1When the day of Pentecost was being celebrated,[a] all of them were together in one place. 2Suddenly, a sound like the roar of a mighty windstorm came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated, and one rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them that ability.
5Now devout Jews from every nation[b] were living in Jerusalem. 6When that sound came, a crowd quickly gathered, startled because each one heard the disciples[c] speaking in his own language. 7Stunned and amazed, they asked, “All of these people who are speaking are Galileans, aren't they? 8So how is it that each one of us hears them speaking in his own native language:[d] 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the district of Libya near Cyrene, Jewish and proselyte visitors from Rome, 11Cretans, and Arabs, listening to them talk in our own languages about the great deeds of God?”
12All of them continued to be stunned and puzzled, and they kept asking one another, “What can this mean?”
13But others kept saying in derision, “They're drunk on sweet wine!”
14Then Peter stood up among the eleven apostles[e] and raised his voice to address them:
“Men of Judea and everyone living in Jerusalem! You must understand something, so pay close attention to my words. 15These men are not drunk as you suppose, for it's only nine o'clock in the morning.[f] 16Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.[g]
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will even pour out my Spirit
on my slaves, men and women alike,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will display wonders in the sky above
and signs on the earth below:
blood, fire, and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will become dark,
and the moon turn to blood,
before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.
21 Then whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[h]
22“Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth[i] was a man authenticated to you by God through miracles, wonders, and signs that God performed through him among you, as you yourselves know. 23After he was arrested according to the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified this very man and killed him by the hands of lawless men. 24But God raised him up and put an end to suffering of death,[j] since it was impossible for him to be held by it. 25For David says about him,
‘I always keep my eyes on the Lord,[k]
for he is at my right hand
so that I cannot be shaken.
26 That is why my heart is glad
and my tongue rejoices,
yes, even my body still rests securely in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades[l]
or allow your Holy One to experience decay.
28 You have made the ways of life known to me,
and you will fill me with gladness in your presence.’[m]
29“Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and that his tomb is among us to this day. 30Therefore, since he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him with an oath to put one of his descendants on his throne, 31he looked ahead and spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah:
‘He was not abandoned to Hades,[n]
and his flesh did not experience decay.’[o]
32“It was this very Jesus whom God raised, and of that we are all witnesses. 33He has been exalted to the right hand of God, has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit,[p] and has caused you to experience what you are seeing and hearing. 34For David did not go up to heaven, but he said,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’[q]
36Therefore, let all the people[r] of Israel understand beyond a doubt that God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”
37When the crowd that had gathered[s] heard this, they were pierced to the heart. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38Peter answered them, “Every one of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift.[t] 39For this promise belongs to you and your children, as well as to all those who are distant, whom the Lord our God may call to himself.”
40Using many different expressions, Peter[u] continued to testify and to plead with them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” 41So those who welcomed his message were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added to their number.
42The believers[v] continued to devote themselves to what the apostles were teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to times of prayer.[w] 43A sense of fear[x] came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All the believers were united and shared everything with one another.[y] 45They made it their practice to sell their possessions and goods and to distribute the proceeds[z] to anyone who was in need. 46United in purpose, they went to the temple every day, ate at each other's homes, and shared their food with glad and humble hearts. 47They were praising God and enjoying the good will of all the people. Every day the Lord was adding to their number those who were being saved.242
[a] 2:1 Lit. Pentecost
had fully arrived
[b] 2:5 Lit. nation
under heaven
[c] 2:6 Lit. them
[d] 2:8 Lit. in our language in which we were born
[e] 2:14 The Gk. lacks apostles
[f] 2:15 Lit. the third hour of the day
[g] 2:17 Lit. on all flesh
[h] 2:21 Joel 2:28-32
[i] 2:22 Or Jesus the Nazarene; the Gk. Nazoraios may be a word play between Heb. netser, meaning branch (see Isa 11:1), and the name Nazareth.
[j] 2:24 Other mss. read Hades (the realm of the dead)
[k] 2:25 Lit. always
see the Lord in front of me
[l] 2:27 I.e. the realm of the dead
[m] 2:28 Ps 16:8-11
[n] 2:31 I.e. the realm of the dead
[o] 2:31 Ps 16:10
[p] 2:33 Or the promise of the Holy Spirit
[q] 2:35 Ps 110:1
[r] 2:36 Lit. house
[s] 2:37 Lit. When
they
[t] 2:38 Or the gift of the Holy Spirit
[u] 2:40 Lit. he
[v] 2:42 Lit. They
[w] 2:42 Lit. to the prayers
[x] 2:43 Or awe
[y] 2:44 Lit. and had all things in common
[z] 2:45 Lit. to distribute them