The Coming of the Holy Spirit

21 When the day of Pentecost had come , they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind , and it filled the whole house where they were sitting . 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues , as the Spirit was giving them utterance .

5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem , devout men from every nation under heaven . 6 And when this sound occurred , the crowd came together , and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language . 7 They were amazed and astonished , saying , "Why , are not all these who are speaking Galileans ? 8 "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born ? 9 "Parthians and Medes and Elamites , and residents of Mesopotamia , Judea and Cappadocia , Pontus and Asia , 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia , Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene , and visitors from Rome , both Jews and proselytes , 11 Cretans and Arabs -we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God ." 12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity , saying to one another , "What does this mean e ?" 13 But others were mocking and saying , " They are full of sweet wine ."

Peter's Address at Pentecost

14 But Peter , taking his stand with the eleven , raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem , let this be known to you and give heed to my words . 15 "For these men are not drunk , as you suppose , for it is only the third hour of the day ; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel : 17 ' AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS ,' God says , 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND ; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY , AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS , AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS ; 18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES , BOTH MEN AND WOMEN , I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy . 19 'AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW , BLOOD , AND FIRE , AND VAPOR OF SMOKE . 20 'THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD , BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE Lord SHALL COME . 21 'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE Lord WILL BE SAVED .' 22 "Men of Israel , listen to these words : Jesus the Nazarene , a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst , just as you yourselves know - 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God , you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death . 24 "But God raised Him up again , putting an end to the agony of death , since it was impossible e for Him to be held in its power . 25 "For David says of Him, ' I SAW THE Lord ALWAYS e IN MY PRESENCE ; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND , SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN . 26 'THEREFORE e MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED ; MOREOVER e MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE ; 27 BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES , NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY . 28 'YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE ; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE .' 29 "Brethren e , I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried , and his tomb is with us to this day . 30 "And so , because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS e ON HIS THRONE , 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ , that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES , NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY . 32 "This Jesus God raised up again , to which we are all witnesses . 33 "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God , and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit , He has poured forth this which you both see and hear . 34 "For it was not David who ascended into heaven , but he himself says : ' THE Lord SAID TO MY Lord , "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND , 35 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET ."' 36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ -this Jesus whom you crucified ."

37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart , and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles , "Brethren e , what shall we do ?" 38 Peter said to them, " Repent , and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins ; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit . 39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off , as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself." 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying , "Be saved from this perverse generation !" 41 So then , those who had received his word were baptized ; and that day there were added about three thousand souls .

42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship , to the breaking of bread and to prayer .

Life among the Believers

43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe ; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles . 44 And all those who had believed were together e e and had all things in common ; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all , as anyone might have need . 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple , and breaking bread from house to house , they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart , 47 praising God and having favor with all the people . And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved .