Acts Chapter 2
The Spirit’s Coming
1 When Pentecost came, they were together. 2 All of a sudden a roar from the sky like a violent windstorm filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues like fire sat on each one of them. 4 The Holy Spirit filled them, and they started speaking in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4
5 Devout Jews from many countries were living in Jerusalem. 6 When that roar erupted, the crowd came together bewildered. Each one was surprised to hear them speaking in their own language.
7 “Aren’t these men Galileans? 8 How can we be hearing our native languages? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites; people living in Mesopotamia, Judaea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; Roman visitors, 11 Jews and proselytes; Cretans and Arabians—we’re hearing them speak in our own languages about those outstanding things God has done.”
12 They were surprised and asked each other what was happening.
13 Others joked, “They’re drunk on sweet new wine.”
Acts 2:5-13
Peter’s Sermon on Pentecost
14 Peter, standing with the eleven, spoke up,
“Judeans and you that are living in Jerusalem, listen. 15 These men aren’t drunk like you’re trying to make out; it’s only 9 o’clock. 16 This is what the prophet Joel was referring to,
17 ‘“In the last days,” God says,
“I’ll pour my Spirit out on all kinds of people:
your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams, and
18 my servants and handmaids will prophesy.
19 “I’ll show you wonders in the sky above, and
signs on the earth below—
blood, fire, and smoke.
20 The sun will go dark, and
the moon will turn red,
before the great day of the LORD comes.
21 “Whoever calls on the LORD will be saved”’ [Joel 2:28-32].
Acts 2:14-21
22 “Israelites, listen. God approved Jesus the Nazarene by miracles, wonders, and signs you know God did by him among you. 23 You handed him over to God’s predetermined foreknowledge and plan. You condemned him to death and got people to crucify him that weren’t under the Law. 24 God released him from a painful death and resurrected him because death couldn’t hold him. 25 David said,
‘I always see the LORD in front of me;
he’s at my right hand so I’m secure.
26 So I’m glad and rejoice;
even my flesh will rest in hope,
27 because you won’t leave me in the grave, or
let your Holy One decay.
28 You’ve made the way of life known to me;
you’ll make me happy with your presence’ [Ps 16:8-11].
Acts 2:22-28
29 “Brothers, let me speak frankly about the patriarch David: he died and was buried, and his grave’s still here. 30 So, as a prophet, he knew ‘God had solemnly sworn that his descendant would sit on his throne’ [Ps 132:11]. 31 He saw that ahead of time and was referring to the Messiah’s resurrection when he said, ‘He wouldn’t remain in the grave, and his flesh wouldn’t decay’ [Ps 16:10]. 32 God resurrected this Jesus, as we can all vouch for. 33 He ascended to God’s right hand, received from the Father the Holy Spirit he promised, and poured out what you’re seeing and hearing. 34 David didn’t ascend to heaven; he said himself,
‘The LORD said to my Lord,
“Sit on my right hand
35 till I make your enemies your footstool”’ [Ps 110:1].
36 So Israel can know without a doubt that God has made this Jesus you crucified both ‘Lord’ and Messiah.”
Acts 2:29-36
3,000 Respond
37 Those comments cut his audience to the heart. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “What are we going to do, brothers!?”
38 Peter said,
“Repent, and each of you get baptized to Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you’ll receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. 39 The promise applies to you, your descendants, and everybody afar off—as many as the LORD our God calls.”
40 With a lot of additional presentation, he urged them, “Be saved from this crooked generation.” 41 The ones that accepted his message were baptized: about 3,000 were added together that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer.
Acts 2:37-42
43 Reverence came over them everyone, and the apostles worked many wonders and signs. 44 The believers were together and shared everything; 45 they started selling property and possessions and distributing them according to need. 46 They continued together every day in the Temple, breaking bread by families, and receiving food with sincere gladness. 47 They kept praising God and being gracious to the people. Every day the LORD was adding together the ones that were being saved.
Acts 2:43-47