Acts 2-6

English Standard Version

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When ^(A)the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like ^(B)a mighty rushing wind, and ^(C)it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues ^(D)as of fire appeared to them and rested^[a] on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all ^(E)filled with the Holy Spirit and began ^(F)to speak in other tongues ^(G)as the Spirit gave them utterance.

⁵ Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And ^(H)at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷ And ^(I)they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking ^(J)Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians and ^(K)Medes and ^(L)Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹ both Jews and ^(M)proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” ¹² And ^(N)all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others ^(O)mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, ^(P)since it is only the third hour of the day.^{[b] 16} But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

²² “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, ^(Y)a man attested to you by God ^(Z)with ^(AA)mighty works and wonders and signs that ^(AB)God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— ²³ this Jesus,^{[c] (AC)}delivered up according to ^(AD)the definite plan and ^(AE)foreknowledge of God, ^(AF)you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ^24 (AG)God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because ^(AH)it was not possible for him to be held by it. ²⁵ For David says concerning him,

²⁹ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about ^(AO)the patriarch David ^(AP)that he both died and ^(AQ)was buried, and ^(AR)his tomb is with us to this day. ^30 (AS)Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that ^(AT)God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that ^(AU)he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus ^(AV)God raised up, ^(AW)and of that we all are witnesses. ^33 (AX)Being therefore ^(AY)exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from ^(AZ)the Father ^(BA)the promise of the Holy Spirit, ^(BB)he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. ³⁴ For ^(BC)David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

³⁶ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that ^(BE)God has made him ^(BF)both Lord and Christ, this Jesus ^(BG)whom you crucified.”

³⁷ Now when ^(BH)they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, ^(BI)what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, ^(BJ)“Repent and ^(BK)be baptized every one of you ^(BL)in the name of Jesus Christ ^(BM)for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive ^(BN)the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For ^(BO)the promise is for you and ^(BP)for your children and for all ^(BQ)who are far off, everyone ^(BR)whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, ^(BS)“Save yourselves from this ^(BT)crooked generation.” ⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and ^(BU)there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

⁴² And ^(BV)they devoted themselves to the apostles' ^(BW)teaching and the ^(BX)fellowship, to ^(BY)the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe^[d] came upon every soul, and ^(BZ)many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and ^(CA)had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And ^(CB)they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, ^(CC)attending the temple ^(CD)together and ^(CE)breaking bread in their homes, they received their food ^(CF)with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and ^(CG)having favor with all the people. And the Lord ^(CH)added to their number ^(CI)day by day those who ^(CJ)were being saved.

The Lame Beggar Healed

3 Now Peter and John were ^(CK)going up to the temple at ^(CL)the hour of prayer, ^(CM)the ninth hour.^{[e] 2} And a man ^(CN)lame from birth was being carried, ^(CO)whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate ^(CP)to ask alms of those entering the temple. ³ Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. ⁴ And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” ⁵ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, ^(CQ)“I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. ^(CR)In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And ^(CS)leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And ^(CT)all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico

^11 (CU)While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in ^(CV)the portico called Solomon's. ¹² And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? ^13 (CW)The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, ^(CX)the God of our fathers, ^(CY)glorified his servant^[f] Jesus, whom ^(CZ)you delivered over and ^(DA)denied in the presence of Pilate, ^(DB)when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ But you denied ^(DC)the Holy and ^(DD)Righteous One, and ^(DE)asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and you killed ^(DF)the Author of life, ^(DG)whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And ^(DH)his name—by ^(DI)faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is ^(DJ)through Jesus^[g] has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

¹⁷ “And now, brothers, I know that ^(DK)you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God ^(DL)foretold ^(DM)by the mouth of all the prophets, that ^(DN)his Christ would ^(DO)suffer, he thus fulfilled. ^19 (DP)Repent therefore, and ^(DQ)turn back, that ^(DR)your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰ that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ ^(DS)appointed for you, Jesus, ^21 (DT)whom heaven must receive until the time for ^(DU)restoring all the things about which ^(DV)God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. ²² Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you ^(DW)a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen ^(DX)to him in whatever he tells you. ²³ And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet ^(DY)shall be destroyed from the people.’ ²⁴ And ^(DZ)all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. ^25 (EA)You are the sons of the prophets and of ^(EB)the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ^(EC)‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ ^26 (ED)God, ^(EE)having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, ^(EF)to bless you ^(EG)by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Peter and John Before the Council

4 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and ^(EH)the captain of the temple and ^(EI)the Sadducees came upon them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming ^(EJ)in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they arrested them and ^(EK)put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and ^(EL)the number of the men came to about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with ^(EM)Annas the high priest and ^(EN)Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, ^(EO)“By what power or ^(EP)by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, ^(EQ)filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today ^(ER)concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that ^(ES)by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, ^(ET)whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. ^11 (EU)This Jesus^[h] is the stone that was ^(EV)rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.^{[i] 12} And there is ^(EW)salvation ^(EX)in no one else, for ^(EY)there is no other ^(EZ)name under heaven given among men^[j] by which we must be saved.”

^13 (FA)Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But seeing the man who was healed ^(FB)standing beside them, ^(FC)they had nothing to say in opposition. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, ¹⁶ saying, ^(FD)“What shall we do with these men? For that ^(FE)a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them ^(FF)to speak no more to anyone in this name.” ¹⁸ So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, ^(FG)“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, ²⁰ for ^(FH)we cannot but speak of what ^(FI)we have seen and heard.” ²¹ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, ^(FJ)because of the people, for all were praising God ^(FK)for what had happened. ²² For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

²³ When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard it, they lifted their voices ^(FL)together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, ^(FM)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ²⁵ who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,^[k] said by the Holy Spirit,

²⁷ for truly in this city there were gathered together against your ^(FQ)holy servant Jesus, ^(FR)whom you anointed, both ^(FS)Herod and ^(FT)Pontius Pilate, along ^(FU)with the Gentiles and ^(FV)the peoples of Israel, ^28 (FW)to do whatever your hand and ^(FX)your plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, Lord, ^(FY)look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all ^(FZ)boldness, ³⁰ while ^(GA)you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed ^(GB)through the name of your ^(GC)holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, ^(GD)the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and ^(GE)they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and ^(GF)continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common

³² Now the full number of those who believed were of ^(GG)one heart and ^(GH)soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but ^(GI)they had everything in common. ³³ And with great ^(GJ)power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and ^(GK)great grace was upon them all. ^34 (GL)There was not a needy person among them, for ^(GM)as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold ³⁵ and ^(GN)laid it at the apostles' feet, and ^(GO)it was distributed to each as any had need. ³⁶ Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means ^(GP)son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and ^(GQ)laid it at the apostles' feet.

Ananias and Sapphira

5 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, ² and with his wife's knowledge ^(GR)he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and ^(GS)laid it at the apostles' feet. ³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has ^(GT)Satan filled your heart to lie ^(GU)to the Holy Spirit and ^(GV)to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but ^(GW)to God.” ⁵ When Ananias heard these words, he ^(GX)fell down and breathed his last. And ^(GY)great fear came upon all who heard of it. ⁶ The young men rose and ^(GZ)wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you^[m] sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” ⁹ But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together ^(HA)to test ^(HB)the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” ¹⁰ Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ And ^(HC)great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Many Signs and Wonders Done

¹² Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people ^(HD)by the hands of the apostles. And they were all ^(HE)together in ^(HF)Solomon's Portico. ¹³ None of the rest dared join them, but ^(HG)the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And ^(HH)more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ^15 (HI)so that they even ^(HJ)carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by ^(HK)at least his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, ^(HL)bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of ^(HM)the Sadducees), and filled with ^(HN)jealousy ¹⁸ they arrested the apostles and ^(HO)put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night ^(HP)an angel of the Lord ^(HQ)opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all ^(HR)the words of ^(HS)this ^(HT)Life.” ²¹ And when they heard this, ^(HU)they entered the temple ^(HV)at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²² But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, ²³ “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when ^(HW)the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. ²⁵ And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison ^(HX)are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ Then ^(HY)the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for ^(HZ)they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, ^(IA)“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you ^(IB)intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, ^(IC)“We must obey God rather than men. ^30 (ID)The God of our fathers ^(IE)raised Jesus, ^(IF)whom you killed by hanging him on ^(IG)a tree. ³¹ God exalted ^(IH)him at his right hand as ^(II)Leader and ^(IJ)Savior, ^(IK)to give ^(IL)repentance to Israel and ^(IM)forgiveness of sins. ³² And ^(IN)we are witnesses to these things, and ^(IO)so is the Holy Spirit, ^(IP)whom God has given to those who obey him.”

³³ When they heard this, they ^(IQ)were enraged and wanted to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee in the council named ^(IR)Gamaliel, ^(IS)a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For ^(IT)before these days Theudas rose up, ^(IU)claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of ^(IV)the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for ^(IW)if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; ³⁹ but ^(IX)if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You ^(IY)might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, ⁴⁰ and ^(IZ)when they had called in the apostles, ^(JA)they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, ^(JB)rejoicing that they were counted worthy ^(JC)to suffer dishonor for ^(JD)the name. ⁴² And every day, ^(JE)in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and ^(JF)preaching ^(JG)that the Christ is Jesus.

Seven Chosen to Serve

6 Now in these days ^(JH)when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists^[n] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in ^(JI)the daily distribution. ² And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. ^3 (JJ)Therefore, brothers,^[o] pick out from among you seven men ^(JK)of good repute, ^(JL)full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But ^(JM)we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, ^(JN)a man full of faith and ^(JO)of the Holy Spirit, and ^(JP)Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, ^(JQ)a proselyte of Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and ^(JR)they prayed and ^(JS)laid their hands on them.

⁷ And ^(JT)the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests ^(JU)became obedient to ^(JV)the faith.

Stephen Is Seized

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and ^(JW)power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. ¹⁰ But ^(JX)they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. ¹¹ Then ^(JY)they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹² And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, ¹³ and they ^(JZ)set up false ^(KA)witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against ^(KB)this holy place and the law, ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth ^(KC)will destroy this place and will ^(KD)change ^(KE)the customs that Moses delivered to us.” ¹⁵ And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face ^(KF)was like the face of an angel.