The Day of Pentecost

When (A)the day of Pentecost [a]had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled (B)the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, [b]distributing themselves, and a tongue [c]rested on each one of them. And they were all (C)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (D)speak with different [d]tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.

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

Peter’s Sermon

14 But Peter, taking his stand with (S)the other eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, [n]know this, and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you assume, (T)since it is only the [o]third hour of the day; 16 but this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 (U)And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
That I will pour out My Spirit on all [p]mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
And your young men will see visions,
And your old men will [q]have dreams;
18 And even on My male and female [r]servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days,
And they will prophesy.
19 And I will [s]display wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, fire, and [t]vapor of smoke.
20 The sun will 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 (V)everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: (W)Jesus the Nazarene, (X)a Man [u]attested to you by God with [v]miracles and (Y)wonders and [w]signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the (Z)predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, (AA)you nailed to a cross by the hands of [x]godless men and put Him to death. 24 [y]But (AB)God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the [z]agony of death, since it (AC)was impossible for Him to be held [aa]in its power. 25 For David says of Him,

(AD)I saw the 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 was overjoyed;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;
27 For You will not abandon my soul to (AE)Hades,
(AF)Nor will You [ab]allow Your [ac]Holy One to [ad]undergo decay.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’

29 [ae]Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the (AG)patriarch David that he both (AH)died and (AI)was buried, and (AJ)his tomb is [af]with us to this day. 30 So because he was (AK)a prophet and knew that (AL)God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one [ag]of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the [ah]Christ, that (AM)He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh [ai]suffer decay. 32 It is this Jesus whom (AN)God raised up, [aj]a fact to which we are all (AO)witnesses. 33 Therefore, [ak]since He has been exalted [al](AP)at the right hand of God, and (AQ)has received (AR)the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has (AS)poured out this which you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into [am]heaven, but he himself says:

(AT)The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at My right hand,
35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

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

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

43 [at]Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many (BI)wonders and [au]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all the believers [av]were together and (BJ)had all things in common; 45 and they (BK)would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. 46 (BL)Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and (BM)breaking bread [aw]from house to house, they were taking their [ax]meals together with gladness and [ay]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and (BN)having favor with all the people. And the Lord (BO)was adding to [az]their number day by day (BP)those who were being saved.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 2:1 Lit was being fulfilled
  2. Acts 2:3 Or being distributed, and
  3. Acts 2:3 Or sat
  4. Acts 2:4 Or languages
  5. Acts 2:6 Or dialect
  6. Acts 2:7 Lit Behold
  7. Acts 2:8 Or dialect
  8. Acts 2:8 Lit in
  9. Acts 2:9 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  10. Acts 2:10 Lit the sojourning Romans
  11. Acts 2:10 I.e., Gentile converts to Judaism
  12. Acts 2:11 Or languages
  13. Acts 2:13 I.e., new wine
  14. Acts 2:14 Lit let this be known to you
  15. Acts 2:15 I.e., 9 a.m.
  16. Acts 2:17 Lit flesh
  17. Acts 2:17 Lit dream with dreams
  18. Acts 2:18 Or slaves
  19. Acts 2:19 Lit give
  20. Acts 2:19 I.e., like a volcanic eruption
  21. Acts 2:22 Or exhibited; or accredited
  22. Acts 2:22 Or works of power
  23. Acts 2:22 I.e., confirming miracles
  24. Acts 2:23 Lit men without the Law; i.e., pagan
  25. Acts 2:24 Lit Whom God raised up
  26. Acts 2:24 Lit birth pains
  27. Acts 2:24 Lit by it
  28. Acts 2:27 Lit give
  29. Acts 2:27 Or Devout; or Pious
  30. Acts 2:27 Lit see corruption
  31. Acts 2:29 Lit Men, brothers
  32. Acts 2:29 Lit among
  33. Acts 2:30 Lit of the fruit of his loins
  34. Acts 2:31 I.e., Messiah
  35. Acts 2:31 Lit see corruption
  36. Acts 2:32 Or of whom we
  37. Acts 2:33 Or having been...having received
  38. Acts 2:33 Or by
  39. Acts 2:34 Lit the heavens
  40. Acts 2:36 I.e., Messiah
  41. Acts 2:37 Or wounded in conscience
  42. Acts 2:37 Lit Men, brothers
  43. Acts 2:40 Or Escape
  44. Acts 2:41 I.e., persons
  45. Acts 2:42 Lit the prayers
  46. Acts 2:43 Lit fear was occurring to every soul
  47. Acts 2:43 I.e., confirming miracles
  48. Acts 2:44 One early ms does not contain were and and
  49. Acts 2:46 Or in the various private homes
  50. Acts 2:46 Lit food
  51. Acts 2:46 Or simplicity
  52. Acts 2:47 Lit the same

And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place:

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

And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them:

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak.

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

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

And they were all amazed, and wondered, saying: Behold, are not all these, that speak, Galileans?

And how have we heard, every man our own tongue wherein we were born?

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome,

11 Jews also, and proselytes, Cretes, and Arabians: we have heard them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.

12 And they were all astonished, and wondered, saying one to another: What meaneth this?

13 But others mocking, said: These men are full of new wine.

14 But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and with your ears receive my words.

15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day:

16 But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel:

17 And it shall come to pass, in the last days, (saith the Lord,) 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 upon my servants indeed, and upon my handmaids will I pour out in those days of my spirit, and they shall prophesy.

19 And I will shew wonders in the heaven above, and signs on 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 manifest day of the Lord come.

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon 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 you also know:

23 This same being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you by the hands of wicked men have crucified and slain.

24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of hell, as it was impossible that he should be holden by it.

25 For David saith concerning him: I foresaw the Lord before my face: because he is at my right hand, that I may not be moved.

26 For this my heart hath been glad, and my tongue hath rejoiced: moreover my flesh also shall rest in hope.

27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, nor suffer thy 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 Ye men, brethren, let me freely speak to you of the patriarch David; that he died, and was buried; and his sepulchre is with us to this present day.

30 Whereas therefore he was a prophet, and knew that God hath sworn to him with an oath, that of the fruit of his loins one should sit upon his throne.

31 Foreseeing this, he spoke of the resurrection of Christ. For neither was he left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption.

32 This Jesus hath God raised again, whereof all we are witnesses.

33 Being exalted therefore by the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath poured forth this which you see and hear.

34 For David ascended not into heaven; but he himself said: The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand,

35 Until I make thy enemies thy footstool.

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know most certainly, that God hath made both Lord and Christ, this same Jesus, whom you have crucified.

37 Now when they had heard these things, they had compunction in their heart, and said to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles: What shall we do, men and brethren?

38 But Peter said to them: Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins: and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them, saying: Save yourselves from this perverse generation.

41 They therefore that received his word, were baptized; and there were added in that day about three thousand souls.

42 And they were persevering in the doctrine of the apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: many wonders also and signs were done by the apostles in Jerusalem, and there was great fear in all.

44 And all they that believed, were together, and had all things common.

45 Their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as every one had need.

46 And continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they took their meat with gladness and simplicity of heart;

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.

A Sound Like a Strong Wind

1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

5-11 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were blown away. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
    Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
    Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!

“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”

12 Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”

13 Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.”

Peter Speaks Up

14-21 That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:

“In the Last Days,” God says,
“I will pour out my Spirit
    on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy,
    also your daughters;
Your young men will see visions,
    your old men dream dreams.
When the time comes,
    I’ll pour out my Spirit
On those who serve me, men and women both,
    and they’ll prophesy.
I’ll set wonders in the sky above
    and signs on the earth below,
Blood and fire and billowing smoke,
    the sun turning black and the moon blood-red,
Before the Day of the Lord arrives,
    the Day tremendous and marvelous;
And whoever calls out for help
    to me, God, will be saved.”

22-28 “Fellow Israelites, listen carefully to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man thoroughly accredited by God to you—the miracles and wonders and signs that God did through him are common knowledge—this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you. And you pinned him to a cross and killed him. But God untied the death ropes and raised him up. Death was no match for him. David said it all:

I saw God before me for all time.
    Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side.
I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic;
    I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope.
I know you’ll never dump me in Hades;
    I’ll never even smell the stench of death.
You’ve got my feet on the life-path,
    with your face shining sun-joy all around.

29-36 “Dear friends, let me be completely frank with you. Our ancestor David is dead and buried—his tomb is in plain sight today. But being also a prophet and knowing that God had solemnly sworn that a descendant of his would rule his kingdom, seeing far ahead, he talked of the resurrection of the Messiah—‘no trip to Hades, no stench of death.’ This Jesus, God raised up. And every one of us here is a witness to it. Then, raised to the heights at the right hand of God and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out the Spirit he had just received. That is what you see and hear. For David himself did not ascend to heaven, but he did say,

God said to my Master, “Sit at my right hand
Until I make your enemies a stool for resting your feet.”

“All Israel, then, know this: There’s no longer room for doubt—God made him Master and Messiah, this Jesus whom you killed on a cross.”

37 Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?”

38-39 Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.”

40 He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!”

41-42 That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

* * *

43-45 Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.

46-47 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.