Acts

Pentecost

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

Suddenly, a sound like a strong rushing wind came from the sky, filling the entire house where they were sitting.

Tongues appeared as if of fire, splitting apart and resting on each of them.

All were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them.

People from every nation under heaven stayed in Jerusalem, including religious Jews.

When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered excitedly because each person heard them speaking in his own language.

Filled with amazement and wonder, they asked: “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

How is it that we hear them in our own native language?

Here are Parthians, Medes and Elamites; and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia; Pontus and Asia;

Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt; and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene; along with visitors from Rome;

both Jews and foreigners who accept Jewish beliefs, Cretans and Arabians; and all of us hear them proclaiming in our own language what God the Savior does.”

They were amazed and very confused, and they kept asking each other:

“What does this mean?”

But others laughed and said:

“They are filled with new wine.”

Peter, Witness of the Resurrection14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and, with a loud voice, addressed them: “Fellow Jews and all foreigners now staying in Jerusalem, listen to what I have to say.

These people are not drunk, as you might think, since it is only nine o’clock in the morning.

Indeed, what the prophet Joel spoke about has come to pass:

In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on every mortal.

Your sons and daughters

will speak through the Holy Spirit;

your young men will see visions

and your old men will have dreams.

In those days, I will pour out my Spirit

even on my servants,

both men and women,

and they will prophesy.

I will perform miracles in the sky

above and wonders on the earth below.

The sun will be darkened,

and the moon will turn blood red

before the great

and glorious Day of the Lord arrives.

And everyone who call

on the Name of the Lord will be save

Fellow Israelites, listen to what I have to say:

Jesus of Nazareth was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs among you, as you are well aware.

You handed him over to sinners to be crucified and killed, fulfilling God’s purpose from the beginning.

But God raised him from the dead and freed him from the pain of death because it was impossible for him to be held by it.

David says concerning him:

I saw the Lord before me at all times;

he is by my side so that I will not be shaken.

Therefore, my heart was glad

and my tongue rejoiced;

my body, too, will live in hope.

Because you will not abandon me to the grave,

nor allow your Holy One to experience corruption.

You have made known to me the paths of life,

and your presence will fill me with joy.

Friends, I don’t need to prove that the patriarch David died and was buried; his tomb is with us to this day.

But he knew that God had sworn to him that one of his descendants would sit upon his throne and,

as he was a prophet, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah. So he said that he would not be left in the realm of the dead, nor would his body undergo corruption.

This Messiah is Jesus, and we are all witnesses that God raised him.

He has been exalted at God’s right side, and the Father has entrusted the Holy Spirit to him; this Spirit he has just poured upon us, as you now see and hear.

For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself said:

The Lord said to my Lord:

sit at my right side,

until I make your enemies

a stool for your feet.

Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.

When they heard this, they were deeply troubled. Then they asked Peter and the other apostles:

“What shall we do, brothers?”

Peter answered:

“Each of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. Then, you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise of God was made to you and your children and to all those from afar, whom our God may call.”

With many other words, Peter gave the message and appealed to them, saying:

“Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand people were added that day.

Second Report:

The First Christian Community

They remained faithful to the apostles’ teachings, the shared life, breaking of bread, and prayers.

A profound fear fell on all the people, for many wonders and miraculous signs were performed by the apostles.

Now, all the believers lived together and shared everything they had.

They would sell their property and everything they owned, then distribute the proceeds to others based on their needs.

Every day, they gathered together in the temple area; they broke bread in their homes; they shared their food with great joy and simplicity of heart;

they praised God and gained the people’s favor.

And every day, the Lord was adding to their number those who were being saved.

And every day, the Lord was adding to their number those who were being saved.