27 So you will (A)know that I am in the midst of Israel,
And that I am the Lord your God
And there is (B)no other;
And My people will never be (C)put to shame.

The Promise of the Spirit

28 [a](D)It will come about after this
That I will (E)pour out My Spirit on all [b](F)mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will have dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
29 And even on the (G)male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

The Day of the Lord

30 I will [c](H)display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
Blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
31 The (I)sun will be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the (J)great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
32 And it will come about that (K)everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
Will [d]be saved;
For (L)on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
There will be those who (M)escape,
Just as the Lord has said,
Even among the (N)survivors whom the Lord calls.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:28 Ch 3:1 in Heb
  2. Joel 2:28 Lit flesh
  3. Joel 2:30 Lit give
  4. Joel 2:32 Or flee to safety

27 Then you will know(A) that I am in Israel,
    that I am the Lord(B) your God,
    and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.(C)

The Day of the Lord

28 “And afterward,
    I will pour out my Spirit(D) on all people.(E)
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,(F)
    your old men will dream dreams,(G)
    your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants,(H) both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days.(I)
30 I will show wonders in the heavens(J)
    and on the earth,(K)
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness(L)
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.(M)
32 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord(N) will be saved;(O)
for on Mount Zion(P) and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance,(Q)
    as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors(R)
    whom the Lord calls.[a](S)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:32 In Hebrew texts 2:28-32 is numbered 3:1-5.

27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

Read full chapter

The Day of Pentecost

When (A)the day of Pentecost [a]had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled (B)the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, [b]distributing themselves, and a tongue [c]rested on each one of them. And they were all (C)filled with the Holy Spirit and began to (D)speak with different [d]tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out.

Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, (E)devout men from every nation under heaven. And when (F)this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own [e]language. (G)They were amazed and astonished, saying, “[f]Why, are not all these who are speaking (H)Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own [g]language [h]to which we were born? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and (I)Cappadocia, (J)Pontus and [i](K)Asia, 10 (L)Phrygia and (M)Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya around (N)Cyrene, and [j](O)visitors from Rome, both Jews and [k](P)proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own [l]tongues of the mighty deeds of God.” 12 And (Q)they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others were jeering and saying, “(R)They are full of [m]sweet wine!”

Peter’s Sermon

14 But Peter, taking his stand with (S)the other eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, [n]know this, and pay attention to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you assume, (T)since it is only the [o]third hour of the day; 16 but this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 (U)And it shall be in the last days,’ God says,
That I will pour out My Spirit on all [p]mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
And your young men will see visions,
And your old men will [q]have dreams;
18 And even on My male and female [r]servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days,
And they will prophesy.
19 And I will [s]display wonders in the sky above
And signs on the earth below,
Blood, fire, and [t]vapor of smoke.
20 The sun will 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 (V)everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: (W)Jesus the Nazarene, (X)a Man [u]attested to you by God with [v]miracles and (Y)wonders and [w]signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the (Z)predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, (AA)you nailed to a cross by the hands of [x]godless men and put Him to death. 24 [y]But (AB)God raised Him from the dead, putting an end to the [z]agony of death, since it (AC)was impossible for Him to be held [aa]in its power. 25 For David says of Him,

(AD)I saw the Lord continually before me,
Because He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue was overjoyed;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;
27 For You will not abandon my soul to (AE)Hades,
(AF)Nor will You [ab]allow Your [ac]Holy One to [ad]undergo decay.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’

29 [ae]Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the (AG)patriarch David that he both (AH)died and (AI)was buried, and (AJ)his tomb is [af]with us to this day. 30 So because he was (AK)a prophet and knew that (AL)God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one [ag]of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the [ah]Christ, that (AM)He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh [ai]suffer decay. 32 It is this Jesus whom (AN)God raised up, [aj]a fact to which we are all (AO)witnesses. 33 Therefore, [ak]since He has been exalted [al](AP)at the right hand of God, and (AQ)has received (AR)the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has (AS)poured out this which you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into [am]heaven, but he himself says:

(AT)The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at My right hand,
35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

36 Therefore let all the (AU)house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both (AV)Lord and [an]Christ—this Jesus (AW)whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were [ao]pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “[ap]Brothers, (AX)what are we to do?” 38 Peter said to them, “(AY)Repent, and each of you be (AZ)baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For (BA)the promise is for you and your children and for all who are (BB)far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly (BC)testified and kept on urging them, saying, “[aq]Be saved from this (BD)perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand [ar](BE)souls. 42 They were (BF)continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to (BG)the breaking of bread and (BH)to [as]prayer.

43 [at]Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many (BI)wonders and [au]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all the believers [av]were together and (BJ)had all things in common; 45 and they (BK)would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. 46 (BL)Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and (BM)breaking bread [aw]from house to house, they were taking their [ax]meals together with gladness and [ay]sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and (BN)having favor with all the people. And the Lord (BO)was adding to [az]their number day by day (BP)those who were being saved.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 2:1 Lit was being fulfilled
  2. Acts 2:3 Or being distributed, and
  3. Acts 2:3 Or sat
  4. Acts 2:4 Or languages
  5. Acts 2:6 Or dialect
  6. Acts 2:7 Lit Behold
  7. Acts 2:8 Or dialect
  8. Acts 2:8 Lit in
  9. Acts 2:9 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  10. Acts 2:10 Lit the sojourning Romans
  11. Acts 2:10 I.e., Gentile converts to Judaism
  12. Acts 2:11 Or languages
  13. Acts 2:13 I.e., new wine
  14. Acts 2:14 Lit let this be known to you
  15. Acts 2:15 I.e., 9 a.m.
  16. Acts 2:17 Lit flesh
  17. Acts 2:17 Lit dream with dreams
  18. Acts 2:18 Or slaves
  19. Acts 2:19 Lit give
  20. Acts 2:19 I.e., like a volcanic eruption
  21. Acts 2:22 Or exhibited; or accredited
  22. Acts 2:22 Or works of power
  23. Acts 2:22 I.e., confirming miracles
  24. Acts 2:23 Lit men without the Law; i.e., pagan
  25. Acts 2:24 Lit Whom God raised up
  26. Acts 2:24 Lit birth pains
  27. Acts 2:24 Lit by it
  28. Acts 2:27 Lit give
  29. Acts 2:27 Or Devout; or Pious
  30. Acts 2:27 Lit see corruption
  31. Acts 2:29 Lit Men, brothers
  32. Acts 2:29 Lit among
  33. Acts 2:30 Lit of the fruit of his loins
  34. Acts 2:31 I.e., Messiah
  35. Acts 2:31 Lit see corruption
  36. Acts 2:32 Or of whom we
  37. Acts 2:33 Or having been...having received
  38. Acts 2:33 Or by
  39. Acts 2:34 Lit the heavens
  40. Acts 2:36 I.e., Messiah
  41. Acts 2:37 Or wounded in conscience
  42. Acts 2:37 Lit Men, brothers
  43. Acts 2:40 Or Escape
  44. Acts 2:41 I.e., persons
  45. Acts 2:42 Lit the prayers
  46. Acts 2:43 Lit fear was occurring to every soul
  47. Acts 2:43 I.e., confirming miracles
  48. Acts 2:44 One early ms does not contain were and and
  49. Acts 2:46 Or in the various private homes
  50. Acts 2:46 Lit food
  51. Acts 2:46 Or simplicity
  52. Acts 2:47 Lit the same

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

When the day of Pentecost(A) came, they were all together(B) in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.(C) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit(D) and began to speak in other tongues[a](E) as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing(F) Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed,(G) they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?(H) Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,(I) Pontus(J) and Asia,[b](K) 10 Phrygia(L) and Pamphylia,(M) Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene;(N) visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”(O)

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!(P) 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.(Q)
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,(R)
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.(S)
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,(T)
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood(U)
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord(V) will be saved.’[c](W)

22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth(X) was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs,(Y) which God did among you through him,(Z) as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge;(AA) and you, with the help of wicked men,[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross.(AB) 24 But God raised him from the dead,(AC) freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.(AD) 25 David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
    Because he is at my right hand,
    I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    you will not let your holy one see decay.(AE)
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence.’[e](AF)

29 “Fellow Israelites,(AG) I can tell you confidently that the patriarch(AH) David died and was buried,(AI) and his tomb is here(AJ) to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.(AK) 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.(AL) 32 God has raised this Jesus to life,(AM) and we are all witnesses(AN) of it. 33 Exalted(AO) to the right hand of God,(AP) he has received from the Father(AQ) the promised Holy Spirit(AR) and has poured out(AS) what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”’[f](AT)

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord(AU) and Messiah.”(AV)

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”(AW)

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,(AX) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.(AY) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(AZ) 39 The promise is for you and your children(BA) and for all who are far off(BB)—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”(BC) 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number(BD) that day.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching(BE) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread(BF) and to prayer.(BG) 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.(BH) 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.(BI) 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.(BJ) 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.(BK) They broke bread(BL) in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.(BM) And the Lord added to their number(BN) daily those who were being saved.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 2:4 Or languages; also in verse 11
  2. Acts 2:9 That is, the Roman province by that name
  3. Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32
  4. Acts 2:23 Or of those not having the law (that is, Gentiles)
  5. Acts 2:28 Psalm 16:8-11 (see Septuagint)
  6. Acts 2:35 Psalm 110:1

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

[a]that (A)if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and (B)believe in your heart that (C)God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [b]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [c]resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “(D)Whoever believes in Him will not be [d]put to shame.” 12 For (E)there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is (F)Lord of (G)all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “(H)Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 10:9 Or because
  2. Romans 10:10 Lit to righteousness
  3. Romans 10:10 Lit to salvation
  4. Romans 10:11 Or disappointed

If you declare(A) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”(B) and believe(C) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,(D) you will be saved.(E) 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”[a](F) 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile(G)—the same Lord is Lord of all(H) and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord(I) will be saved.”[b](J)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Romans 10:11 Isaiah 28:16 (see Septuagint)
  2. Romans 10:13 Joel 2:32

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Read full chapter