1   While the day of Pentecost was running its course they were all together in one place, 2   when suddenly there came from the sky a noise like that of a strong driving wind, which filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3   And there appeared to them tongues like flames of fire, dispersed among them and resting on each one. 4   And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them power of utterance.

5   Now there were living in Jerusalem devout Jews ^note drawn from every nation under heaven; 6   and at this sound the crowd gathered, all

The beginnings of the church bewildered because each one heard his own language spoken. 7   They were amazed and in their astonishment exclaimed, ‘Why, they are all Galileans, are they not, these men who are speaking? 8   How is it then that we hear them, each of us in his own native language? 9   Parthians, Medes, Elamites; inhabitants of Mesopotamia, of Judaea and Cappadocia, 10   of Pontus and Asia, of Phrygia and Pamphylia, of Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11   Cretans and Arabs, we hear them telling in our own tongues the great things God has done.’ 12   And they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What can this mean?’ 13   Others said contemptuously, ‘They have been drinking!’

14   But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: ‘Fellow Jews, and all you who live in Jerusalem, mark this and give me a hearing. 15   These men are not drunk, as you imagine; for it is only nine in the morning. 16   No, this is what the prophet spoke of: 17   “God says, ‘This will happen in the last days: I will pour out upon everyone a portion of my spirit; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy; your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18   Yes, I will endue even my slaves, both men and women, with a portion of my spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19   And I will show portents in the sky above, and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and drifting smoke. 20   The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before that great, resplendent day, the day of the Lord, shall come. 21   And then, everyone who invokes the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

22   ‘Men of Israel, listen to me: I speak of Jesus of Nazareth, a man singled out by God and made known to you through miracles, portents, and signs, which God worked among you through him, as you well know. 23   When he had been given up to you, by the deliberate will and plan of God, you used heathen men to crucify and kill him. 24   But God raised him to life again, setting him free from the pangs of death, because it could not be that death should keep him in its grip.

25   ‘For David says of him:

“I foresaw that the presence of the Lord would be with me always,
for he is at my right hand so that I may not be shaken;
26   therefore my heart was glad and my tongue spoke my joy;

The beginnings of the church
  moreover, my flesh shall dwell in hope,
   27   for thou wilt not abandon my soul to death,
  nor let thy loyal servant suffer corruption.
   28   Thou hast shown me the ways of life,
  thou wilt fill me with gladness by thy presence.”

29   ‘Let me tell you plainly, my friends, that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this very day. 30   It is clear therefore that he spoke as a prophet, who knew that God had sworn to him that one of his own direct descendants should sit on his throne; 31   and when he said he was not abandoned to death, and his flesh never suffered corruption, he spoke with foreknowledge of the resurrection of the Messiah. 32   The Jesus we speak of has been raised by God, as we can all bear witness. 33   Exalted thus with ^note God's right hand, he received the Holy Spirit from the Father, as was promised, and all that you now see and hear flows from him. 34   For it was not David who went up to heaven; his own words are: “The Lord said to my Lord, 35   ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’” 36   Let all Israel then accept as certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’.

37   When they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the apostles, ^note ‘Friends, what are we to do?’ 38   ‘Repent,’ said Peter, ‘repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39   For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God may call.’

40   In these and many other words he pressed his case and pleaded with them: ‘Save yourselves’, he said, ‘from this crooked age.’ 41   Then those who accepted his word were baptized, and some three thousand were added to their number that day.

42   They met constantly to hear the apostles teach, and to share the common life, to break bread, and to pray. 43   A sense of awe was everywhere, and many marvels and signs were brought about through the apostles. 44   All whose faith had drawn them together held everything in common: ^note 45   they would sell their property and possessions

The beginnings of the church and make a general distribution as the need of each required. 46   With one mind they kept up their daily attendance at the temple, and, breaking bread in private houses, shared their meals with unaffected joy, 47   as they praised God and enjoyed the favour of the whole people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those whom he was saying.

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