Acts 2:14-41
New American Standard Bible
Peter’s Sermon
14 But Peter, taking his stand with (A)the other eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, [a]know this, and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you assume, (B)since it is only the [b]third hour of the day; 16 but this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘(C)And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
‘That I will pour out My Spirit on all [c]mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
And your young men will see visions,
And your old men will [d]have dreams;
18 And even on My male and female [e]servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days,
And they will prophesy.
19 And I will [f]display wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, fire, and [g]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 (D)everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: (E)Jesus the Nazarene, (F)a Man [h]attested to you by God with [i]miracles and (G)wonders and [j]signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the (H)predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, (I)you nailed to a cross by the hands of [k]godless men and put Him to death. 24 [l]But (J)God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the [m]agony of death, since it (K)was impossible for Him to be held [n]in its power. 25 For David says of Him,
‘(L)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 (M)Hades,
(N)Nor will You [o]allow Your [p]Holy One to [q]undergo decay.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’
29 “[r]Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the (O)patriarch David that he both (P)died and (Q)was buried, and (R)his tomb is [s]with us to this day. 30 So because he was (S)a prophet and knew that (T)God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one [t]of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the [u]Christ, that (U)He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh [v]suffer decay. 32 It is this Jesus whom (V)God raised up, [w]a fact to which we are all (W)witnesses. 33 Therefore, [x]since He has been exalted [y](X)at the right hand of God, and (Y)has received (Z)the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has (AA)poured out this which you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into [z]heaven, but he himself says:
‘(AB)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 (AC)house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both (AD)Lord and [aa]Christ—this Jesus (AE)whom you crucified.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were [ab]pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “[ac]Brothers, (AF)what are we to do?” 38 Peter said to them, “(AG)Repent, and each of you be (AH)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 (AI)the promise is for you and your children and for all who are (AJ)far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly (AK)testified and kept on urging them, saying, “[ad]Be saved from this (AL)perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand [ae](AM)souls.
Read full chapterNotas al pie
- Acts 2:14 Lit let this be known to you
- Acts 2:15 I.e., 9 a.m.
- Acts 2:17 Lit flesh
- Acts 2:17 Lit dream with dreams
- Acts 2:18 Or slaves
- Acts 2:19 Lit give
- Acts 2:19 I.e., like a volcanic eruption
- Acts 2:22 Or exhibited; or accredited
- Acts 2:22 Or works of power
- Acts 2:22 I.e., confirming miracles
- Acts 2:23 Lit men without the Law; i.e., pagan
- Acts 2:24 Lit Whom God raised up
- Acts 2:24 Lit birth pains
- Acts 2:24 Lit by it
- Acts 2:27 Lit give
- Acts 2:27 Or Devout; or Pious
- Acts 2:27 Lit see corruption
- Acts 2:29 Lit Men, brothers
- Acts 2:29 Lit among
- Acts 2:30 Lit of the fruit of his loins
- Acts 2:31 I.e., Messiah
- Acts 2:31 Lit see corruption
- Acts 2:32 Or of whom we
- Acts 2:33 Or having been...having received
- Acts 2:33 Or by
- Acts 2:34 Lit the heavens
- Acts 2:36 I.e., Messiah
- Acts 2:37 Or wounded in conscience
- Acts 2:37 Lit Men, brothers
- Acts 2:40 Or Escape
- Acts 2:41 I.e., persons
Acts 2:14-41
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews[a] and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.(A) 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out 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.(B)
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit,
and they shall prophesy.(C)
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.(D)
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’(E)
22 “Fellow Israelites,[b] listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth,[c] a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know(F)— 23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.(G) 24 But God raised him up, having released him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.(H) 25 For David says concerning him,
‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;(I)
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover, my flesh will live in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades
or let your Holy One experience corruption.(J)
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29 “Fellow Israelites,[d] I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.(K) 30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne.(L) 31 Foreseeing this, David[e] spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah,[f] saying,
‘He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.’(M)
32 “This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.(N) 33 Being therefore exalted at[g] the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you see and hear.(O) 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,(P)
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’
36 “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah,[h] this Jesus whom you crucified.”
The First Converts
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers,[i] what should we do?”(Q) 38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(R) 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”(S) 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
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Acts 2:14-41
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
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.
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Acts 2:14-42
The Message
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.
* * *
Read full chapterNew American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson