Acts 1–2

PROLOGUE

1I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach^{a 2}until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.^{b 3}After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.^c

THE HOLY SPIRIT PROMISED

⁴While he was^A with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise.^d “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; ⁵for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”^e

⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

⁷He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.^{f 8}But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”^g

THE ASCENSION

⁹After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.^{h 11}They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”ⁱ

UNITED IN PRAYER

¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³When they arrived, they went to the room^j upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.^{k 14}They all were continually united^l in prayer,^B along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.^m

MATTHIAS CHOSEN

¹⁵In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters^C—the number of people who were together was about a hundred twenty—and said, ¹⁶“Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.^{n 17}For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”^{o 18}Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out.^{p 19}This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, Field of Blood). ²⁰“For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

Let his dwelling become desolate;

let no one live in it;^A and

Let someone else take his position.^Bq

²¹“Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—²²beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.”^r

²³So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.^{s 24}Then they prayed,^t “You, Lord, know everyone’s hearts; show which of these two you have chosen^{u 25}to take the place^C in this apostolic ministry^v that Judas left to go where he belongs.” ²⁶Then they cast lots^w for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles.

PENTECOST

2When 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}They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. ⁴Then they were all filled^d with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.^e

⁵Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation^f under heaven. ⁶When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷They were astounded and amazed, saying,^E “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?^{g 8}How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, 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 converts),^{i 11}Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.” ¹²They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.”^j

PETER’S SERMON

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

¹⁷And it will be in the last days, says God,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all people;

then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.^k

¹⁸I will even pour out my Spirit

on my servants in those days, both men and women

and they will prophesy.^l

¹⁹I will display wonders in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below:

blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.

²⁰The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood^m

before the great and glorious day of the Lordⁿ comes.

²¹Then everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.^Ao

²²“Fellow Israelites, listen to these words: This Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested 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^B lawless people 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 death. ²⁵For David says of him:

I saw the Lord ever before me;

because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

²⁶Therefore my heart is glad

and my tongue rejoices.

Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope,

²⁷because you will not abandon me in Hades

or allow your holy one to see decay.^s

²⁸You have revealed the paths of life to me;

you will fill me with gladness

in your presence.^Ct

²⁹“Brothers and sisters, 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^D on his throne.^{v 31}Seeing what was to come, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah: He^E was not abandoned in Hades, and his flesh did not experience decay.^Fw

³²“God has raised^x this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this. ³³Therefore, since he has been exalted to the right hand of God^y and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit,^a he has poured out^b what you both see and hear. ³⁴For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:

The Lord declared to my Lord,

‘Sit at my right hand

³⁵until I make your enemies your footstool.’^Ac

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

CALL TO REPENTANCE

³⁷When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”^e

³⁸Peter replied, “Repent^f and be baptized,^g each of you, in the name^h of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off,ⁱ as many as the Lord our God will call.” ⁴⁰With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt^B generation!”^j

A GENEROUS AND GROWING CHURCH

⁴¹So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. ⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,^k to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.^l

⁴³Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.^{m 44}Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.^{n 45}They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,^{o 47}praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number^C those who were being saved.^p