1 A nd when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,

The followers of Jesus were all together in one place fifty days after the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt.

2 W hen suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting.

All at once there was a sound from heaven like a powerful wind. It filled the house where they were sitting.

3 A nd there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them.

Then they saw tongues which were divided that looked like fire. These came down on each one of them.

4 A nd they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they began to speak in other languages which the Holy Spirit made them able to speak.

5 N ow there were then residing in Jerusalem Jews, devout and God-fearing men from every country under heaven.

There were many religious Jews staying in Jerusalem. They were from every country of the world.

6 A nd when this sound was heard, the multitude came together and they were astonished and bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own dialect.

When they heard this strange sound, they gathered together. They all listened! It was hard for them to believe they were hearing words in their own language.

7 A nd they were beside themselves with amazement, saying, Are not all these who are talking Galileans?

They were surprised and wondered about it. They said to each other, “Are not these Galileans who are speaking?

8 T hen how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own (particular) dialect to which we were born?

How is it that each one of us can hear his own language?

9 P arthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

We are Parthians and Medes, Elamites and from the countries of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and in the countries of Asia,

10 P hrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and the transient residents from Rome, both Jews and the proselytes,

Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene. Some have come from the city of Rome. Some are Jews by birth and others have become Jews.

11 C retans and Arabians too—we all hear them speaking in our own native tongues the mighty works of God!

Some are also men of the countries of Crete and Arabia. They are speaking of the powerful works of God to all of us in our own language!”

12 A nd all were beside themselves with amazement and were puzzled and bewildered, saying one to another, What can this mean?

They were all surprised and wondered about this. They said to each other, “What can this mean?”

13 B ut others made a joke of it and derisively said, They are simply drunk and full of sweet wine.

But others laughed and made fun, saying, “These men are full of new wine.” Peter Preaches—What Joel Said Would Happen Has Happened

14 B ut Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: You Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be to you so that you will know and understand; listen closely to what I have to say.

Then Peter stood up with the eleven missionaries and spoke with a loud voice, “Men of the country of Judea and all of you who are living in Jerusalem, I want you to know what is happening. So listen to what I am going to say.

15 F or these men are not drunk, as you imagine, for it is the third hour (about 9: 00 a. m.) of the day;

These men are not drunk as you think. It is only nine o’clock in the morning.

16 B ut this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

The early preacher Joel said this would happen.

17 A nd it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy '> telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions ( divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream '> divinely suggested] dreams.

God says, ‘In the last days I will send My Spirit on all men. Then your sons and daughters will speak God’s Word. Your young men will see what God has given them to see. Your old men will dream dreams.

18 Y es, and on My menservants also and on My maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy '> telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God’s kingdom].

Yes, on those I own, both men and women, I will send My Spirit in those days. They will speak God’s Word.

19 A nd I will show wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and smoking vapor;

I will show powerful works in the sky above. There will be things to see in the earth below like blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

20 T he sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the obvious day of the Lord comes—that great and notable and conspicuous and renowned.

The sun will turn dark and the moon will turn to blood before the day of the Lord. His coming will be a great and special day.

21 A nd it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord '> invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord—Christ] shall be saved.

It will be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved from the punishment of sin.’ Peter Preaches—Jesus Shows Who He Is by What He Did

22 Y ou men of Israel, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and shown forth and commended and attested to you by God by the mighty works and wonders and signs which God worked through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know—

“Jewish men, listen to what I have to say! You knew Jesus of the town of Nazareth by the powerful works He did. God worked through Jesus while He was with you. You all know this.

23 T his Jesus, when delivered up according to the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way by the hands of lawless and wicked men.

Jesus was handed over to sinful men. God knew this and planned for it to happen. You had sinful men take Him and nail Him to a cross.

24 G od raised Him up, liberating Him from the pangs of death, seeing that it was not possible for Him to continue to be controlled or retained by it.

But God raised Him up. He allowed Him to be set free from the pain of death. Death could not hold its power over Him. Peter Preaches—Jesus Shows Who He Is by What He Said

25 F or David says in regard to Him, I saw the Lord constantly before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down.

“David said this about Him, ‘I can see the Lord before me all the time. He is at my right side so that I do not need to be troubled.

26 T herefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted exceedingly; moreover, my flesh also will dwell in hope.

I am glad and my tongue is full of joy. My body rests in hope.

27 F or You will not abandon my soul, leaving it helpless in Hades (the state of departed spirits), nor let Your Holy One know decay or see destruction.

You will not leave my soul in death. You will not allow Your Holy One to be destroyed.

28 Y ou have made known to me the ways of life; You will enrapture me with and in Your presence.

You have shown me the ways of life. I will be full of joy when I see Your face.’

29 B rethren, it is permitted me to tell you confidently and with freedom concerning the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

“Brothers, I can tell you in plain words that our early father David not only died but was buried. We know where his grave is today.

30 B eing however a prophet, and knowing that God had sealed to him with an oath that He would set one of his descendants on his throne,

He was one who spoke for God. He knew God had made a promise to him. From his family Christ would come and take His place as King.

31 H e, foreseeing this, spoke of the resurrection of the Christ (the Messiah) that He was not deserted and left in Hades (the state of departed spirits), nor did His body know decay or see destruction.

He knew this before and spoke of Christ being raised from the dead. Christ’s soul would not be left in hell. His body would not be destroyed.

32 T his Jesus God raised up, and of that all we are witnesses.

Jesus is this One! God has raised Him up and we have all seen Him.

33 B eing therefore lifted high by and to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has made this outpouring which you yourselves both see and hear.

“This Jesus has been lifted up to God’s right side. The Holy Spirit was promised by the Father. God has given Him to us. That is what you are seeing and hearing now!

34 F or David did not ascend into the heavens; yet he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand and share My throne

It was not David who was taken up to heaven, because he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right side,

35 U ntil I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.

for those who hate You will be a place to rest Your feet.”’

36 T herefore let the whole house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt and acknowledge assuredly that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (the Messiah)—this Jesus Whom you crucified.

The whole Jewish nation must know for sure that God has made this Jesus, both Lord and Christ. He is the One you nailed to a cross!” They Ask Peter What They Should Do

37 N ow when they heard this they were stung (cut) to the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles (special messengers), Brethren, what shall we do?

When the Jews heard this, their hearts were troubled. They said to Peter and to the other missionaries, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 A nd Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter said to them, “Be sorry for your sins and turn from them and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 F or the promise is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away, to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself.

This promise is to you and your children. It is to all people everywhere. It is to as many as the Lord our God will call.”

40 A nd solemnly and earnestly witnessed (testified) and admonished (exhorted) with much more continuous speaking and warned (reproved, advised, encouraged) them, saying, Be saved from this crooked (perverse, wicked, unjust) generation.

He said many other things. He helped them understand that they should keep themselves from the sinful people of this day.

41 T herefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized, and there were added that day about 3, 000 souls.

Those who believed what he said were baptized. There were about 3, 000 more followers added that day. The First Church

42 A nd they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread and prayers.

They were faithful in listening to the teaching of the missionaries. They worshiped and prayed and ate the Lord’s supper together.

43 A nd a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers).

Many powerful works were done by the missionaries. Surprise and fear came on them all.

44 A nd all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and they had everything in common;

All those who put their trust in Christ were together and shared what they owned.

45 A nd they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need.

As anyone had need, they sold what they owned and shared with everyone.

46 A nd day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts,

Day after day they went to the house of God together. In their houses they ate their food together. Their hearts were happy.

47 C onstantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding daily those who were being saved.

They gave thanks to God and all the people respected them. The Lord added to the group each day those who were being saved from the punishment of sin.