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The Coming of the Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to do this.

There were some godly Jews in Jerusalem at this time. They were from every country in the world. A large crowd came together because they heard the noise. They were surprised because, as the apostles were speaking, everyone heard in their own language.

They were all amazed at this. They did not understand how the apostles could do this. They said, “Look! These men we hear speaking are all from Galilee.[a] But we hear them in our own languages. How is this possible? We are from all these different places: Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near the city of Cyrene, Rome, 11 Crete, and Arabia. Some of us were born Jews, and others have changed their religion to worship God like Jews. We are from these different countries, but we can hear these men in our own languages! We can all understand the great things they are saying about God.”

12 The people were all amazed and confused. They asked each other, “What is happening?” 13 But others were laughing at the apostles, saying they were drunk from too much wine.

Peter Speaks to the People

14 Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles. He spoke loudly so that all the people could hear. He said, “My Jewish brothers and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me. I will tell you something you need to know. Listen carefully. 15 These men are not drunk as you think; it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 But Joel the prophet wrote about what you see happening here today. This is what he wrote:

17 ‘God says: In the last days
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
    Your young men will see visions.
    Your old men will have special dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
    on my servants, men and women,
    and they will prophesy.
19 I will work wonders in the sky above.
    I will cause miraculous signs on the earth below.
    There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke.
20 The sun will be changed into darkness,
    and the moon will be as red as blood.
    Then the great and glorious day of the Lord will come.
21 And everyone who trusts in the Lord[b] will be saved.’ (A)

22 “My fellow Israelites, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a very special man. God clearly showed this to you. He proved it by the miracles, wonders, and miraculous signs he did through Jesus. You all saw these things, so you know this is true. 23 Jesus was handed over to you, and you killed him. With the help of evil men, you nailed him to a cross. But God knew all this would happen. It was his plan—a plan he made long ago. 24 Jesus suffered the pain of death, but God made him free. He raised him from death. There was no way for death to hold him. 25 David said this about him:

‘I saw the Lord before me always;
    he is at my right side to keep me safe.
26 So my heart is happy,
    and the words I speak are words of joy.
    Yes, even my body will live with hope,
27 because you will not leave me in the place of death.[c]
    You will not let the body of your Holy One rot in the grave.
28 You taught me how to live.
    You will come close to me and give me great joy.’ (B)

29 “My brothers, I can tell you for sure about David, our great ancestor. He died, was buried, and his tomb is still here with us today. 30 He was a prophet and knew something that God had said. God had promised David that someone from his own family would sit on David’s throne as king.[d] 31 David knew this before it happened. That is why he said this about that future king:

‘He was not left in the place of death.
    His body did not rot in the grave.’

David was talking about the Messiah rising from death. 32 So Jesus is the one God raised from death. We are all witnesses of this. We saw him. 33 Jesus was lifted up to heaven. Now he is with God, at God’s right side. The Father has given the Holy Spirit to him, as he promised. So Jesus has now poured out that Spirit. This is what you see and hear. 34 David was not the one who was lifted up to heaven. David himself said,

‘The Lord God said to my Lord:
Sit at my right side,
35     until I put your enemies under your power.[e](C)

36 “So, all the people of Israel should know this for certain: God has made Jesus to be Lord and Messiah. He is the man you nailed to the cross!”

37 When the people heard this, they felt very, very sorry. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 Peter said to them, “Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Then God will forgive your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is for you. It is also for your children and for the people who are far away. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself.”

40 Peter warned them with many other words; he begged them, “Save yourselves from the evil of the people who live now!” 41 Then those who accepted what Peter said were baptized. On that day about 3000 people were added to the group of believers.

The Believers Share

42 The believers spent their time listening to the teaching of the apostles. They shared everything with each other. They ate[f] together and prayed together. 43 Many wonders and miraculous signs were happening through the apostles, and everyone felt great respect for God. 44 All the believers stayed together and shared everything. 45 They sold their land and the things they owned. Then they divided the money and gave it to those who needed it. 46 The believers shared a common purpose, and every day they spent much of their time together in the Temple area. They also ate together in their homes. They were happy to share their food and ate with joyful hearts. 47 The believers praised God and were respected by all the people. More and more people were being saved every day, and the Lord was adding them to their group.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 2:7 from Galilee The people thought men from Galilee could speak only their own language.
  2. Acts 2:21 who trusts in the Lord Literally, “who calls on the name of the Lord,” meaning to show faith in him by worshiping him or praying to him for help.
  3. Acts 2:27 place of death Literally, “Hades.” Also in verse 31.
  4. Acts 2:30 God had promised … as king See 2 Sam. 7:12, 13 and Ps. 132:11.
  5. Acts 2:35 until I put … power Literally, “until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
  6. Acts 2:42 ate Literally, “broke bread.” This may mean a meal or the Lord’s Supper, the special meal Jesus told his followers to eat to remember him. Also in verse 46. See Lk. 22:14-20.

Coming of the Holy Spirit

When (A)the Day of Pentecost had fully come, (B)they were all [a]with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and (C)it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And (D)they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began (E)to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Crowd’s Response

And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, (F)devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the (G)multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak (H)Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own [c]language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and (I)Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and [d]Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

Peter’s Sermon(J)

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, (K)since it is only [e]the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And(L) it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
(M)That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and (N)your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
(O)And they shall prophesy.
19 (P)I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 (Q)The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
21 And it shall come to pass
That (R)whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you (S)by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, (T)being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, (U)you [f]have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 (V)whom God raised up, having [g]loosed the [h]pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him:

(W)‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see (X)corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you (Y)of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, (Z)and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, [i]according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, (AA)that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 (AB)This Jesus God has raised up, (AC)of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore (AD)being exalted [j]to (AE)the right hand of God, and (AF)having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He (AG)poured out this which you now see and hear.

34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

(AH)‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, (AI)they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, (AJ)“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [k]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and (AK)to your children, and (AL)to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

A Vital Church Grows

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this [l]perverse generation.” 41 Then those who [m]gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 (AM)And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ [n]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and (AN)many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and (AO)had all things in common, 45 and [o]sold their possessions and goods, and (AP)divided[p] them among all, as anyone had need.

46 (AQ)So continuing daily with one accord (AR)in the temple, and (AS)breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And (AT)the Lord added [q]to the church daily those who were being saved.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 2:1 NU together
  2. Acts 2:3 Or tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each
  3. Acts 2:8 dialect
  4. Acts 2:11 Arabians
  5. Acts 2:15 9 a.m.
  6. Acts 2:23 NU omits have taken
  7. Acts 2:24 destroyed or abolished
  8. Acts 2:24 Lit. birth pangs
  9. Acts 2:30 NU He would seat one on his throne,
  10. Acts 2:33 Possibly by
  11. Acts 2:38 forgiveness
  12. Acts 2:40 crooked
  13. Acts 2:41 NU omits gladly
  14. Acts 2:42 teaching
  15. Acts 2:45 would sell
  16. Acts 2:45 distributed
  17. Acts 2:47 NU omits to the church

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

And when (A)the day of Pentecost [a]had fully come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing (B)wind, and it filled (C)the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues like fire [b](D)distributing themselves, and [c]they [d]rested on each one of them. And they were all (E)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (F)speak with other [e]tongues, as the Spirit was giving them [f]utterance.

Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, (G)devout men from every nation under heaven. And when (H)this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own [g]language. (I)So they were astounded and marveling, saying, “Behold, are not all these who are speaking (J)Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own [h]language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and (K)Cappadocia, (L)Pontus and [i](M)Asia, 10 (N)Phrygia and (O)Pamphylia, Egypt and the district of Libya around (P)Cyrene, and [j](Q)visitors from Rome, both Jews and [k](R)proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” 12 And (S)they all continued in astonishment and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others, mocking, were saying, “(T)They are full of new wine.”

Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost

14 But Peter, [l]taking his stand with (U)the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, (V)for it is the [m]third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 (W)And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
That I will pour out My Spirit on all [n]mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see visions,
And your old men shall dream dreams;
18 Even on My male slaves and female slaves,
I will in those days pour out My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
19 And I will put wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and awesome day of the [o]Lord comes.
21 And it will be that (X)everyone who calls on the name of the [p]Lord will be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: (Y)Jesus the Nazarene, (Z)a man [q]attested to you by God with [r]miracles and (AA)wonders and [s]signs which God did through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the (AB)predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, (AC)you nailed to a cross by the hands of lawless men and put Him to death. 24 [t]But (AD)God raised Him up again, putting an end to the [u]agony of death, since it (AE)was impossible for Him to be held [v]in its power. 25 For David says of Him,

(AF)I saw the [w]Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;
27 Because You will not forsake my soul to (AG)Hades,
(AH)Nor give Your [x]Holy One over to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’

29 “Men, brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the (AI)patriarch David that he both (AJ)died and (AK)was buried, and (AL)his tomb is [y]with us to this day. 30 And so, because he was (AM)a prophet and knew that (AN)God had sworn to him with an oath to set one of the fruit [z]of his body on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the [aa]Christ, that (AO)He was neither forsaken to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus (AP)God raised up again, to which we are all (AQ)witnesses. 33 Therefore having been exalted [ab](AR)to the right hand of God, and (AS)having received from the Father (AT)the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has (AU)poured out this which you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says:

(AV)The [ac]Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at My right hand,
35 Until I put Your enemies as a footstool for Your feet.”’

36 Therefore let all the (AW)house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both (AX)Lord and [ad]Christ—this Jesus (AY)whom you crucified.”

About Three Thousand Souls Saved

37 Now when they heard this, they were [ae]pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, (AZ)what should we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “(BA)Repent, and each of you be (BB)baptized in the name of Jesus Christ [af]for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For (BC)the promise is for you and your children and for all who are (BD)far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly (BE)bore witness and kept on exhorting them, saying, “[ag]Be saved from this (BF)crooked generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand (BG)souls. 42 And they were (BH)continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to (BI)the breaking of bread and (BJ)to the prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul; and many (BK)wonders and [ah]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [ai]were together and (BL)had all things in common; 45 and they (BM)began selling their property and possessions and were (BN)dividing them up with all, as anyone might have need. 46 (BO)And daily devoting themselves with one accord in the temple and (BP)breaking bread [aj]from house to house, they were taking their [ak]meals together with gladness and [al]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and (BQ)having favor with all the people. And the Lord (BR)was adding [am]to their number daily (BS)those who were being saved.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 2:1 Lit was being fulfilled
  2. Acts 2:3 Or being distributed
  3. Acts 2:3 Lit it
  4. Acts 2:3 Or sat
  5. Acts 2:4 Or languages
  6. Acts 2:4 Or ability to speak out
  7. Acts 2:6 Or dialect
  8. Acts 2:8 Or dialect
  9. Acts 2:9 West coast province of Asia Minor
  10. Acts 2:10 Lit the sojourning Romans
  11. Acts 2:10 Gentile converts to Judaism
  12. Acts 2:14 Or being put forward as spokesman
  13. Acts 2:15 9 a.m.
  14. Acts 2:17 Lit flesh
  15. Acts 2:20 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Joel 2:31
  16. Acts 2:21 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Joel 2:32
  17. Acts 2:22 Or exhibited, accredited
  18. Acts 2:22 Or works of power
  19. Acts 2:22 Or attesting miracles
  20. Acts 2:24 Lit Whom God raised up
  21. Acts 2:24 Lit birth pains
  22. Acts 2:24 Lit by it
  23. Acts 2:25 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 16:8
  24. Acts 2:27 Or devout, pious
  25. Acts 2:29 Lit among
  26. Acts 2:30 Offspring; lit of his loins
  27. Acts 2:31 Messiah
  28. Acts 2:33 Or by
  29. Acts 2:34 In OT, Yahweh, cf. Ps 110:1
  30. Acts 2:36 Messiah
  31. Acts 2:37 Or wounded in conscience
  32. Acts 2:38 Or because of
  33. Acts 2:40 Or Escape
  34. Acts 2:43 Or attesting miracles
  35. Acts 2:44 One early ms omits were and and
  36. Acts 2:46 Or in the various private homes
  37. Acts 2:46 Lit food
  38. Acts 2:46 Or simplicity
  39. Acts 2:47 Lit together

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

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them tongues as of fire, being distributed and resting on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Now dwelling in Jerusalem were Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. When this sound occurred, the crowd came together and were confounded, because each man heard them speaking in his own language. They were all amazed and marveled, saying to each other, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that we hear, each in our own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages the mighty works of God.” 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other, “What does this mean?”

13 Others mocking said, “These men are full of new wine.”

Peter’s Speech at Pentecost

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days it shall be,’ says God,
    ‘that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
    I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
    and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above
    and signs on the earth below:
    blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
    and the moon into blood,
    before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls
    on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’[a]

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God with powerful works and wonders and signs, which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know. 23 You have taken Him, who was handed over to you by the ordained counsel and foreknowledge of God, and by lawless hands have crucified and killed Him, 24 whom God raised up by loosening the pull of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him:

‘I foresaw the Lord always before me,
    for He is at my right hand,
    that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
    moreover my flesh will dwell in hope.
27 For You will not abandon my soul to Hades,
    nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
    You will make me full of joy with Your presence.’[b]

29 “Brothers, I may speak confidently to you concerning the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 But being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of his seed according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he foresaw this and spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 God raised up this Jesus, of which we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this which you now see and hear. 34 For David has not ascended to the heavens, yet he says:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
    “Sit at My right hand,
35 Until I make Your enemies
    Your footstool.” ’[c]

36 “Therefore, let all the house of Israel assuredly know that God has made this Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 When they heard this, they were stung in the heart and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Life Among the Believers

42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers. 43 Fear came to every soul. And many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 They sold their property and goods and distributed them to all, according to their need. 46 And continuing daily with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.