1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a noise came from the sky. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to do this. 5 There were some Jewish men that truly worshiped God in Jerusalem at this time. These men were from every country in the world. 6 A large group of these men came together because they heard the noise. They were surprised because the apostles were speaking, and every man heard in his own language. 7 The Jews were all amazed at this. They did not understand how the apostles could do this. They said, “Look! These men ˻(the apostles)˼ that we hear speaking are all from Galilee! 8 But we hear them in our own languages. How is this possible? We are from different places: 9 Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near the city of Cyrene, Rome, 11 Crete and Arabia. Some of us were born Jews. Others are converts. We are from these different countries. But we can hear these men in our own languages! We can all understand the great things they are saying about God.” 12 The people were all amazed and confused. They asked each other, “What is happening?” 13 Other people were laughing at the apostles. These people thought the apostles were drunk from too much wine. 14 Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles. He spoke loudly so that all the people could hear. He said, “My Jewish brothers and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me. I will tell you something you need to know. Listen carefully. 15 These men are not drunk like you think; it is only nine o’clock in the morning! 16 But Joel the prophet wrote about the things you see happening here today. This is what Joel wrote: 17 'God says: In the last days, I will pour out ˻(give)˼ my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will have special dreams. 18 At that time, I will pour out ˻(give)˼ my Spirit on my servants, men and women, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show amazing things in the sky above. I will give proofs on the earth below. There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke. 20 The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon will become red like blood. Then the great and glorious day of the Lord will come. 21 And every person who trusts in the Lord will be saved.’ 22 ”My Jewish brothers, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a very special man. God clearly showed this to you. God proved this by the powerful and amazing things he did through Jesus. You all saw these things. So you know this is true. 23 Jesus was given to you, and you killed him. With the help of bad men you nailed Jesus to a cross. But God knew all this would happen. This was God’s plan. God made this plan long ago. 24 Jesus suffered the pain of death, but God made him free. God raised Jesus from death. Death could not hold Jesus. 25 David said this about Jesus: 'I saw the Lord before me always; he is at my right side to keep me safe. 26 So my heart is happy, and the words I speak are words of joy. Yes, even my body will live with hope, 27 because you will not leave me in the place of death. You will not let the body of your Holy One rot in the grave. 28 You taught me how to live. You will come close to me and give me great joy.’ 29 ”My brothers, I can tell you truly about David, our ancestor. He died and was buried. His grave is still here with us today. 30 David was a prophet and knew something God said. God promised David that he would make a person from David’s family to be a king like David. 31 David knew this before it happened. That is why David said this about that person: 'He was not left in the place of death. His body did not rot in the grave.’ David was talking about the Christ rising from death. 32 So Jesus is the One God raised from death, ˻not David˼! We are all witnesses of this. We saw him! 33 Jesus was lifted up to heaven. Now Jesus is with God, at God’s right side. The Father ˻(God)˼ has now given the Holy Spirit to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is what God promised to give. So now Jesus is pouring out ˻(giving)˼ that Spirit. This is what you see and hear. 34 David was not the one who was lifted up to heaven. ˻It was Jesus who was lifted up to heaven.˼ David himself said: 'The Lord ˻(God)˼ said to my Lord: Sit at my right side, 35 until I put your enemies under your power.’ 36 ”So, all the Jewish people should know this truly: God has made Jesus to be Lord and Christ. He is the man you nailed to the cross!” 37 When the people heard this, they felt very, very sorry. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Then God will forgive your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is for you. It is also for your children and for the people that are far away. It is for every person that the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 Peter warned them with many other words; he begged them, “Save yourselves from the evil of the people that live now!” 41 Then those people who accepted ˻(believed)˼ what Peter said were baptized. On that day about 3,000 people were added to the group of believers. 42 ˻The believers continued to meet together.˼ They used their time to learn the teaching of the apostles. The believers shared with each other. They ate together and prayed together. 43 The apostles were doing many powerful and amazing things; and every person felt great respect for God. 44 All the believers stayed together. They shared everything. 45 The believers sold their land and the things they owned. Then they divided the money and gave it to those people who needed it. 46 The believers met together in the temple yard every day. They all had the same purpose. They ate together in their homes. They were happy to share their food and ate with joyful hearts. 47 The believers praised God, and all the people liked them. More and more people were being saved every day; the Lord was adding those people to the group ˻of believers˼.
