1 N ow when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord 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 S uddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where 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 T ongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.

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

4 T hey were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

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 dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.

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

6 W hen this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.

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 T hey were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?

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

8 H ow do we hear, everyone in our own native language?

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

9 P arthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, 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, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and 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: we hear them speaking in our languages 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 T hey were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

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

13 O thers, mocking, said, “They are filled with new 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 up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

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 aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour 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 has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

The early preacher Joel said this would happen.

17 ‘ It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream 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 servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

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

19 I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

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 will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

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 I t will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will 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 “ Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even 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 h im, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;

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 w hom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held 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 concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before my face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

“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 was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;

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

27 b ecause you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.

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

28 Y ou made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

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

29 “ Brothers, I may tell you freely of 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 T herefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit 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 about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.

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, to which we all are witnesses.

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

33 B eing therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now 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 didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand,

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 “ Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, 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 cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, 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 P eter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will 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 you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call 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 W ith many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

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

41 T hen those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

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

42 T hey continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

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

43 F ear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

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

44 A ll who believed were together, and had all things in common.

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

45 T hey sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

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

46 D ay by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

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

47 p raising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day 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.