Chapter 2

1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

2Suddenly, a sound came from heaven like a powerful wind rushing along. It filled the entire house where they were sitting.

3Something like flames shaped as tongues appeared to them and divided, and one rested on each person.

4God’s Holy Spirit filled them all, and they began speaking in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

5Devout Jewish men from every nation under heaven were living in Jerusalem at the time.

6When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were bewildered because each person heard the group speaking in his own native language.

7Astonished and amazed, they said, “Aren’t all these people who are speaking from Galilee?

8Then how can each of us hear them speaking the language we grew up with?

9Some of us are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites. Others live in Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, and the Roman province of Asia;

10in Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya near Cyrene. Some of us are visitors from Rome—

11both Jews and converts to Judaism—and others are Cretans and Arabs. Yet we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things God has done!”

12They were all astonished and confused. They asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13But others mocked them and said, “They are full of sweet wine.”

14Then Peter stood with the other eleven and raised his voice to address the crowd: “Fellow Jews and everyone living in Jerusalem, you need to understand what is happening. Listen carefully to my words.

15These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only nine in the morning!

16Instead, this is what God said through the prophet Joel:

17‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will speak messages from me. Your young people will see visions, and your older people will dream dreams.

18In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my male and female slaves, and they will speak messages from me.

19I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood, fire, and clouds of smoke.

20The sun will turn dark, and the moon will turn blood-red before the great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.

21Then everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.’

22Peter continued, “People of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man whom God clearly showed you that he approved. God did powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him among you, as you yourselves know.

23God handed Jesus over according to his settled plan and advance knowledge. You had lawless men nail him to a cross, and you killed him.

24But God raised him from the dead and released him from death’s agony, because death could not possibly hold him.

25David says about him: ‘I always kept the Lord before me. Because he is at my right side, I will not be shaken.

26So my heart was glad, and my tongue shouted with joy. Even my body will rest in hope,

27because you will not abandon me in the realm of the dead or let your faithful one experience decay.

28You have shown me the paths that lead to life. Your presence will fill me with joy.’

29Peter continued, “My brothers and sisters, I can speak plainly to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb remains here among us to this day.

30But David was a prophet. He knew that God had sworn an oath to place one of his descendants on his throne.

31David saw ahead and spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah, God’s promised king: he was not abandoned in the realm of the dead, and his body did not decay.

32God raised this Jesus from the dead, and we all witnessed it.

33God lifted Jesus to the place of honor at his right hand. Jesus received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father and poured out what you now see and hear.

34David did not go up into heaven, yet he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right side

35until I put your enemies beneath your feet like a footstool.”’

36Peter concluded, “Therefore, let all the people of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus both Lord and Messiah—the same Jesus whom you crucified.”

37When the people heard this, they were deeply distressed. They asked Peter and the other apostles, Jesus’ appointed messengers, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38Peter answered, “Change the way you think and live. Each of you must be baptized—immersed in water—in the name of Jesus the Messiah, so that your sins may be forgiven. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39This promise is for you, for your children, and for everyone far away—for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

40Peter gave them many other solemn warnings and urged them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand people joined the community that day.

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to sharing life together, to meals in which they broke bread, and to prayer.

43Everyone was filled with awe, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.

44All who believed stayed together and shared everything they had.

45They sold property and possessions and distributed the proceeds to everyone according to each person’s need.

46Day after day, they gathered together in the Temple complex with a shared sense of purpose. They also broke bread in one home after another and ate together with joyful, sincere hearts.

47They praised God and enjoyed the goodwill of all the people. Each day, the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.