Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Chapter 2

The Coming of the Spirit. ^1 [a]When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.^{(A) 2} And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,^[b] and it filled the entire house in which they were.^{(B) 3} Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,^[c] which parted and came to rest on each one of them.^{(C) 4} And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,^[d] as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.^(D)

⁵ Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. ⁶ At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷ They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?^{(E) 8} Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? ⁹ We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, ¹¹ both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”^{(F) 12} They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others said, scoffing, “They have had too much new wine.”^(G)

II. The Mission in Jerusalem

Peter’s Speech at Pentecost. ^14 [e]Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. ¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

Chapter 37

Vision of the Dry Bones.^{[a] 1} The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he led me out in the spirit of the Lord and set me in the center of the broad valley. It was filled with bones. ² He made me walk among them in every direction. So many lay on the surface of the valley! How dry they were! ³ He asked me: Son of man, can these bones come back to life? “Lord God,” I answered, “you alone know that.”^{(A) 4} Then he said to me: Prophesy over these bones, and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Listen! I will make breath enter you so you may come to life. ⁶ I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow over you, cover you with skin, and put breath into you so you may come to life. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. ⁷ I prophesied as I had been commanded. A sound started up, as I was prophesying, rattling like thunder. The bones came together, bone joining to bone. ⁸ As I watched, sinews appeared on them, flesh grew over them, skin covered them on top, but there was no breath in them. ⁹ Then he said to me: Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man! Say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: From the four winds come, O breath, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life.^{[b](B) 10} I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath entered them; they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army.^{(C) 11} He said to me: Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel! They are saying, “Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off.” ¹² Therefore, prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Look! I am going to open your graves; I will make you come up out of your graves, my people, and bring you back to the land of Israel.^{(D) 13} You shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and make you come up out of them, my people! ¹⁴ I will put my spirit in you that you may come to life, and I will settle you in your land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord. I have spoken; I will do it—oracle of the Lord.^(E)

V

VI

VII

²² We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;^{(A) 23} and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.^{(B) 24} For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees?^{(C) 25} But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. ²⁷ And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.^(D)

Chapter 2

The Coming of the Spirit. ^1 [a]When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.^{(A) 2} And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,^[b] and it filled the entire house in which they were.^{(B) 3} Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,^[c] which parted and came to rest on each one of them.^{(C) 4} And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,^[d] as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.^(D)

⁵ Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. ⁶ At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷ They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?^{(E) 8} Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? ⁹ We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, ¹¹ both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”^{(F) 12} They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others said, scoffing, “They have had too much new wine.”^(G)

II. The Mission in Jerusalem

Peter’s Speech at Pentecost. ^14 [e]Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. ¹⁶ No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

²⁶ “When the Advocate comes whom I will send^[a] you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.^{(A) 27} And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.^(B)

⁴ I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.^(A)

Jesus’ Departure; Coming of the Advocate.^[a] “I did not tell you this from the beginning, because I was with you. ⁵ But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me,^[b] ‘Where are you going?’^{(B) 6} But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. ⁷ But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.^(C) But if I go, I will send him to you. ^8 [c]And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: ⁹ sin, because they do not believe in me;^{(D) 10} righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; ¹¹ condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.^(E)

¹² “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. ^13 [d]But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.^(F) He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.