The Day of Pentecost

1When the day of [a]Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, 2and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. 4And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other [b]tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].

5Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout and God-fearing men from every nation under heaven. 6And when this sound was heard, a crowd gathered, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing those in the upper room speaking in his own language or dialect. 7They were completely astonished, saying, “Look! Are not all of these who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears in our own language or native dialect? 9[Among us there are] Parthians, Medes and Elamites, and people of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and [c]Asia [Minor], 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and the visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes (Gentile converts to Judaism), 11Cretans and Arabs--we all hear them speaking in our [native] tongues about the mighty works of God!” 12And they were beside themselves with amazement and were greatly perplexed, saying one to another, “What could this mean?” 13But others were laughing and joking and ridiculing them, saying, “They are full of sweet wine and are drunk!”

Peter’s Sermon

14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be explained to you; listen closely and pay attention to what I have to say. 15These people are not drunk, as you assume, since it is [only] the third hour of the day (9:00 a.m.); 16but this is [the beginning of] what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

17‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ says God,

‘THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND;

AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,

AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE [divinely prompted] VISIONS,

AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM [divinely prompted] DREAMS;

18EVEN ON MY BOND-SERVANTS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,

I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR OUT MY SPIRIT

And they shall prophesy.

19‘AND I WILL BRING ABOUT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE

AND SIGNS (attesting miracles) ON THE EARTH BELOW,

BLOOD AND FIRE AND SMOKING VAPOR.

20‘THE SUN SHALL 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 EVERYONE WHO CALLS UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord Jesus] SHALL BE SAVED (rescued spiritually).’

22“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and attested to you by God with [the power to perform] miracles and wonders and signs which God worked through Him in your [very] midst, just as you yourselves know-- 23this Man, when handed over [to the Roman authorities] according to the predetermined decision and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross and put to death by the hands of lawless and godless men. 24But God raised Him up, releasing Him and bringing an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in death’s power. 25For David says of Him,

‘I SAW THE LORD CONSTANTLY BEFORE ME;

FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN [from my state of security].

26‘THEREFORE MY HEART REJOICED AND MY TONGUE EXULTED EXCEEDINGLY;

MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE [that is, will encamp in anticipation of the resurrection];

27FOR YOU WILL NOT FORSAKE ME and ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES (the realm of the dead),

NOR LET YOUR HOLY ONE UNDERGO DECAY [after death].

28‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE;

YOU WILL FILL ME [infusing my soul] WITH JOY WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’

29“Brothers, I may confidently and freely say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30And so, being a prophet and knowing fully that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH THAT HE WOULD SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, 31he foresaw and spoke [prophetically] of the resurrection of the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), that HE WAS NOT ABANDONED [in death] TO HADES (the realm of the dead), NOR DID His body UNDERGO DECAY. 32God raised this Jesus [bodily from the dead], and of that [fact] we are all witnesses. 33Therefore having been exalted [d]to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this [blessing] which you both see and hear. 34For David did not ascend into the heavens, yet he himself says,

‘THE LORD [the Father] SAID TO MY [e]LORD [the Son],

“SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,

35UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A [f]FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”’ 36Therefore let all the house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (Messiah, Anointed)--this Jesus whom you crucified.”

The Ingathering

37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” 38And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.” 40And Peter solemnly testified and continued to admonish and urge them with many more words, saying, “[g]Be saved from this crooked and unjust generation!” 41So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about [h]3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers]. 42They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to [i]eating meals together and to prayers.

43A sense of awe was felt by [j]everyone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles. 44And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] [k]were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole]. 45And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need. 46Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, 47praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

[a] 1 Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) was observed at the time of the grain harvest and the offering of the first fruits, and was one of the three great annual Jewish festivals, along with Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths). Just as Jesus’ sacrifice was the fulfillment of Passover, the coming of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of Pentecost.
[b] 4 Or languages, the Greek can have either meaning.
[c] 9 Modern Turkey.
[d] 33 Or by.
[e] 34 In Ps 110:1 Heb Adonai.
[f] 35 The earthly kingdoms will be subjugated at the inauguration of the kingdom of Christ.
[g] 40 Or Escape.
[h] 41 There were about 100,000 to 120,000 people in Jerusalem at this time, and even more at these festivals.
[i] 42 Lit the breaking of bread.
[j] 43 Lit every soul.
[k] 44 One early ms does not contain were and and.