Acts

The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 2 New English Translation

The Holy Spirit and the Day of Pentecost

   1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
   5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Completely baffled, they said, "Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that each one of us hears them in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs - we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!" 12 All were astounded and greatly confused, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" 13 But others jeered at the speakers, saying, "They are drunk on new wine!"

Peter's Address on the Day of Pentecost

   14 But Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: "You men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this and listen carefully to what I say. 15 In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:
   17 'And in the last days it will be, ' God says, 'that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and 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.
   19 And I will perform wonders in the sky above and miraculous signs on the earth below, blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
   20 The sun will be changed to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the LORD comes.
   21 And then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.'
   22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know - 23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. 24 But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power. 25 For David says about him, 'I saw the LORD always in front of me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.
   26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; my body also will live in hope,
   27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor permit your Holy One to experience decay.
   28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of joy with your presence.'
   29 "Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31 David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says, '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 house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both LORD and Christ."

The Response to Peter's Address

   37 Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "What should we do, brothers?" 38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each one of you be 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 the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the LORD our God will call to himself." 40 With many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, "Save yourselves from this perverse generation!" 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added.

The Fellowship of the Early Believers

   42 They were devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and miraculous signs came about by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and held everything in common, 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need. 46 Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, 47 praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the LORD was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.

King James Version

   1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
   2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
   3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
   4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
   5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
   6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
   7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
   8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
   9 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 that 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 that 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.