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。

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

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