The Day of the Lord

(A)Blow a trumpet in (B)Zion;
    sound an alarm on (C)my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
    for (D)the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,
(E)a day of darkness and gloom,
    (F)a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains
    (G)a great and powerful people;
(H)their like has never been before,
    nor will be again after them
    through the years of all generations.

(I)Fire devours before them,
    and behind them a flame burns.
The land is like (J)the garden of Eden before them,
    but (K)behind them a desolate wilderness,
    and nothing escapes them.

(L)Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,
    and like war horses they run.
(M)As with the rumbling of chariots,
    they leap on the tops of the mountains,
like the crackling of (N)a flame of fire
    devouring the stubble,
(O)like a powerful army
    drawn up for battle.

Before them peoples are in anguish;
    (P)all faces grow pale.
Like warriors they charge;
    like soldiers they scale the wall.
They march each on his way;
    they do not swerve from their paths.
They do not jostle one another;
    (Q)each marches in his path;
they burst through the weapons
    and are not halted.
(R)They leap upon the city,
    they run upon the walls,
(S)they climb up into the houses,
    (T)they enter through the windows (U)like a thief.

10 (V)The earth quakes before them;
    the heavens tremble.
(W)The sun and the moon are darkened,
    and the stars withdraw their shining.
11 (X)The Lord utters his voice
    before (Y)his army,
for his camp is exceedingly great;
    (Z)he who executes his word is powerful.
(AA)For the day of the Lord is (AB)great and very awesome;
    (AC)who can endure it?

Return to the Lord

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
    (AD)“return to me with all your heart,
(AE)with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13     and (AF)rend your hearts and not (AG)your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    (AH)for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
    (AI)and he relents over disaster.
14 (AJ)Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
    and (AK)leave a blessing behind him,
(AL)a grain offering and a drink offering
    for the Lord your God?

15 (AM)Blow the trumpet in Zion;
    (AN)consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16     gather the people.
(AO)Consecrate the congregation;
    assemble the elders;
(AP)gather the children,
    even nursing infants.
(AQ)Let the bridegroom leave his room,
    and the bride her chamber.

17 (AR)Between the (AS)vestibule and the (AT)altar
    (AU)let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
    and make not your heritage a reproach,
    a byword among the nations.[a]
(AV)Why should they say among the peoples,
    ‘Where is their God?’”

The Lord Had Pity

18 (AW)Then the Lord became jealous for his land
    (AX)and had pity on his people.
19 The Lord answered and said to his people,
“Behold, (AY)I am sending to you
    grain, wine, and oil,
    (AZ)and you will be satisfied;
and I will no more make you
    a reproach among the nations.

20 “I will remove the northerner far from you,
    and drive him into a parched and desolate land,
his vanguard[b] into (BA)the eastern sea,
    and his rear guard[c] into (BB)the western sea;
(BC)the stench and foul smell of him will rise,
    for he has done great things.

21 “Fear not, O land;
    be glad and rejoice,
    for (BD)the Lord has done great things!
22 Fear not, (BE)you beasts of the field,
    for (BF)the pastures of the wilderness are green;
(BG)the tree bears its fruit;
    the fig tree and (BH)vine give their full yield.

23 (BI)“Be glad, O children of Zion,
    and (BJ)rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given (BK)the early rain for your vindication;
    he has poured down for you abundant rain,
    (BL)the early and (BM)the latter rain, as before.

24 “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;
    the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 I will restore[d] to you the years
    that (BN)the swarming locust has eaten,
(BO)the hopper, (BP)the destroyer, and (BQ)the cutter,
    (BR)my great army, which I sent among you.

26 (BS)“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
    and praise the name of the Lord your God,
    who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people (BT)shall never again be put to shame.
27 (BU)You shall know that I am (BV)in the midst of Israel,
    and that (BW)I am the Lord your God (BX)and there is none else.
And my people (BY)shall never again be put to shame.

The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit

28 [e] (BZ)“And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that (CA)I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
(CB)your sons and (CC)your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
29 (CD)Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

30 “And I will show (CE)wonders in the heavens and (CF)on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 (CG)The sun shall be turned to darkness, (CH)and the moon to blood, (CI)before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that (CJ)everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (CK)For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among (CL)the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:17 Or reproach, that the nations should rule over them
  2. Joel 2:20 Hebrew face
  3. Joel 2:20 Hebrew his end
  4. Joel 2:25 Or pay back
  5. Joel 2:28 Ch 3:1 in Hebrew

I Cry Out Day and Night Before You

A Song. A Psalm of (A)the Sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to (B)Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil[a] of (C)Heman the Ezrahite.

88 O Lord, (D)God of my salvation,
    I (E)cry out day and night before you.
Let my prayer come before you;
    (F)incline your ear to my cry!

For my soul is full of troubles,
    and (G)my life draws near to (H)Sheol.
I am counted among those who (I)go down to the pit;
    I am a man who has no strength,
like one set loose among the dead,
    like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom (J)you remember no more,
    for they are (K)cut off from your hand.
You have put me in (L)the depths of the pit,
    in the (M)regions dark and (N)deep.
Your wrath (O)lies heavy upon me,
    and you overwhelm me with (P)all your waves. Selah

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 88:1 Probably musical or liturgical terms

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

In the first book, O (A)Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began (B)to do and teach, until the day when (C)he was taken up, after he (D)had given commands (E)through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. (F)He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

And while staying[a] with them (G)he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for (H)John baptized with water, (I)but you will be baptized (J)with[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Ascension

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, (K)will you at this time (L)restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, (M)“It is not for you to know (N)times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive (O)power (P)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and (Q)you will be (R)my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and (S)Samaria, and (T)to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, (U)he was lifted up, and (V)a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, (W)two (X)men stood by them in (Y)white robes, 11 and said, (Z)“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, (AA)will (AB)come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then (AC)they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to (AD)the upper room, where they were staying, (AE)Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon (AF)the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these (AG)with one accord (AH)were devoting themselves to prayer, together with (AI)the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and (AJ)his brothers.[c]

15 In those days Peter stood up among (AK)the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, (AL)the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, (AM)who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For (AN)he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in (AO)this ministry.” 18 (Now this man (AP)acquired a field with (AQ)the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong[d] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called (AR)in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

(AS)“‘May his camp become desolate,
    and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

(AT)“‘Let another take his office.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during (AU)all the time that the Lord Jesus (AV)went in and out among us, 22 (AW)beginning from the baptism of John until the day when (AX)he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us (AY)a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called (AZ)Barsabbas, who was also called (BA)Justus, and (BB)Matthias. 24 And (BC)they prayed and said, “You, Lord, (BD)who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in (BE)this ministry and (BF)apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

When (BG)the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like (BH)a mighty rushing wind, and (BI)it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues (BJ)as of fire appeared to them and rested[e] on each one of them. And they were all (BK)filled with the Holy Spirit and began (BL)to speak in other tongues (BM)as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And (BN)at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And (BO)they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking (BP)Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and (BQ)Medes and (BR)Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and (BS)proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And (BT)all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others (BU)mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, (BV)since it is only the third hour of the day.[f] 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17 (BW)“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
(BX)that I will pour out my Spirit (BY)on all flesh,
and your sons and (BZ)your daughters shall prophesy,
    and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and (CA)they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 (CB)the sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
    before (CC)the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that (CD)everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, (CE)a man attested to you by God (CF)with (CG)mighty works and wonders and signs that (CH)God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus,[g] (CI)delivered up according to (CJ)the definite plan and (CK)foreknowledge of God, (CL)you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 (CM)God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because (CN)it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

(CO)“‘I saw 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;
    my flesh also will dwell (CP)in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to (CQ)Hades,
    (CR)or let your (CS)Holy One (CT)see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about (CU)the patriarch David (CV)that he both died and (CW)was buried, and (CX)his tomb is with us to this day. 30 (CY)Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that (CZ)God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that (DA)he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus (DB)God raised up, (DC)and of that we all are witnesses. 33 (DD)Being therefore (DE)exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from (DF)the Father (DG)the promise of the Holy Spirit, (DH)he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For (DI)David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

(DJ)“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35     until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that (DK)God has made him (DL)both Lord and Christ, this Jesus (DM)whom you crucified.”

37 Now when (DN)they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, (DO)what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, (DP)“Repent and (DQ)be baptized every one of you (DR)in the name of Jesus Christ (DS)for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive (DT)the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For (DU)the promise is for you and (DV)for your children and for all (DW)who are far off, everyone (DX)whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, (DY)“Save yourselves from this (DZ)crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and (EA)there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And (EB)they devoted themselves to the apostles' (EC)teaching and the (ED)fellowship, to (EE)the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[h] came upon every soul, and (EF)many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and (EG)had all things in common. 45 And (EH)they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, (EI)attending the temple (EJ)together and (EK)breaking bread in their homes, they received their food (EL)with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and (EM)having favor with all the people. And the Lord (EN)added to their number (EO)day by day those who (EP)were being saved.

The Lame Beggar Healed

Now Peter and John were (EQ)going up to the temple at (ER)the hour of prayer, (ES)the ninth hour.[i] And a man (ET)lame from birth was being carried, (EU)whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate (EV)to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, (EW)“I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. (EX)In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And (EY)leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And (EZ)all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico

11 (FA)While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in (FB)the portico called Solomon's. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 (FC)The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, (FD)the God of our fathers, (FE)glorified his servant[j] Jesus, whom (FF)you delivered over and (FG)denied in the presence of Pilate, (FH)when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied (FI)the Holy and (FJ)Righteous One, and (FK)asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed (FL)the Author of life, (FM)whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And (FN)his name—by (FO)faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is (FP)through Jesus[k] has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 “And now, brothers, I know that (FQ)you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God (FR)foretold (FS)by the mouth of all the prophets, that (FT)his Christ would (FU)suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 (FV)Repent therefore, and (FW)turn back, that (FX)your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ (FY)appointed for you, Jesus, 21 (FZ)whom heaven must receive until the time for (GA)restoring all the things about which (GB)God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you (GC)a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen (GD)to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet (GE)shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And (GF)all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 (GG)You are the sons of the prophets and of (GH)the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, (GI)‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 (GJ)God, (GK)having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, (GL)to bless you (GM)by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Footnotes

  1. Acts 1:4 Or eating
  2. Acts 1:5 Or in
  3. Acts 1:14 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verse 15
  4. Acts 1:18 Or swelling up
  5. Acts 2:3 Or And tongues as of fire appeared to them, distributed among them, and rested
  6. Acts 2:15 That is, 9 a.m.
  7. Acts 2:23 Greek this one
  8. Acts 2:43 Or fear
  9. Acts 3:1 That is, 3 p.m.
  10. Acts 3:13 Or child; also verse 26
  11. Acts 3:16 Greek him

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