Acts 2

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Tongues like fire appeared to them and separated, and one rested on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them to speak. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. When this sound arose, a crowd gathered in bewilderment, because each person heard them speaking in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Look, aren’t all these people who are speaking Galileans? How is it that each of us hears them in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, 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 speaking in our own tongues of the mighty works of God!” They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocked them, saying, “They are full of sweet wine.” Then Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, understand this and listen to my words. These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine in the morning. Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘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. 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 heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. The sun will turn to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God through mighty works, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know. This man, handed over according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you killed by nailing him to a cross through the hands of lawless men. But God raised him up, freeing him from the pains of death, because it was impossible for death to hold him. For David says about him,
‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced;
even my flesh will rest in hope, because you will not abandon my soul to Hades or 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 speak freely to you about the patriarch David: he died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ: he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see decay. God raised this Jesus, and we are all witnesses of this. So, exalted to the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you see and hear. For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says,
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.” When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and let 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. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away—as many as the Lord our God calls.” With many other words he bore solemn witness and urged them, saying, “Be saved from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and about three thousand people were added that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and held everything in common. They sold their property and possessions and distributed the proceeds to all, according to each person’s need. Day by day they continued with one accord in the temple, breaking bread in their homes and sharing food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Rights and attribution