Acts 2

1When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were together in one place.

2Suddenly a sound came from heaven, like a strong wind blowing hard, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3They saw what looked like small flames of fire. The flames separated, and one flame came down and rested on each person.

4The Holy Spirit filled all of them. Then they began to speak in other languages, because the Spirit gave them the power to do this.

5At that time, many faithful Jews were living in Jerusalem. They had come from every nation in the world.

6When the people heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were confused, because each person heard the message in their own language.

7They were amazed and surprised. They asked: Are all these people who are speaking not from Galilee?

8Then how can each of us hear them speaking in our own language?

9We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites. We are from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia.

10We are from Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya near Cyrene. Others of us have come to visit from Rome.

11Some of us are Jews by birth, and others became Jews later. Some of us are from Crete, and some are from Arabia. But all of us hear these men speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!

12The people were amazed and confused. They asked each other: What does this mean?

13But others mocked them and said: They have had too much wine.

14Then Peter stood up with the eleven apostles. He raised his voice and spoke to the crowd: My Jewish brothers, and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you. Listen carefully to what I say.

15These people are not drunk, like you think. It is only nine o'clock in the morning!

16No, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about long ago:

17In the last days, God says: I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young people will see visions, and your elders will dream dreams.

18Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

19I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below — blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

20The sun will turn dark, and the moon will turn red like blood. This will happen before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

22My fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man that God showed to you. God proved this through the miracles and wonders and signs that God did through Jesus. You yourselves already know this.

23God planned this before it happened, and God knew it would happen. Then wicked men helped hand Jesus over to you, and you nailed Him to a cross and killed Him.

24But God raised Jesus back to life. God set Jesus free from the pain of death, because death could not hold on to Jesus.

25David said about Jesus: I always saw the Lord in front of me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved.

26So my heart is glad and my words are full of joy. My body will rest, knowing that I can trust God's promise,

27Because You will not leave me dead in the grave. You will not let Your holy one's body decay.

28You have shown me the way that leads to life. You will fill me with joy when I am with You.

29My fellow Israelites, I can tell you for certain that our ancestor David died and was buried. His tomb is still here today.

30But David was a prophet. He knew that God had made a promise to him: God would put one of David's own family on David's throne.

31David saw ahead of time what would happen, and he spoke about the Messiah rising from death. He said that the Messiah would not be left in the grave, and His body would not decay.

32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

33God lifted Jesus up to the highest place, at God's right hand. Jesus received the Holy Spirit that the Father had promised, and Jesus poured out the Spirit. That is what you now see and hear.

34David did not go up into heaven himself, but David said: The LORD said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand,

35Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.

36So let all of Israel know for certain: God has made this Jesus, the same Jesus you nailed to the cross, both Lord and Messiah.

37When the people heard this, they felt very sorry in their hearts. They said to Peter and the other apostles: Brothers, what should we do?

38Peter answered: Each of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.

40Peter said many other words to warn them, and he begged them: Save yourselves from these evil, sinful people of today.

41Those who believed Peter's message were baptized. That day about three thousand people joined the believers.

42The believers kept on learning from the apostles' teaching. They spent time together, ate meals together, and prayed together.

43Everyone felt amazed and full of wonder, and the apostles did many wonders and miracles.

44All the believers stayed together, and they shared everything they had.

45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

46Every day they kept meeting together at the temple. They ate meals together in their homes with glad and honest hearts,

47They praised God, and all the people liked them. Every day the Lord added more people to the group, people who were being saved.