Acts 2

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound came from heaven like a violent rushing wind and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, like fire, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Every Person Hears in Their Own Language

5Devout Jewish people from every nation under heaven were living in Jerusalem. 6When this sound occurred, the crowd came together and was bewildered because each person heard them speaking in their own language. 7They were amazed and astonished: “Look, are not all these people speaking Galileans? 8How is it that each of us hears in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people living in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, visitors from Rome, 11both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages about God’s mighty works.” 12They were all amazed and perplexed, asking one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others mocked them and said, “They are full of new wine.”

Peter Explains What Is Happening

14Peter stood with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “People of Judea and everyone living in Jerusalem, understand this and listen carefully to my words. 15These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day. 16Instead, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on my male and female servants
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy. 19I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below:
blood, fire, and clouds of smoke. 20The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Jesus Raised and Exalted

22“People of Israel, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene was a man attested to you by God through works of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, just as you yourselves know. 23This man, handed over according to God’s determined purpose and foreknowledge, you killed by crucifying him through the hands of lawless people. 24But God raised him up, freeing him from the pains of death, because it was impossible for death to hold him. 25For David says concerning him:
‘I saw the Lord always before me,
because he is at my right hand
so that I will not be shaken. 26Therefore my heart was glad
and my tongue rejoiced;
even my flesh will live in hope, 27because you will not abandon my life to Hades
or allow your Holy One to see decay. 28You made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 29Brothers and sisters, I can speak openly to you about the patriarch David: he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Because he was a prophet and knew God had sworn an oath to him to place one of his descendants on his throne, 31he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ: he was not abandoned to Hades, and his flesh did not see decay. 32God raised this Jesus, and we are all witnesses of it. 33Exalted to God’s right hand, and having received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand 35until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.’ 36Therefore let the whole house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Repent, Be Baptized, Receive the Spirit

37When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away—for everyone the Lord our God calls.” 40With many other words Peter testified and kept urging them, “Be saved from this twisted generation.” 41So those who received his word were baptized, and about three thousand people were added that day.

The Shared Life of the Community

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. 43Awe came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44All who trusted were together and held everything in common. 45They were selling possessions and property and distributing the proceeds to everyone according to need. 46Day after day they devoted themselves together to the temple and broke bread in their homes. They received their food with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And day after day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.