Acts 1–2

Prologue

1I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach ^a2until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. ^b3After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. ^c

The Holy Spirit Promised

⁴While He was together ^dwith them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. ^e“This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me; ⁵for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ^f

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. ^g8But 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 ^hof the earth.” ⁱ

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. ^j11They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.” ^k

United in Prayer

¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³When they arrived, they went to the room ^lupstairs 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. ^m

¹⁴All these were continually united ⁿin prayer, ^oalong with the women, including Mary ^pthe mother of Jesus, and His brothers. ^q

Matthias Chosen

¹⁵During these days Peter stood up among the brothers ^r—the number of people who were together was about 120—and said: ¹⁶“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke in advance about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. ^s17For he was one of our number and was allotted a share in this ministry.” ^t18Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst and burst open in the middle, and all his insides spilled out. ^u19This 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; ^vand

Let someone else take his position. ^wx

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.” ^y

²³So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. ^z24Then they prayed, ^a“You, Lord, know the hearts of all; show which of these two You have chosen ^b25to take the place ^cin this apostolic service ^dthat Judas left to go to his own place.” ²⁶Then they cast lots ^efor them, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was numbered with the 11 apostles.

Pentecost

2When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. ^f2Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind ^gcame from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. ^h3And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴Then they were all filled ⁱwith the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech. ^j

⁵There were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation ^kunder heaven. ⁶When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷And they were astounded and amazed, saying, ^l“Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? ^m8How is it that each of us can hear in our own native language? ⁹Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ⁿ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ^o11Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking the magnificent acts of God in our own languages.” ¹²They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What could this be?” ¹³But some sneered and said, “They’re full of new wine!” ^p

Peter’s Sermon

¹⁴But 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 ^qto you and pay attention to my words. ¹⁵For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it’s only nine in the morning. ^r16On 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 humanity;

then your sons and your daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams. ^s

¹⁸I will even pour out My Spirit

on My male and female slaves in those days,

and they will prophesy. ^t

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 ^u

before the great and remarkable Day of the Lord ^v comes.

²¹Then everyone who calls

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

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. ^y23Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used ^zlawless people ^ato nail Him to a cross and kill Him. ^b24God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, ^cbecause it was not possible for Him to be held by it. 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 was glad,

and my tongue rejoiced.

Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope,

²⁷because You will not leave me in Hades

or allow Your Holy One to see decay. ^d

²⁸You have revealed the paths of life to me;

You will fill me with gladness

in Your presence. ^ef

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. ^g30Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants ^hion his throne. ^j31Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah:

He ^kwas not left in Hades,

and His flesh did not experience decay. ^lm

³²“God has resurrected ⁿthis Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. ³³Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God ^oand has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, ^pHe has poured out ^qwhat 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.’ ^rs

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

Forgiveness through the Messiah

³⁷When they heard this, they came under deep conviction ^uand said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” ^v

³⁸“Repent,” ^wPeter said to them, “and be baptized, ^xeach of you, in the name ^yof 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, ^zaas many as the Lord our God will call.” ⁴⁰And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt ^bgeneration!” ^c

A Generous and Growing Church

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

⁴³Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. ^f44Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. ^g45They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. ^h46Every 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, ⁱ⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them ^jthose who were being saved. ^k