Acts 2:1–17

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