Acts
2
- When the day of Pentecost came, they were
all together in one place.
- Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent
wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
- They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire
that separated and came to rest on each of them.
- All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
- Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing
Jews from every nation under heaven.
- When they heard this sound, a crowd came
together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own
language.
- Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not
all these men who are speaking Galileans ?
- Then how is it that each of us hears them
in his own native language?
- Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents
of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
- Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts
of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome
- (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans
and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues !"
- Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another,
"What does this mean ?"
- Some, however, made fun of them and said,
"They have had too much wine."
- Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised
his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live
in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.
- These men are not drunk, as you suppose.
It's only nine in the morning !
- No, this is what was spoken by the prophet
Joel:
- "'In the last days, God says, I will
pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your
young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
- Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
- I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
- The sun will be turned to darkness and the
moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
- And everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved.'
- "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus
of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs,
which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
- This man was handed over to you by God's
set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him
to death by nailing him to the cross.
- But God raised him from the dead, freeing
him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its
hold on him.
- David said about him: "'I saw the Lord
always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
- Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue
rejoices; my body also will live in hope,
- because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
- You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
- "Brothers, I can tell you confidently
that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this
day.
- But he was a prophet and knew that God had
promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
- Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection
of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see
decay.
- God has raised this Jesus to life, and we
are all witnesses of the fact.
- Exalted to the right hand of God, he has
received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what
you now see and hear.
- For David did not ascend to heaven, and
yet he said, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
- until I make your enemies a footstool for
your feet." '
- "Therefore let all Israel be assured
of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
- When the people heard this, they were cut
to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what
shall we do ?"
- Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized,
every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your
sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- The promise is for you and your children
and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
- With many other words he warned them; and
he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."
- Those who accepted his message were baptized,
and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
- They devoted themselves to the apostles'
teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
- Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders
and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
- All the believers were together and had
everything in common.
- Selling their possessions and goods, they
gave to anyone as he had need.
- Every day they continued to meet together
in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with
glad and sincere hearts,
- praising God and enjoying the favor of all
the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being
saved.
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