Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.(A) 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(B) and began to speak in other tongues[a](C) as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing(D) 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,(E) they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?(F) Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,(G) Pontus(H) and Asia,[b](I) 10 Phrygia(J) and Pamphylia,(K) Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene;(L) 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.”(M)

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!(N) 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.(O)
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,(P)
    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.(Q)
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,(R)
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood(S)
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord(T) will be saved.’[c](U)

22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth(V) was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs,(W) which God did among you through him,(X) as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge;(Y) and you, with the help of wicked men,[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross.(Z) 24 But God raised him from the dead,(AA) freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.(AB) 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.(AC)
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’[e](AD)

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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)

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