The Coming of the Holy Spirit
Study note
On the Jewish feast of Pentecost, the believers are gathered together when the Holy Spirit descends with audible and visible signs -- a sound like a rushing wind and tongues of fire resting on each person. They are all filled with the Spirit and begin speaking in other languages, marking the birth of the church.
1 When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were together in one place. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 Out of nowhere, a sound came roaring from the sky -- like a massive, rushing wind -- and it filled the whole house where they sat. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 Then something that looked like individual flames appeared, shaped like tongues of fire. These flames spread out and landed on each person there. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 Every one of them was filled with the Holy Spirit. They began speaking in languages they had never learned before -- the Spirit gave them the ability to do this. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Crowd's Amazement
Study note
Devout Jews from many nations are in Jerusalem for the festival and are astonished to hear the disciples speaking in their own native languages. A long list of nations is given to emphasize the universality of this miracle. While some are amazed and want to understand, others dismiss the disciples as being drunk.
5 At that time, faithful Jews from every nation in the world were staying in Jerusalem. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 When they heard this loud sound, a great crowd gathered. They were completely puzzled because each person heard the believers speaking in his own native language. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 Totally shocked, they said to each other, "Wait -- every one of these speakers is from Galilee, right?" And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans?
8 "So how can we each hear them talking in the language we grew up with?" And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 "We come from Parthia, Media, Elam, and Mesopotamia. Some of us are from Judaea, Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia." Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judæa, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 "Others are from Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya around Cyrene. Some of us are visitors from Rome -- both born Jews and converts." Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 "There are also Cretes and Arabians here. And we all hear these people talking about the amazing things God has done -- in our own languages!" Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 Everyone was stunned and confused. They kept asking each other, "What is going on here?" And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 But some people in the crowd just made fun of them. "They have had too much wine!" they said. Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Peter's Sermon: The Prophecy of Joel
Study note
Peter stands with the eleven and addresses the crowd, refuting the charge of drunkenness and declaring that what they are witnessing is the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy about God pouring out his Spirit on all people in the last days. The quotation includes the promise that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
14 Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles. He spoke in a loud, clear voice: "People of Judaea and everyone in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I have to say." But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judæa, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 "These people are not drunk like you think -- it is only nine o'clock in the morning!" For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 "No, what you are seeing is exactly what the prophet Joel talked about:" But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 "'When the last days come,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will speak my messages. Your young men will have visions, and your old men will have special dreams.'" And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: 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 servants, men and women alike, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will speak my messages.'" And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 "'I will show amazing signs up in the sky and incredible things down on the earth -- blood, fire, and billowing smoke.'" And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 "'The sun will go dark and the moon will turn red like blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.'" The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 "'And this is the promise: anyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.'" And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Peter's Sermon: The Death and Resurrection of Jesus
Study note
Peter proclaims that Jesus of Nazareth was attested by God through miracles, was crucified according to God's predetermined plan, and was raised from the dead because death could not hold him. He cites Psalm 16 as David's prophecy of the resurrection, arguing that David could not have been speaking of himself since his body decayed, but was looking ahead to Christ. Peter also cites Psalm 110 to establish that Jesus has been exalted to God's right hand as both Lord and Christ.
22 "People of Israel, listen carefully! Jesus of Nazareth was clearly sent by God. God proved it through the miracles, wonders, and signs he did through Jesus right here among you. You saw it yourselves." Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 "God had already planned and known ahead of time that this would happen. Yet you used wicked men to nail Jesus to a cross and kill him." Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 "But God brought him back to life! He broke the chains of death, because death had no power to keep him." Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 "David wrote about him: 'I always kept the Lord before me. With him standing beside me, nothing can knock me down.'" For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 "'Therefore my heart is full of joy and my words are full of praise. My body will also rest with confident hope.'" Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 "'You will not abandon my soul to the grave, and you will not let the body of your Holy One rot away.'" Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 "'You have shown me how to truly live. Being close to you fills me with complete happiness.'" Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 "My friends, let me speak plainly about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and we can still visit his tomb right here in this city." Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 "But David was a prophet. He knew that God had made a solemn promise to him -- that one of his own descendants would sit on his throne." Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 "David saw the future and spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah. He was saying that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay." He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 "This Jesus is the one God raised back to life. Every one of us here saw it happen." This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 "God lifted Jesus up to the place of highest honor at his right side. Jesus received the Holy Spirit from the Father, just as he was promised, and what you see and hear right now is Jesus pouring out that gift." Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 "David himself did not go up to heaven. But David said: 'The LORD told my Lord: Sit in the place of honor at my right side,'" For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 "'until I put all your enemies under your feet.'" Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 "So let all of Israel be fully sure of this. God made this very Jesus both Lord and Messiah. He is the one you nailed to a cross." Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
The Crowd Responds: Repentance and Baptism
Study note
Convicted by Peter's message, the crowd asks what they must do. Peter calls them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, promising they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. About three thousand people accept the message and are baptized that day.
37 Those words pierced people right to the heart. They cried out to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, tell us what we should do!" Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 "This promise is for you and for your children. It is also for people who are far away -- for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself." For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 Peter kept on speaking and begging them with many more words. "Get away from this sinful generation and save yourselves!" he pleaded. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 The people who believed his message were baptized that very day. About three thousand people joined the group of believers! Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
The Life of the Early Church
Study note
The new believers devote themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. A deep sense of awe pervades the community as signs and wonders are performed. They share possessions generously, meet daily in the temple, and enjoy favor with the people as the Lord adds to their number daily.
42 From then on, they gave themselves fully to learning from the apostles. They shared their lives together. They ate meals as a group and remembered the Lord. And they spent time in prayer. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 Everyone felt a deep sense of wonder. The apostles kept performing many miracles and signs. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 The believers all stayed together and shared everything they owned. And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 They even sold things they owned and split the money with anyone who needed it. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 They met together at the temple every day, completely united. They took turns eating in each other's homes, sharing food with happy and generous hearts. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 They spent their time praising God, and everyone in the city liked them. And every day, the Lord kept adding more people to their group -- people who were being saved. Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.