The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When the day of Pentecost [^Ca harvest festival fifty days after Passover, celebrating the firstfruits of the crops (while on this day the firstfruits of the Spirit); Ex. 34:22; Deut. 16:10, 16] ·came [arrived], they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a ·noise [roar] like a ·strong [violent], ·blowing [rushing] wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw something like ·flames [^Ltongues] of fire ·that were separated [that were divided; or that spread out] and ·stood [came to rest] over each person there. ⁴ They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak ·different [other; or foreign] ·languages [^Ltongues] by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them [^Creversing the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel; Gen. 11:1–9].

⁵ There were some ·religious [devout; God-fearing] Jews ·staying [living] in Jerusalem who were from every ·country [nation] ·in the world [^Lunder heaven]. ⁶ When they heard this noise, a crowd came together. They were all ·surprised [or confused; bewildered], because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷ They were ·completely [^Lastounded and] amazed at this. They said, “Look! Aren’t all these people that we hear speaking ·from Galilee [^LGalileans]? ⁸ Then how is it possible that we each hear them in our own [native] languages? We are: ⁹ Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia [^Ca Roman province, in present-day Turkey], ¹⁰ Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near Cyrene, [visitors from] Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and ·those who had become Jews [proselytes]), Crete, and Arabia. But we hear them telling in our own ·languages [tongues] about the ·great things [mighty acts] God has done!” ¹² They were all amazed and confused, asking each other, “What does this mean?”

¹³ But others ·were making fun of them [sneered], saying, “They have had too much [sweet; new] wine [^Cthey accuse them of being intoxicated and speaking nonsense].”

Peter Speaks to the People

¹⁴ But Peter stood up with the eleven apostles, and in a loud voice he ·spoke to [addressed] the crowd: “·My fellow Jews [or Judeans], and all of you who ·are [are living/staying] in Jerusalem, ·listen to me [^Llet this be known to you]. Pay attention to what I have to say. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as you think; it is only ·nine o’clock in the morning [^Lthe third hour of the day]! ¹⁶ But Joel the prophet wrote about what is happening here today:

²² “·People of Israel [^LMen, Israelites], ·listen to [hear] these words: Jesus ·from Nazareth [or the Nazarene] was a very special man. God clearly ·showed [attested; pointed out] this to you by the ·miracles [mighty deeds], wonders, and signs he did through Jesus. You all know this, because it happened ·right here among you [^Lin your midst]. ²³ Jesus was ·given [handed over] to you, and ·with the help [^Lby the hands] of ·those who don’t know the law [or lawless ones; wicked people; ^Ca reference to the Gentiles/Romans who crucified Jesus], you put him to death by nailing him to a cross. But this was ·God’s plan which he had made long ago [^Laccording to God’s predetermined plan]; ·he knew all this would happen [^L…and his foreknowledge]. ²⁴ God raised Jesus from the dead and set him free from the ·pain [agony; birthpains] of death, because death could not hold him. ²⁵ For David said this about him:

²⁹ “·Brothers and sisters [^LMen, brothers], I can tell you ·truly [or with confidence] that David, ·our ancestor [^Lthe patriarch], died and was buried. His ·grave [tomb] is still here with us today. ³⁰ [But because] He was a prophet and knew God had ·promised him [sworn with an oath] that he would ·make a person from David’s family a king just as he was [^Lput one of his descendants on his throne; ^Ca reference to the Davidic covenant; 2 Sam. 7:13; Ps. 132:11]. ³¹ ·Knowing this before it happened [^LForeseeing this], David talked about the ·Christ [Messiah] rising from the dead. He said:

³² So Jesus is the One whom God raised from the dead. And we are all witnesses to this. ³³ Jesus was ·lifted up to heaven and is now at [^Lexalted to] God’s right ·side [^Lhand; ^Ca position of highest honor beside the king]. The Father has given the Holy Spirit to Jesus as he promised. So Jesus has poured out that Spirit, and this is what you now see and hear. ³⁴ David was not the one who ·was lifted up [went up; ascended] to heaven, but he said:

³⁶ “·So [Therefore], all the ·people [^Lhouse] of Israel should know this ·truly [with certainty]: God has made Jesus—the man you ·nailed to the cross [crucified]—both Lord and ·Christ [Messiah].”

³⁷ When the people heard this, they ·felt guilty [were deeply distressed; ^Lwere cut/pierced to the heart] and asked Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do, ·brothers [^Lmen, brothers]?”

³⁸ Peter said to them, “·Change your hearts and lives [Repent] and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ [^LFor] This promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away [^Cboth in space and time; may refer to Gentiles and/or Jews scattered outside the land of Israel]. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself [Joel 2:32].”

⁴⁰ Peter ·warned [testified to] them with many other ·words [arguments]. He ·begged [pleaded with; exhorted; urged] them, “Save yourselves from ·the evil of today’s people [^Lthis corrupt/crooked/perverse generation]!” ⁴¹ Then those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About three thousand ·people [souls] were added to the number of believers that day. ⁴² They ·spent [devoted] their time learning the apostles’ teaching, ·sharing [fellowship], breaking bread [^Cthis may refer to a meal as in v. 46, or to the Lord’s Supper; Luke 22:14–20], and praying together.

The Believers Share

⁴³ The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and ·everyone [every soul] felt great ·respect [fear; awe; Prov. 1:7] for God. ⁴⁴ All the believers were ·together [in one place; or in close fellowship] and ·shared everything [^Lhad/held all things in common]. ⁴⁵ They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide ·the money [the proceeds; ^Lthem] and give it to anyone who needed it. ⁴⁶ The believers met together in the Temple [^Cnot the Temple building where only priests went, but the outer courts] every day. They ate together ·in their homes [or from home to home], sharing their food with joyful and ·sincere [or generous; or humble; or simple] hearts. ⁴⁷ They praised God and were ·liked by [looked upon favorably by] all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.