5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearingy Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed,z they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?a 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,b Pontusc and Asia,b d 10 Phrygiae and Pamphylia,f Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene;g visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”h

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!i 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “ ‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.j

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,k

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.l

19 I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,m

blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to bloodn

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

21 And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lordo will be saved.’c p