A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Acts 2
Acts 2 is the second chapter of the book of Acts. The 47-verse chapter records the events of the day of Pentecost: the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter's first sermon, and the founding of the church in Jerusalem.
The chapter opens on the day of Pentecost, fifty days after Passover. The disciples are all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind comes from heaven and fills the whole house. What seem to be tongues of fire appear and rest on each of them. They are all filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enables them.
Jews from every nation under heaven are in Jerusalem for the festival. The crowd hears the disciples and is bewildered, because each one hears them speaking in his own native language. The chapter lists fifteen regions whose languages are represented. Some are amazed; others mock, saying the disciples are drunk on new wine.
Peter stands up with the eleven and addresses the crowd. He explains that the disciples are not drunk, since it is only nine in the morning. What is happening fulfills what was spoken by the prophet Joel: God will pour out his Spirit on all people.
Peter then preaches Jesus. He summarizes Jesus's miracles, his crucifixion at the hands of wicked men, and his resurrection. He quotes Psalm 16 and Psalm 110 to argue that David himself foretold the resurrection of the Christ. He concludes: "Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
The crowd is cut to the heart and asks what they should do. Peter tells them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, and they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. About three thousand are baptized that day.
The chapter closes by describing the early church. The believers devote themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. They have everything in common, selling property to give to anyone in need. The Lord adds to their number daily those who are being saved.
Verse 1. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
Verse 2. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Verse 3. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Verse 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Verse 5. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
Verse 6. And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.
Verse 7. Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
Verse 8. How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Verse 9. Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
Verse 10. Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,
Verse 11. both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Verse 12. Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Verse 13. But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!”
Verse 14. Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words.
Verse 15. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!
Verse 16. No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
Verse 17. ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Verse 18. Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Verse 19. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
Verse 20. The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.
Verse 21. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Verse 22. Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.
Verse 23. He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.
Verse 24. But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip.
Verse 25. David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Verse 26. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell in hope,
Verse 27. because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.
Verse 28. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’
Verse 29. Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Verse 30. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne.
Verse 31. Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.
Verse 32. God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.
Verse 33. Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
Verse 34. For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand
Verse 35. until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’
Verse 36. Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”
Verse 37. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Verse 38. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every 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.
Verse 39. This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
Verse 40. With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”
Verse 41. Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
Verse 42. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Verse 43. A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.
Verse 44. All the believers were together and had everything in common.
Verse 45. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
Verse 46. With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,
Verse 47. praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
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