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

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

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

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.