Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 When athe Day of Pentecost had fully come, bthey were all 1with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and cit filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them 2divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And dthey were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began eto speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Crowd’s Response

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, fdevout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the gmultitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak hGalileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own 3language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and iCappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and 4Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

Peter’s Sermon

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, jsince it is only 5the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘And kit shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

lThat I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and myour daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days;

nAnd they shall prophesy.

19 oI will show wonders in heaven above

And signs in the earth beneath:

Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

20 pThe sun shall be turned into darkness,

And the moon into blood,

Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

21 And it shall come to pass

That qwhoever calls on the name of the Lord

Shall be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you rby miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—23 Him, sbeing delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, tyou 6have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 uwhom God raised up, having 7loosed the 8pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him:

v‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,

For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.

26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;

Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades,

Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see wcorruption.

28 You have made known to me the ways of life;

You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you xof the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, yand knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, 9according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, zthat His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 aThis Jesus God has raised up, bof which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore cbeing exalted 1to dthe right hand of God, and ehaving received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He fpoured out this which you now see and hear.

34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:

g‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand,

35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, hthey were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, i“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the 2remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and jto your children, and kto all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

A Vital Church Grows

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this 3perverse generation.” 41 Then those who 4gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 lAnd they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ 5doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in …

Cornelius Sends a Delegation

10 There was a certain man in aCaesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian 1Regiment, 2 ba devout man and one who cfeared God with all his household, who gave 2alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About 3the ninth hour of the day dhe saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”

So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 Now esend men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He is lodging with fSimon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. gHe 4will tell you what you must do.” 7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, hPeter went up on the housetop to pray, about 5the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and isaw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! jFor I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, k“What God has 6cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Summoned to Caesarea

17 Now while Peter 7wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

19 While Peter thought about the vision, lthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. 20 mArise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

21 Then Peter went down to the men 8who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and nhas a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” 23 Then he invited them in and lodged them.

On the next day Peter went away with them, oand some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter Meets Cornelius

24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, p“Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, “You know how qunlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But rGod has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

30 So Cornelius said, 9“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, sa man stood before me tin bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, uyour prayer has been heard, and vyour 1alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. 2When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

Preaching to Cornelius’ Household

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: w“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But xin every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is yaccepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the 3children of Israel, zpreaching peace through Jesus Christ—aHe is Lord of all—37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and bbegan from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how cGod anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who dwent about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, efor God was with Him. 39 And we are fwitnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom 4they gkilled by hanging on a tree. 40 Him hGod raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 inot to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, …