILLIM 105:1; YOEL 3:1-5 (2:28 32)]
22 "Anshei Yisroel, listen to these dvarim: Yehoshua of Natzeret, a man having been attested by Hashem to you by gevurot and moftim which Hashem did through him in your midst, just as you yourselves have da’as
23 "This one, delivered up by the determined cheshbon (plan) and yedi’ah mukdemet (foreknowledge) of Hashem, and by the hand of lawless Bnei Adam you made him talui al HaEtz (being hanged on the Tree, DEVARIM 21:23) and put him to death. [YESHAYAH 53:10]
24 "But in fact Hashem made Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach to stand up alive again, having destroyed the Chevlei HaMavet, because it was impossible for Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach to be held by Death’s ko’ach.
25 "For Dovid Hamelech says of him, SHIVVITI HASHEM L’NEGDI TAMID KI MIMINI BAL EMMOT ("I set Adonoi before me always, because he is at my right hand I will not be shaken.") [TEHILLIM 16:8-11]
26 "Therefore my heart was cheered up and my tongue exulted and in addition also my flesh, my body, will live in secure [hope].") [BERESHIS 47:18; TEHILLIM 16:9-10; IYOV 19:25-27; YESHAYAH 53:11]
27 "Because you will not abandon the nefesh (soul) of me to destruction nor will you give your Chasid [T.N. i.e., Moshiach the ultimate Chasid] to see corruption.")
28 TODIEINI ORACH CHAYYIM SOVA SEMACHOT ES PANECHA ("You made known to me the path of Chayyim, you will fill me with simcha in your presence.") [TEHILLIM 16:8-11]
29 "Anashim Achim, it is permitted to speak with bitachon (confidence) to you benoigeia (regarding) Dovid Avinu, that also he died and was buried and his kever (tomb) is with us until this day. [MELACHIM ALEF 2:10; NECHEMYAH 3:16]
30 "Therefore, being a Navi and having da’as that with a shevu’ah (an oath) HASHEM swore to him that from his loins his zera would sit upon his KISSE... [TEHILLIM 132:11; 89:3-4; SHMUEL BAIS 7:12-13]
31 "Foreseeing this, Dovid Hamelech spoke about the Techiyas HaMoshiach: neither was he "abandoned to destruction nor did his BASAR see corruption." [BERESHIS 47:18; TEHILLIM 16:9-10; IYOV 19:25-27; YESHAYAH 53:11]
32 "This Yehoshua in fact Hashem made to stand up alive again, of which we all are Edim (T.N. i.e., here the original language means “martyr witnesses unto mavet al Kiddush ha-Shem”).
33 "Having been exalted to the right hand of Hashem and having received the havtachah of the Ruach Hakodesh from [Elohim] HaAv, Moshiach poured out this which you also see and hear.
34 "For Dovid Hamelech did not ascend into Shomayim, but he says, "Hashem says to Adoni, SHEV LIMINI ("sit down at my right hand")
35 Until I make OYVECHA ("your enemies") your footstool." [TEHILLIM 110:1]
36 "Therefore, assuredly let Klal Yisroel have da’as that this Yehoshua, whom you made talui al HaEtz (being hanged on the Tree, DEVARIM 21:23), this one Hashem has made both Adoneinu and Rabbeinu, Melech HaMoshiach."
37 And when they heard this, they were pierced with conviction in their levavot, and they said to Kefa and to the other of Moshiach’s Shlichim, "Achim, what shall we do?"
38 And Kefa said to them, "Make teshuva (repentance, turning from chet to Hashem) and each of you submit to a tevilah of teshuva in the Shem of Yehoshua HaMoshiach, for the selichat avon of you, and you will receive the matanah of the Ruach Hakodesh.
39 "For to you is the havtachah and to your yeladim and to all the ones at a distance, as many as may YIKRA B’SHEM ADONOI ELOHEINU." [YOEL 3:5; 2:28; YESHAYAH 44:3; 65:23; 57:19]
40 And with many other dvarim, Kefa gave solemn edut (testimony) and was warning them, "Receive yeshu’at Eloheinu from this DOR IKKESH U’FETALTOL (warped and crooked generation)!" DEVARIM 32:5]
41 Those, who were mekabel Besuras HaGeulah and welcomed his dvar, submitted to a tevilah of teshuva and there were added in that day nefashot (souls) beerech (approximately, dacht zich) shloshet alafim (three thousand).
42 And they were keseder (constantly) shtark (steadfastly) devoting themselves to the Moshiach’s pnimiyus (innermost) Torah as handed on by Moshiach’s Shlichim (emmisaries of the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach) and to being mishtatef (involved, joining) in the Messianic Chavurah (fellowship, company, group, especially one eating the paschal lamb together) and to the tishen (shared meals) with Betzi’at HaLechem (Breaking Bread) at the Seudos Moshiach and to the Tefillos.
43 All were filled with yirat Shomayim and mishpoyel (awe), and many moftim and otot through Moshiach’s Shlichim were taking place.
44 And all the [Jewish] Ma’aminim HaMeshichiyim were together and they were having all things in common.
45 And they were selling their properties and possessions and were distributing tzedakah to everyone as someone had need. [DEVARIM 28:1-14]
46 And yom yom, devoting themselves with one mind in the courts of the Beis Hamikdash, and from bais to bais, offering the Betzi’at HaLechem, they were together at tish with single-hearted exultation and hitlahavut.
47 Praising Hashem, and having favor with all the people while G-d was adding to their number yom yom those receiving yeshu’at Eloheinu.
Acts 2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 2
The Coming of the Spirit. 1 [a]When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.(A) 2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,[b] and it filled the entire house in which they were.(B) 3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,[c] which parted and came to rest on each one of them.(C) 4 And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,[d] as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.(D)
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. 6 At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?(E) 8 Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, 11 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”(F) 12 They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others said, scoffing, “They have had too much new wine.”(G)
II. The Mission in Jerusalem
Peter’s Speech at Pentecost. 14 [e]Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘It will come to pass in the last days,’ God says,
‘that I will pour out a portion of my spirit
upon all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
your old men shall dream dreams.(H)
18 Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids
I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days,
and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will work wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below:
blood, fire, and a cloud of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord,
21 and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord.’(I)
22 You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.(J) 23 This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.(K) 24 But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.(L) 25 For David says of him:
‘I saw the Lord ever before me,(M)
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
26 Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;
my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,
27 because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.(N)
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
29 My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. 30 But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,(O) 31 he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption.(P) 32 God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. 33 Exalted at the right hand of God,[f] he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you [both] see and hear.(Q) 34 For David did not go up into heaven, but he himself said:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand(R)
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
36 Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”(S)
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?”(T) 38 Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized,[g] every 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.(U) 39 For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.”(V) 40 He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”(W) 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.(X)
Communal Life.[h] 42 (Y)They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.(Z) 43 Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.(AA) 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common;(AB) 45 they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Footnotes
- 2:1–41 Luke’s pentecostal narrative consists of an introduction (Acts 2:1–13), a speech ascribed to Peter declaring the resurrection of Jesus and its messianic significance (Acts 2:14–36), and a favorable response from the audience (Acts 2:37–41). It is likely that the narrative telescopes events that took place over a period of time and on a less dramatic scale. The Twelve were not originally in a position to proclaim publicly the messianic office of Jesus without incurring immediate reprisal from those religious authorities in Jerusalem who had brought about Jesus’ death precisely to stem the rising tide in his favor.
- 2:2 There came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind: wind and spirit are associated in Jn 3:8. The sound of a great rush of wind would herald a new action of God in the history of salvation.
- 2:3 Tongues as of fire: see Ex 19:18 where fire symbolizes the presence of God to initiate the covenant on Sinai. Here the holy Spirit acts upon the apostles, preparing them to proclaim the new covenant with its unique gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38).
- 2:4 To speak in different tongues: ecstatic prayer in praise of God, interpreted in Acts 2:6, 11 as speaking in foreign languages, symbolizing the worldwide mission of the church.
- 2:14–36 The first of six discourses in Acts (along with Acts 3:12–26; 4:8–12; 5:29–32; 10:34–43; 13:16–41) dealing with the resurrection of Jesus and its messianic import. Five of these are attributed to Peter, the final one to Paul. Modern scholars term these discourses in Acts the “kerygma,” the Greek word for proclamation (cf. 1 Cor 15:11).
- 2:33 At the right hand of God: or “by the right hand of God.”
- 2:38 Repent and be baptized: repentance is a positive concept, a change of mind and heart toward God reflected in the actual goodness of one’s life. It is in accord with the apostolic teaching derived from Jesus (Acts 2:42) and ultimately recorded in the four gospels. Luke presents baptism in Acts as the expected response to the apostolic preaching about Jesus and associates it with the conferring of the Spirit (Acts 1:5; 10:44–48; 11:16).
- 2:42–47 The first of three summary passages (along with Acts 4:32–37; 5:12–16) that outline, somewhat idyllically, the chief characteristics of the Jerusalem community: adherence to the teachings of the Twelve and the centering of its religious life in the eucharistic liturgy (Acts 2:42); a system of distribution of goods that led wealthier Christians to sell their possessions when the needs of the community’s poor required it (Acts 2:44 and the note on Acts 4:32–37); and continued attendance at the temple, since in this initial stage there was little or no thought of any dividing line between Christianity and Judaism (Acts 2:46).
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