Acts 2
Wycliffe Bible
2 And when the days of Pentecost were filled [were fulfilled], all the disciples were together in the same place.
2 And suddenly there was made a sound from heaven, as of a great wind coming, and it filled all the house where they sat [and it filled all the house where they were sitting].
3 And diverse tongues as fire appeared to them, and it sat on each of them. [And tongues diversely parted as fire appeared to them, and it sat upon each of them.]
4 And all were filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak in diverse languages [and they began to speak with diverse tongues], as the Holy Ghost gave to them to speak.
5 And there were in Jerusalem dwelling Jews, religious men, of each nation that is under heaven.
6 And when this voice was made, the multitude came together, and were astonished in thought [and in soul, or understanding, was confounded, or astonished], for each man heard them speaking in his own language.
7 And all were astonished, and wondered, and said together, Whether not all these that speak be men of Galilee, [Forsooth all men were astonished, and wondered, saying together, Whether not all these that speak be Galileans,]
8 and how heard we each man our language in which we be born? [and how we heard each man his tongue in which we be born?]
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and they that dwell at Mesopotamia [and they that dwell in Mesopotamia], Judaea, and Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya, that is about Cyrene, and comelings Romans, and Jews, and proselytes,
11 men of Crete, and of Arabia, we have heard them speaking in our languages the great things of God. [men of Crete and Arabia, we have heard them speaking in our tongues the great things of God.]
12 And all were astonished, and wondered, saying together, What will this thing be?
13 And others scorned, and said [saying], For these men be full of must.
14 But Peter stood with the eleven, and raised up his voice [Forsooth Peter standing with the eleven, raised his voice], and spake to them, Ye [men] Jews, and all that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and with ears perceive ye my words [and with ears perceive my words].
15 For not as ye ween [Soothly not as ye deem, or guess], these be drunken, when it is the third hour of the day;
16 but this it is, that was said by the prophet Joel,
17 And it shall be in the last days, the Lord saith, I shall pour out my Spirit on each flesh [I shall pour out my Spirit on all flesh]; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your elders shall dream swevens.
18 And on my servants and on mine handmaidens in those days I shall pour out of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I shall give great wonders in heaven above, and signs in earth beneath, blood, and fire, and heat of smoke [blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke].
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that the great and the open day of the Lord come [before that the great and open day of the Lord shall come].
21 And it shall be, each man whichever shall call to help the name of the Lord, shall be safe.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear ye these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God before you by works of power, and wonders, and tokens [Ye men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man proved of God in you by virtues, or miracles, and wonders, and tokens], which God did by him in the middle of you, as ye know,
23 ye tormented, and killed him by the hands of wicked men, by counsel determined and betaken by the fore-knowing of God. [him, the counsel determined, or ended, and by the prescience, or before-knowing, of God, betaken by the hands of wicked ye tormenting slew.]
24 Whom God raised, when sorrows of hell were unbound, by that that it was impossible that he were holden of it [after that it was impossible him to be holden of it].
25 For David saith of him, I saw afar the Lord before me evermore, for he is on my right half, that I be not moved.
26 For this thing mine heart joyed, and my tongue made full out joy [and my tongue gladded], and moreover my flesh shall rest in hope.
27 For thou shalt not leave my soul in hell, neither thou shalt give thine holy to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt fill me [thou shalt full-fill me] with mirth with thy face.
29 Brethren [Men brethren], be it leaveful boldly to say to you of the patriarch David, for he is dead and buried, and his sepulchre is among us into this day.
30 Therefore when he was a prophet, and knew, that with a great oath God had sworn to him [that with an oath God had sworn to him], that of the fruit of his loins should one sit on his seat,
31 he seeing afar spake of the resurrection of Christ, for neither he was left in hell, neither his flesh saw corruption.
32 God raised this Jesus, to whom we all be witnesses.
33 Therefore he was enhanced by the right hand of God, and through the promise of the Holy Ghost that he took of the Father, he shedded out this Spirit, that ye see and hear. [Therefore he enhanced by the right hand of God, and by the promise of the Holy Ghost taken of the Father, he shedded out this, that ye see and hear.]
34 For David ascended not into heaven; but he saith, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right half,
35 till I put thine enemies the stool of thy feet.
36 Therefore most certainly know all the house of Israel, that God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus, whom ye crucified.
37 When they heard these things, they were compuncted in heart; and they said to Peter and [to] other apostles, Brethren [Men brethren], what shall we do?
38 And Peter said to them, Do ye penance [Penance, he said, do ye], and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, into remission of your sins; and ye shall take the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is to you, and to your sons, and to all that be far, whichever our Lord God hath called. [Forsooth repromission is to you, and to your sons, and to all that be far, whomever the Lord our God hath called to.]
40 Also with other words full many he witnessed to them, and admonished them, and said, Be ye saved from this depraved generation [saying, Be ye saved from this wicked, or shrewd, generation].
41 Then they that received his word were baptized, and in that day souls were increased, about three thousand;
42 and [they] were lasting stably in the teaching of the apostles, and in communing of the breaking of bread [and communing of breaking of bread], and in prayers.
43 And dread was made to each man [Forsooth dread was made to each soul]. And many wonders and signs were done by the apostles in Jerusalem, and great dread was in all.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common.
45 They sold possessions and chattel [They sold possessions and substances, or goods], and parted those things to all men, as it was need to each.
46 And each day they dwelled stably with one will in the temple, and brake bread about houses, and took meat with full out joy and simpleness of heart, [Forsooth day by day they lasting together in the temple, and breaking bread about houses, took meat with gladness and simpleness of heart,]
47 and praised together God, and had grace to all the folk [praising together God, and having grace to all the people]. And the Lord increased them that were made safe, each day into the same thing.
Acts 2
Amplified Bible
The Day of Pentecost
2 When the day of [a]Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, 2 and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. 4 And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other [b]tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].
5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout and God-fearing men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound was heard, a crowd gathered, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing those in the upper room speaking in his own language or dialect. 7 They were completely astonished, saying, “Look! Are not all of these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears in our own language or native dialect? 9 [Among us there are] Parthians, Medes and Elamites, and people of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and [c]Asia [Minor], 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and the visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes (Gentile converts to Judaism), 11 Cretans and Arabs—we all hear them speaking in our [native] tongues about the mighty works of God!” 12 And they were beside themselves with amazement and were greatly perplexed, saying one to another, “What could this mean?” 13 But others were laughing and joking and ridiculing them, saying, “They are full of sweet wine and are drunk!”
Peter’s Sermon
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be explained to you; listen closely and pay attention to what I have to say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you assume, since it is [only] the third hour of the day (9:00 a.m.); 16 but this is [the beginning of] what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17
‘And it shall be in the last days,’ says God,
‘That I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind;
And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
And your young men shall see [divinely prompted] visions,
And your old men shall dream [divinely prompted] dreams;
18
Even on My bond-servants, both men and women,
I will in those days pour out My Spirit
And they shall prophesy.
19
‘And I will bring about wonders in the sky above
And signs (attesting miracles) on the earth below,
Blood and fire and smoking vapor.
20
‘The sun shall be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21
‘And it shall be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord Jesus] shall be saved (rescued spiritually).’(A)
22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and attested to you by God with [the power to perform] miracles and wonders and signs which God worked through Him in your [very] midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, when handed over [to the Roman authorities] according to the predetermined decision and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross and put to death by the hands of lawless and godless men. 24 But God raised Him up, releasing Him and bringing an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in death’s power. 25 For David says of Him,
‘I saw the Lord constantly before me;
For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken [from my state of security].
26
‘Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted exceedingly;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope [that is, will encamp in anticipation of the resurrection];
27
‘For You will not forsake me and abandon my soul to Hades (the realm of the dead),
Nor let Your Holy One undergo decay [after death].
28
‘You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will fill me [infusing my soul] with joy with Your presence.’(B)
29 “Brothers, I may confidently and freely say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 And so, being a prophet and knowing fully that God had sworn to him with an oath that He would seat one of his descendants on his throne,(C) 31 he foresaw and spoke [prophetically] of the resurrection of the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), that He was not abandoned [in death] to Hades (the realm of the dead), nor did His body undergo decay.(D) 32 God raised this Jesus [bodily from the dead], and of that [fact] we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore having been exalted [d]to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this [blessing] which you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, yet he himself says,
‘The Lord [the Father] said to my [e]Lord [the Son],
“Sit at My right hand,
35
Until I make Your enemies a [f]footstool for Your feet.”’(E)
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (Messiah, Anointed)—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
The Ingathering
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.”(F) 40 And Peter solemnly testified and continued to admonish and urge them with many more words, saying, “[g]Be saved from this crooked and unjust generation!” 41 So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about [h]3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers]. 42 They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to [i]eating meals together and to prayers.
43 A sense of awe was felt by [j]everyone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] [k]were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole]. 45 And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need. 46 Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, 47 praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.
Footnotes
- Acts 2:1 Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) was observed at the time of the grain harvest and the offering of the first fruits, and was one of the three great annual Jewish festivals, along with Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths). Just as Jesus’ sacrifice was the fulfillment of Passover, the coming of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of Pentecost.
- Acts 2:4 Or languages, the Greek can have either meaning.
- Acts 2:9 Modern Turkey.
- Acts 2:33 Or by.
- Acts 2:34 In Ps 110:1 Heb Adonai.
- Acts 2:35 The earthly kingdoms will be subjugated at the inauguration of the kingdom of Christ.
- Acts 2:40 Or Escape.
- Acts 2:41 There were about 100,000 to 120,000 people in Jerusalem at this time, and even more at these festivals.
- Acts 2:42 Lit the breaking of bread.
- Acts 2:43 Lit every soul.
- Acts 2:44 One early ms does not contain were and and.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
