2:1 At length, on the day of the Harvest Festival, they had all met in one place;

2:2 when suddenly there came from the sky a sound as of a strong rushing blast of wind. This filled the whole house where they were sitting;

2:3 and they saw tongues of what looked like fire distributing themselves over the assembly, and on the head of each person a tongue alighted.

2:4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in foreign languages according as the Spirit gave them words to utter.

2:5 Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every part of the world.

2:6 So when this noise was heard, they came crowding together, and were amazed because everyone heard his own language spoken.

2:7 They were beside themselves with wonder, and exclaimed, "Are not all these speakers Galilaeans?

2:8 How then does each of us hear his own native language spoken by them?

2:9 Some of us are Parthians, Medes, Elamites. Some are inhabitants of Mesopotamia, of Judaea or Cappadocia, of Pontus or the Asian Province, of Phrygia or Pamphylia,

2:10 of Egypt or of the parts of Africa towards Cyrene. Others are visitors from Rome--being either Jews or converts from heathenism--and others are Cretans or Arabians.

2:11 Yet we all alike hear these Galilaeans speaking in our own language about the wonderful things which God has done."

2:12 They were all astounded and bewildered, and asked one another, "What can this mean?"

2:13 But others, scornfully jeering, said, "They are brim-full of sweet wine."

2:14 Peter however, together with the Eleven, stood up and addressed them in a loud voice. "Men of Judaea, and all you inhabitants of Jerusalem," he said, "be in no uncertainty about this matter but pay attention to what I say.

2:15 For this is not intoxication, as you suppose, it being only the third hour of the day.

2:16 But that which was predicted through the Prophet Joel has happened:

2:17 <"And it shall come to pass in the last days, God says, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall have dreams;

2:18 and even upon My bondservants, both men and women, at that time, I will pour out My Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

2:19 I will display marvels in the sky above, and signs on the earth below, blood and fire, and pillars of smoke.

2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, to usher in the day of the Lord-- that great and illustrious day;

2:21 and every one who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'>

2:22 "Listen, Israelites, to what I say. Jesus, the Nazarene, a man accredited to you from God by miracles and marvels and signs which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know, Him--

2:23 delivered up through God's settled purpose and foreknowledge--you by the hands of Gentiles have nailed to a cross and have put to death.

2:24 But God has raised Him to life, having terminated the throes of death, for in fact it was not possible for Him to be held fast by death.

2:25 For David says in reference to Him, <"`I constantly fixed my eyes upon the Lord, because He is at my right hand in order that I may continue unshaken.

2:26 For this reason my heart is glad and my tongue exults. My body also shall rest in hope.

2:27 For Thou wilt not leave me in the Unseen World forsaken, nor give up Thy holy One to undergo decay.

2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of Life: Thou wilt fill me with gladness in Thy presence.'>

2:29 "As to the patriarch David, I need hardly remind you, brethren, that he died and was buried, and that we still have his tomb among us.

2:30 Being a Prophet, however, and knowing that God had solemnly sworn to him to seat a descendant of his upon his throne,

2:31 with prophetic foresight he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, to the effect that He was not left forsaken in the Unseen World, nor did His body undergo decay.

2:32 This Jesus, God has raised to life-- a fact to which all of us testify.

2:33 "Being therefore lifted high by the mighty hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out this which you see and hear.

2:34 For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself, <"`The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand

2:35 until I make thy foes a footstool under thy feet.'>

2:36 "Therefore let the whole House of Israel know beyond all doubt that God has made Him both LORD and CHRIST--this Jesus whom you crucified."

2:37 Stung to the heart by these words, they said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, "Brethren, what are we to do?"

2:38 "Repent," replied Peter, "and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, with a view to the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2:39 For to you belongs the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, whoever the Lord our God may call."

2:40 And with many more appeals he solemnly warned and entreated them, saying, "Escape from this crooked generation."

2:41 Those, therefore, who joyfully welcomed his Message were baptized; and on that one day about three thousand persons were added to them;

2:42 and they were constant in listening to the teaching of the Apostles and in their attendance at the Communion, that is, the Breaking of the Bread, and at prayer.

2:43 Fear came upon every one, and many marvels and signs were done by the Apostles.

2:44 And all the believers kept together, and had everything in common.

2:45 They sold their lands and other property, and distributed the proceeds among all, according to every one's necessities.

2:46 And, day by day, attending constantly in the Temple with one accord, and breaking bread in private houses, they took their meals with great happiness and single-heartedness,