Acts 2
The Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost, and they began to speak in various languages, proclaiming the mighty deeds of God to a multitude of people from different nations. The crowd was astonished and some mocked, but Peter stood up and explained that the apostles were not drunk, but rather filled with the Holy Spirit as prophesied by Joel. Peter then preached about Jesus, saying he was a man confirmed by God through miracles and wonders, and that he was raised from the dead and exalted to the right hand of God. The crowd was moved to repentance, and about 3,000 people were baptized and added to the community of believers, who persevered in the doctrine of the apostles and shared their possessions with one another.
And when the days of Pentecost were completed, they were all together in the same placeAnd suddenly, there came a sound from heaven, like that of a wind approaching violently, and it filled the entire house where they were sittingAnd there appeared to them separate tongues, as if of fire, which settled upon each one of themAnd they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they began to speak in various languages, just as the Holy Spirit bestowed eloquence to themNow there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, pious men from every nation that is under heavenAnd when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and was confused in mind, because each one was listening to them speaking in his own languageThen all were astonished, and they wondered, saying: "Behold, are not all of these who are speaking GalileansAnd how is it that we have each heard them in our own language, into which we were bornParthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and AsiaPhrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya which are around Cyrene, and new arrivals of the Romanslikewise Jews and new converts, Cretans and Arabs: we have heard them speaking in our own languages the mighty deeds of God.And they were all astonished, and they wondered, saying to one another: "But what does this mean?But others mockingly said, "These men are full of new wine.But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and he spoke to them: "Men of Judea, and all those who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and incline your ears to my wordsFor these men are not inebriated, as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the dayBut this is what was spoken of by the prophet Joel‘And this shall be: in the last days, says the Lord, I will pour out, from my Spirit, upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. And your youths shall see visions, and your elders shall dream dreamsAnd certainly, upon my men and women servants in those days, I will pour out from my Spirit, and they shall prophesyAnd I will bestow wonders in heaven above, and signs on earth below: blood and fire and the vapor of smokeThe sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of the Lord arrivesAnd this shall be: whoever shall invoke the name of the Lord will be saved.Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene is a man confirmed by God among you through the miracles and wonders and signs that God accomplished through him in your midst, just as you also knowThis man, under the definitive plan and foreknowledge of God, was delivered by the hands of the unjust, afflicted, and put to deathAnd he whom God has raised up has broken the sorrows of Hell, for certainly it was impossible for him to be held by itFor David said about him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always in my sight, for he is at my right hand, so that I may not be movedBecause of this, my heart has rejoiced, and my tongue has exulted. Moreover, my flesh shall also rest in hopeFor you will not abandon my soul to Hell, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruptionYou have made known to me the ways of life. You will completely fill me with happiness by your presence.Noble brothers, permit me to speak freely to you about the Patriarch David: for he passed away and was buried, and his sepulcher is with us, even to this very dayTherefore, he was a prophet, for he knew that God had sworn an oath to him about the fruit of his loins, about the One who would sit upon his throneForeseeing this, he was speaking about the Resurrection of the Christ. For he was neither left behind in Hell, nor did his flesh see corruptionThis Jesus, God raised up again, and of this we are all witnessesTherefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured this out, just as you now see and hearFor David did not ascend into heaven. But he himself said: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right handuntil I make your enemies your footstool.Therefore, may the entire house of Israel know most certainly that God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.Now when they had heard these things, they were contrite in heart, and they said to Peter and to the other Apostles: "What should we do, noble brothers?Yet truly, Peter said to them: "Do penance; and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy SpiritFor the Promise is for you and for your sons, and for all who are far away: for whomever the Lord our God will have called.And then, with very many other words, he testified and he exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this depraved generation.Therefore, those who accepted his discourse were baptized. And about three thousand souls were added on that dayNow they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communion of the breaking of the bread, and in the prayersAnd fear developed in every soul. Also, many miracles and signs were accomplished by the Apostles in Jerusalem. And there was a great awe in everyoneAnd then all who believed were together, and they held all things in commonThey were selling their possessions and belongings, and dividing them to all, just as any of them had needAlso, they continued, daily, to be of one accord in the temple and to break bread among the houses; and they took their meals with exultation and simplicity of heartpraising God greatly, and holding favor with all the people. And every day, the Lord increased those who were being saved among them
Share this chapter