The Acts 2
2
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there. 4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to speak these languages.
5There were some religious Jews staying in Jerusalem who were from every country in the world. 6When they heard this noise, a crowd came together. They were all surprised, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7They were completely amazed at this. They said, “Look! Aren’t all these men that we hear speaking from Galilee?# The people thought men from Galilee could speak only their own language. 8But each of us hears them in his own language. How is this possible? We are from different places: 9Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near Cyrene, Rome 11(both Jews and those who had become Jews), Crete and Arabia. But we hear these men telling in our own languages about the great things God has done!” 12They were all amazed and confused. They asked each other, “What does this mean?”
13But others were making fun of them, saying, “They have had too much wine.”
Peter Speaks to the People
14But Peter stood up with the 11 apostles. In a loud voice he spoke to the crowd: “My fellow Jews, and all of you who are in Jerusalem, listen to me. Pay attention to what I have to say. 15These men are not drunk, as you think; it is only nine o’clock in the morning! 16But Joel the prophet wrote about what is happening here today:
17‘God says: In the last days
I will give my Spirit freely to all kinds of people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams.
Your young men will see visions.
18At that time I will give my Spirit
even to my servants, both men and women.
And they will prophesy.
19I will show miracles
in the sky and on the earth:
blood, fire and thick smoke.
20The sun will become dark.
The moon will become red as blood.
And then the great and glorious day of the Lord will come.
21Then anyone who asks the Lord for help
will be saved.’ Joel 2:28-32
22“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a very special man. God clearly showed this to you by the miracles, wonders, and signs God did through him. You all know this, because it happened right here among you. 23Jesus was given to you, and you killed him. With the help of evil men you nailed him to a cross. But God knew all this would happen. This was God’s plan which he had made long ago. 24God raised Jesus from death. God set him free from the pain of death. Death could not hold him. 25For David said this about him:
‘I keep the Lord before me always.
Because he is close by my side,
I will not be hurt.
26So I am glad, and I rejoice.
Even my body has hope.
27This is because you will not leave me in the grave.
You will not let your Holy One rot.
28You will teach me God’s way to live.
Being with you will fill me with joy.’ Psalm 16:8-11
29“Brothers, I can tell you truly about David, our ancestor. He died and was buried. His grave is still here with us today. 30David was a prophet and knew what God had said. God had promised David that he would make a person from David’s family a king just as he was.# See 2 Samuel 7:13; Psalm 132:11. 31David knew this before it happened. That is why he said:
‘He was not left in the grave.
His body did not rot.’
David was talking about the Christ rising from death. 32So Jesus is the One who God raised from death! And we are all witnesses to this. 33Jesus was lifted up to heaven and is now at God’s right side. The Father has given the Holy Spirit to Jesus as he promised. So now Jesus has poured out that Spirit. This is what you see and hear. 34David was not the one who was lifted up to heaven. But he said:
‘The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit by me at my right side,
35until I put your enemies under your control.’# Literally, “until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Psalm 110:1
36“So, all the people of Israel should know this truly: God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ. He is the man you nailed to the cross!”
37When the people heard this, they were sick at heart. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do?”
38Peter said to them, “Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each 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. 39This promise is for you. It is also for your children and for all who are far away. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself.”
40Peter warned them with many other words. He begged them, “Save yourselves from the evil of today’s people!” 41Then those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About 3,000 people were added to the number of believers that day. 42They spent their time learning the apostles’ teaching. And they continued to share, to break bread,# This may mean a meal as in verse 46, or the Lord’s Supper, the special meal Jesus told his followers to eat to remember him (Luke 22:14–20). and to pray together.
The Believers Share
43The apostles were doing many miracles and signs. And everyone felt great respect for God. 44All the believers stayed together. They shared everything. 45They sold their land and the things they owned. Then they divided the money and gave it to those people who needed it. 46The believers met together in the Temple every day. They all had the same purpose. They broke bread in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. 47They praised God, and all the people liked them. More and more people were being saved every day; the Lord was adding those people to the group of believers.
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The Acts 2: ICB
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.