Acts 2
New Life Version
The Holy Spirit Comes On the Followers of Jesus
2 The followers of Jesus were all together in one place fifty days after the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. 2 All at once there was a sound from heaven like a powerful wind. It filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw tongues which were divided that looked like fire. These came down on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they began to speak in other languages which the Holy Spirit made them able to speak.
5 There were many religious Jews staying in Jerusalem. They were from every country of the world. 6 When they heard this strange sound, they gathered together. They all listened! It was hard for them to believe they were hearing words in their own language. 7 They were surprised and wondered about it. They said to each other, “Are not these Galileans who are speaking? 8 How is it that each one of us can hear his own language? 9 We are Parthians and Medes, Elamites and from the countries of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and in the countries of Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene. Some have come from the city of Rome. Some are Jews by birth and others have become Jews. 11 Some are also men of the countries of Crete and Arabia. They are speaking of the powerful works of God to all of us in our own language!” 12 They were all surprised and wondered about this. They said to each other, “What can this mean?” 13 But others laughed and made fun, saying, “These men are full of new wine.”
Peter Preaches—What Joel Said Would Happen Has Happened
14 Then Peter stood up with the eleven missionaries and spoke with a loud voice, “Men of the country of Judea and all of you who are living in Jerusalem, I want you to know what is happening. So listen to what I am going to say. 15 These men are not drunk as you think. It is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 The early preacher Joel said this would happen. 17 God says, ‘In the last days I will send My Spirit on all men. Then your sons and daughters will speak God’s Word. Your young men will see what God has given them to see. Your old men will dream dreams. 18 Yes, on those I own, both men and women, I will send My Spirit in those days. They will speak God’s Word. 19 I will show powerful works in the sky above. There will be things to see in the earth below like blood and fire and clouds of smoke. 20 The sun will turn dark and the moon will turn to blood before the day of the Lord. His coming will be a great and special day. 21 It will be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved from the punishment of sin.’ (A)
Peter Preaches—Jesus Shows Who He Is by What He Did
22 “Jewish men, listen to what I have to say! You knew Jesus of the town of Nazareth by the powerful works He did. God worked through Jesus while He was with you. You all know this. 23 Jesus was handed over to sinful men. God knew this and planned for it to happen. You had sinful men take Him and nail Him to a cross. 24 But God raised Him up. He allowed Him to be set free from the pain of death. Death could not hold its power over Him.
Peter Preaches—Jesus Shows Who He Is by What He Said
25 “David said this about Him, ‘I can see the Lord before me all the time. He is at my right side so that I do not need to be troubled. 26 I am glad and my tongue is full of joy. My body rests in hope. 27 You will not leave my soul in death. You will not allow Your Holy One to be destroyed. 28 You have shown me the ways of life. I will be full of joy when I see Your face.’ (B)
29 “Brothers, I can tell you in plain words that our early father David not only died but was buried. We know where his grave is today. 30 He was one who spoke for God. He knew God had made a promise to him. From his family Christ would come and take His place as King. 31 He knew this before and spoke of Christ being raised from the dead. Christ’s soul would not be left in hell. His body would not be destroyed. 32 Jesus is this One! God has raised Him up and we have all seen Him.
33 “This Jesus has been lifted up to God’s right side. The Holy Spirit was promised by the Father. God has given Him to us. That is what you are seeing and hearing now! 34 It was not David who was taken up to heaven, because he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right side, 35 for those who hate You will be a place to rest Your feet.”’ (C) 36 The whole Jewish nation must know for sure that God has made this Jesus, both Lord and Christ. He is the One you nailed to a cross!”
They Ask Peter What They Should Do
37 When the Jews heard this, their hearts were troubled. They said to Peter and to the other missionaries, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Be sorry for your sins and turn from them and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you and your children. It is to all people everywhere. It is to as many as the Lord our God will call.”
40 He said many other things. He helped them understand that they should keep themselves from the sinful people of this day. 41 Those who believed what he said were baptized. There were about 3,000 more followers added that day.
The First Church
42 They were faithful in listening to the teaching of the missionaries. They worshiped and prayed and ate the Lord’s supper together. 43 Many powerful works were done by the missionaries. Surprise and fear came on them all. 44 All those who put their trust in Christ were together and shared what they owned. 45 As anyone had need, they sold what they owned and shared with everyone. 46 Day after day they went to the house of God together. In their houses they ate their food together. Their hearts were happy. 47 They gave thanks to God and all the people respected them. The Lord added to the group each day those who were being saved from the punishment of sin.
Acts 2
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:
17 (Q)“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
(R)that I will pour out my Spirit (S)on all flesh,
and your sons and (T)your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and (U)they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 (V)the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before (W)the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that (X)everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
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,
(AI)“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell (AJ)in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to (AK)Hades,
(AL)or let your (AM)Holy One (AN)see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
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,
(BD)“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
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.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
