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五旬節聖靈降臨

五旬節到了,他們都聚集在一起。 忽然有一陣好像強風吹過的響聲,從天而來,充滿了他們坐在裡面的整間屋子。 又有火燄般的舌頭顯現出來,分別落在他們各人身上。 他們都被聖靈充滿,就照著聖靈所賜給他們的口才,用別種語言說出話來。

那時住在耶路撒冷的,有從天下各國來的虔誠的猶太人。 這聲音一響,許多人都聚了來,人人都聽見門徒講出聽眾各人本鄉的話,就莫名其妙。 他們又驚訝、又驚奇,說:“你看,這些說話的,不都是加利利人嗎? 我們各人怎麼聽見他們講我們從小所用的本鄉話呢? 我們帕提亞人、瑪代人、以攔人和住在美索不達米亞、猶太、加帕多家、本都、亞西亞、 10 弗呂家、旁非利亞、埃及,並靠近古利奈的利比亞一帶地方的人,客居羅馬的猶太人和歸信猶太教的人, 11 克里特人以及阿拉伯人,都聽見他們用我們的語言,講說 神的大作為。” 12 眾人還在驚訝迷惘的時候,彼此說:“這是甚麼意思?” 13 另有些人譏笑說:“他們是給新酒灌醉了。”

彼得在五旬節的講道

14 彼得和十一使徒站起來,他高聲對眾人說:“猶太人和所有住在耶路撒冷的人哪,你們應當明白這件事,也應該留心聽我的話。 15 這些人並不是照你們所想的喝醉了,現在不過是上午九點鐘罷了。 16 這正是約珥先知所說的:

17 ‘ 神說:在末後的日子,

我要把我的靈澆灌所有的人,

你們的兒女要說預言,

你們的青年人要見異象,

你們的老年人要作異夢。

18 在那些日子,

我也要把我的靈澆灌我的僕人和使女,他們就要說預言。

19 我要在天上顯出奇事,

在地上顯出神蹟,

有血、有火、有煙霧;

20 太陽將變為黑暗,

月亮將變為血紅,

在主偉大顯赫的日子臨到以前,這一切都要發生。

21 那時,凡求告主名的,都必得救。’

22 “以色列人哪,請聽聽這幾句話:正如你們所知道的, 神已經藉著拿撒勒人耶穌在你們中間施行了大能、奇事、神蹟,向你們證明他是 神所立的。 23 他照著 神的定旨和預知被交了出去,你們就藉不法之徒的手,把他釘死了。 24  神卻把死的痛苦解除,使他復活了,因為他不能被死亡拘禁。 25 大衛指著他說:

‘我時常看見主在我面前,

因他在我右邊,我必不會動搖。

26 為此我的心快樂,我的口舌歡呼,

我的肉身也要安居在盼望中。

27 因你必不把我的靈魂撇在陰間,

也必不容你的聖者見朽壞。

28 你已經把生命之路指示了我,

必使我在你面前有滿足的喜樂。’

29 “弟兄們,關於祖先大衛的事,我不妨坦白告訴你們,他死了,葬了,直到今日他的墳墓還在我們這裡。 30 他是先知,既然知道 神向他起過誓,要從他的後裔中立一位,坐在他的寶座上, 31 又預先看見了這事,就講論基督的復活說:

‘他不會被撇在陰間,

他的肉身也不見朽壞。’

32 這位耶穌, 神已經使他復活了,我們都是這事的見證人。 33 他既然被高舉到 神的右邊,從父領受了所應許的聖靈,就把他澆灌下來,這就是你們所看見所聽見的。 34 大衛並沒有升到天上,他卻說:

‘主對我主說:

你坐在我的右邊,

35 等我使你的仇敵作你的腳凳。’

36 因此,以色列全家應當確實知道,你們釘在十字架上的這位耶穌, 神已經立他為主為基督了。”

37 他們聽了以後,覺得扎心,就對彼得和其餘的使徒說:“弟兄們,我們應當作甚麼呢?” 38 彼得說:“你們應當悔改,並且每一個人都要奉耶穌基督的名受洗,使你們的罪得赦,就必領受聖靈,那白白的恩典。 39 這應許原是給你們和你們的兒女,以及所有在遠方的人,就是給凡是我們主 神召來歸他的人。” 40 彼得還用許多別的話,鄭重作證,並且勸勉他們,說:“你們應當救自己脫離這彎曲的世代!” 41 於是接受他話的人都受了洗,那一天門徒增加了約三千人。 42 他們恆心遵守使徒的教訓,彼此相通、擘餅和祈禱。

信徒的團契生活

43 使徒行了許多奇事神蹟,眾人就都懼怕。 44 所有信的人都在一起,凡物公用, 45 並且變賣產業和財物,按照各人的需要分給他們。 46 他們天天同心在殿裡恆切地聚集,一家一家地擘餅,存著歡樂和誠懇的心用飯, 47 又讚美 神,並且得到全民的喜愛。主將得救的人,天天加給教會。

A Sound Like a Strong Wind

1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

5-11 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were blown away. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
    Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
    Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!

“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”

12 Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”

13 Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.”

Peter Speaks Up

14-21 That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:

“In the Last Days,” God says,
“I will pour out my Spirit
    on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy,
    also your daughters;
Your young men will see visions,
    your old men dream dreams.
When the time comes,
    I’ll pour out my Spirit
On those who serve me, men and women both,
    and they’ll prophesy.
I’ll set wonders in the sky above
    and signs on the earth below,
Blood and fire and billowing smoke,
    the sun turning black and the moon blood-red,
Before the Day of the Lord arrives,
    the Day tremendous and marvelous;
And whoever calls out for help
    to me, God, will be saved.”

22-28 “Fellow Israelites, listen carefully to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man thoroughly accredited by God to you—the miracles and wonders and signs that God did through him are common knowledge—this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you. And you pinned him to a cross and killed him. But God untied the death ropes and raised him up. Death was no match for him. David said it all:

I saw God before me for all time.
    Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side.
I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic;
    I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope.
I know you’ll never dump me in Hades;
    I’ll never even smell the stench of death.
You’ve got my feet on the life-path,
    with your face shining sun-joy all around.

29-36 “Dear friends, let me be completely frank with you. Our ancestor David is dead and buried—his tomb is in plain sight today. But being also a prophet and knowing that God had solemnly sworn that a descendant of his would rule his kingdom, seeing far ahead, he talked of the resurrection of the Messiah—‘no trip to Hades, no stench of death.’ This Jesus, God raised up. And every one of us here is a witness to it. Then, raised to the heights at the right hand of God and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out the Spirit he had just received. That is what you see and hear. For David himself did not ascend to heaven, but he did say,

God said to my Master, “Sit at my right hand
Until I make your enemies a stool for resting your feet.”

“All Israel, then, know this: There’s no longer room for doubt—God made him Master and Messiah, this Jesus whom you killed on a cross.”

37 Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?”

38-39 Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.”

40 He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!”

41-42 That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

* * *

43-45 Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.

46-47 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

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

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing(F) Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed,(G) they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?(H) Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 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?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”(O)

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!(P) 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.(Q)
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,(R)
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.(S)
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,(T)
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood(U)
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord(V) will be saved.’[c](W)

22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth(X) was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs,(Y) which God did among you through him,(Z) as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge;(AA) and you, with the help of wicked men,[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross.(AB) 24 But God raised him from the dead,(AC) freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.(AD) 25 David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand,
    I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    you will not let your holy one see decay.(AE)
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’[e](AF)

29 “Fellow Israelites,(AG) I can tell you confidently that the patriarch(AH) David died and was buried,(AI) and his tomb is here(AJ) to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.(AK) 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.(AL) 32 God has raised this Jesus to life,(AM) and we are all witnesses(AN) of it. 33 Exalted(AO) to the right hand of God,(AP) he has received from the Father(AQ) the promised Holy Spirit(AR) and has poured out(AS) what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”’[f](AT)

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord(AU) and Messiah.”(AV)

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”(AW)

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,(AX) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.(AY) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(AZ) 39 The promise is for you and your children(BA) and for all who are far off(BB)—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”(BC) 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number(BD) that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching(BE) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread(BF) and to prayer.(BG) 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.(BH) 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.(BI) 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.(BJ) 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.(BK) They broke bread(BL) in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.(BM) And the Lord added to their number(BN) daily those who were being saved.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 2:4 Or languages; also in verse 11
  2. Acts 2:9 That is, the Roman province by that name
  3. Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32
  4. Acts 2:23 Or of those not having the law (that is, Gentiles)
  5. Acts 2:28 Psalm 16:8-11 (see Septuagint)
  6. Acts 2:35 Psalm 110:1