Acts 2 - Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.^{(A) 2} Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind^(B) came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.^{(C) 3} And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ Then they were all filled^(D) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.^(E)

⁵ There were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation^(F) under heaven. ⁶ When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷ And they were astounded and amazed, saying,^[a] “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?^{(G) 8} How is it that each of us can hear in our own native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,^{(H) 10} Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,^{(I) 11} Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking the magnificent acts of God in our own languages.” ¹² They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What could this be?” ¹³ But some sneered and said, “They’re full of new wine!”^(J)

Peter’s Sermon

¹⁴ But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: “Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this^[b] to you and pay attention to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning.^{[c] 16} On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ And it will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity;
then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.^(K)
18 I will even pour out My Spirit
on My male and female slaves in those days,
and they will prophesy.^(L)
19 I will display wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below:
blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
²⁰ The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood^(M)
before the great and remarkable Day of the Lord^(N) comes.
²¹ Then everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.^(O)[d]

²² “Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know.^{(P) 23} Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used^[e] lawless people^[f] to nail Him to a cross and kill Him.^{(Q) 24} God raised Him up, ending the pains of death,^(R) because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. ²⁵ For David says of Him:

I saw the Lord ever before me;
because He is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
²⁶ Therefore my heart was glad,
and my tongue rejoiced.
Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope,
²⁷ because You will not leave me in Hades
or allow Your Holy One to see decay.^(S)
28 You have revealed the paths of life to me;
You will fill me with gladness
in Your presence.^(T)[g]

²⁹ “Brothers, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.^{(U) 30} Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants^[h][i] on his throne.^{(V) 31} Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah:

He^[j] was not left in Hades,
and His flesh did not experience decay.^(W)[k]

³² “God has resurrected^(X) this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. ³³ Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God^(Y) and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit,^(Z) He has poured out^(AA) what you both see and hear. ³⁴ For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:

The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at My right hand
³⁵ until I make Your enemies Your footstool.’^(AB)[l]

³⁶ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”^(AC)

Forgiveness through the Messiah

³⁷ When they heard this, they came under deep conviction^[m] and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?”^(AD)

³⁸ “Repent,”^(AE) Peter said to them, “and be baptized,^(AF) each of you, in the name^(AG) 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 for your children, and for all who are far off,^[n](AH) as many as the Lord our God will call.” ⁴⁰ And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt^[o] generation!”^(AI)

A Generous and Growing Church

⁴¹ So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. ⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,^(AJ) to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.^(AK)

⁴³ Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.^{(AL) 44} Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.^{(AM) 45} They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need.^{[p] 46} Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude,^{(AN) 47} praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them^[q] those who were being saved.^(AO)

Footnotes

1. Acts 2:7 Other mss add to one another
2. Acts 2:14 Lit let this be known
3. Acts 2:15 Lit it’s the third hour of the day
4. Acts 2:21 Jl 2:28-32
5. Acts 2:23 Other mss read you have taken
6. Acts 2:23 Or used the hand of lawless ones
7. Acts 2:28 Ps 16:8-11
8. Acts 2:30 Other mss add according to the flesh to raise up the Messiah
9. Acts 2:30 Lit one from the fruit of his loin
10. Acts 2:31 Other mss read His soul
11. Acts 2:31 Ps 16:10
12. Acts 2:35 Ps 110:1
13. Acts 2:37 Lit they were pierced to the heart
14. Acts 2:39 For distant generations or perhaps Gentiles
15. Acts 2:40 Or crooked, or twisted
16. Acts 2:45 Or to all, according to one’s needs
17. Acts 2:47 Other mss read to the church

Cross references

1. 2:1 : Lv 23:15; Ac 1:14; 20:16
2. 2:2 : 1Kg 19:11; Jb 38:1; Ezk 1:4
3. 2:2 : Ac 4:31; 16:26
4. 2:4 : Ac 4:31; 13:52
5. 2:4 : Mk 16:17; 1Co 12:10
6. 2:5 : Mt 28:19; Rm 1:5; Gl 1:16
7. 2:7 : Ac 1:11; 2:12
8. 2:9 : Gn 14:9; 2Kg 17:6
9. 2:10 : Mt 23:15; Ac 13:13; 15:38; 16:6, 21; 18:23
10. 2:13 : Ac 17:32; 1Co 14:23
11. 2:17 : Is 44:3; Jn 7:38; Ac 10:45; 21:9
12. 2:18 : Ac 21:10; 1Co 12:10
13. 2:20 : Mt 24:29; 1Th 5:2
14. 2:20 : Is 58:13; Ezk 13:5; Am 5:18; Ob 15; Zph 1:14; Zch 14:1; Mal 4:5
15. 2:17-21 : Jl 2:28-32; Ac 16:31; Rm 10:13
16. 2:22 : Jn 3:2; 4:48; Ac 10:38; Heb 2:4
17. 2:23 : Mt 26:24; Lk 22:22; 24:20; Ac 3:18; 4:28; 5:30
18. 2:24 : Rm 8:11; 1Co 6:14; 2Co 4:14; Eph 1:20; Col 2:12; 1Th 1:10; Heb 13:20
19. 2:27 : Mt 11:23; Lk 2:26; Ac 13:35; Heb 7:26
20. 2:25-28 : Ps 16:8-11
21. 2:29 : 1Kg 2:10; Neh 3:16; Ac 7:8-9; 13:36
22. 2:30 : 2Sm 23:2; Ps 132:11; Mt 22:43; Lk 1:32; Ac 1:8; Heb 11:32
23. 2:31 : Ps 16:10; Ac 2:27
24. 2:32 : Lk 18:33; Ac 2:24
25. 2:33 : Php 2:9; Heb 10:12
26. 2:33 : Jn 7:39; 14:26; 16:7, 13
27. 2:33 : Ac 2:17; 10:45
28. 2:34-35 : Ps 110:1; Mt 5:35; 22:44; Mk 12:36; Lk 20:42-43; Jn 3:13; 1Co 15:25; Heb 1:13
29. 2:36 : Mt 28:18; Lk 2:11; Rm 14:9; 2Co 4:5
30. 2:37 : Lk 3:10; Ac 16:30
31. 2:38 : Lk 24:47; Ac 3:19; 26:20
32. 2:38 : Ac 8:12; 22:16
33. 2:38 : Ac 3:16; 15:14
34. 2:39 : Is 44:3; Ac 3:25; Eph 2:13
35. 2:40 : Dt 32:5; Mt 17:17; Php 2:15
36. 2:42 : Ac 5:28; 13:12; 17:19; 1Co 14:6
37. 2:42 : Ac 1:14; Heb 10:25
38. 2:43 : Mk 16:17, 20; Ac 5:12
39. 2:44 : Mt 19:21; Ac 4:32
40. 2:46 : Lk 24:53; Ac 5:42; 20:7
41. 2:47 : Ac 5:14; 11:24; 16:5; Rm 14:18