The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

(Genesis 11:1–9; Leviticus 23:15–22)

And when the day of Pentecost was come, they were al with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sounde from heauen, as of a russhing and mightie winde, and it filled all the house where they sate.

And there appeared vnto them clouen tongues, like fire, and it sate vpon eche of them.

And they were all filled with the holy Ghost, and began to speake with other tongues, as the Spirit gaue them vtterance.

And there were dwelling at Hierusalem Iewes, men that feared God, of euery nation vnder heauen.

Nowe when this was noised, the multitude came together and were astonied, because that euery man heard them speake his owne language.

And they wondered al, and marueiled, saying among themselues, Beholde, are not all these which speake, of Galile?

How then heare we euery man our owne language, wherein we were borne?

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, and of Iudea, and of Cappadocia, of Pontus, and Asia,

And of Phrygia, and Pamphylia, of Egypt, and of the partes of Libya, which is beside Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, and Iewes, and Proselytes,

Creetes, and Arabians: wee hearde them speake in our owne tongues the wonderful works of God.

They were all then amased, and douted, saying one to another, What may this be?

And others mocked, and saide, They are full of newe wine.

Peter Addresses the Crowd

(Psalm 16:1–11; Joel 2:28–32)

But Peter standing with ye Eleuen, lift vp his voice, and said vnto them, Ye men of Iudea, and ye all that inhabite Hierusalem, be this knowen vnto you, and hearken vnto my woordes.

For these are not drunken, as yee suppose, since it is but the third houre of the day.

But this is that, which was spoken by the Prophet Ioel,

And it shalbe in the last daies, saith God, I wil powre out of my Spirite vpon al flesh, and your sonnes, and your daughters shall prophecie, and your yong men shall see visions, and your old men shall dreame dreames.

And on my seruauntes, and on mine handmaides I will powre out of my Spirite in those daies, and they shall prophecie.

And I wil shew wonders in heauen aboue, and tokens in the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and the vapour of smoke.

The Sunne shalbe turned into darkenesse, and the moone into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come.

And it shalbe, that whosoeuer shall call on the Name of the Lord, shalbe saued.

Yee men of Israel, heare these woordes, JESUS of Nazareth, a man approued of God among you with great workes, and wonders, and signes, which God did by him in the middes of you, as yee your selues also knowe:

Him, I say, being deliuered by the determinate counsell, and foreknowledge of God, after you had taken, with wicked handes you haue crucified and slaine.

Whome God hath raised vp, and loosed the sorrowes of death, because it was vnpossible that he should be holden of it.

For Dauid sayeth concerning him, I beheld the Lord alwaies before me: for hee is at my right hand, that I should not be shaken.

Therefore did mine heart reioyce, and my tongue was glad, and moreouer also my flesh shall rest in hope,

Because thou wilt not leaue my soule in graue, neither wilt suffer thine Holy one to see corruption.

Thou hast shewed me the waies of life, and shalt make me full of ioy with thy countenance.

Men and brethren, I may boldly speake vnto you of the Patriarke Dauid, that hee is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre remaineth with vs vnto this day.

Therefore, seeing hee was a Prophet, and knewe that God had sworne with an othe to him, that of the fruite of his loynes hee woulde raise vp Christ concerning the flesh, to set him vpon his throne,

Hee knowing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soule shoulde not bee left in graue, neither his flesh shoulde see corruption.

This Iesus hath God raised vp, whereof we all are witnesses.

Since then that he by the right hande of God hath bene exalted, and hath receiued of his Father the promise of the holy Ghost, hee hath shed foorth this which yee nowe see and heare.

For Dauid is not ascended into heauen, but he sayth, The Lord sayd to my Lord, Sit at my right hande,

Vntill I make thine enemies thy footestoole.

Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for a suretie, that God hath made him both Lord, and Christ, this Iesus, I say, whome yee haue crucified.

Three Thousand Believe

Now when they heard it, they were pricked in their heartes, and said vnto Peter and the other Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we doe?

Then Peter said vnto them, Amend your liues, and bee baptized euery one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinnes: and ye shall receiue the gift of the holy Ghost.

For the promise is made vnto you, and to your children, and to all that are a farre off, euen as many as the Lord our God shall call.

And with many other words he besought and exhorted them, saying, Saue your selues from this froward generation.

Then they that gladly receiued his word, were baptized: and the same day there were added to the Church about three thousand soules.

The Fellowship of Believers

(Acts 4:32–37)

And they continued in the Apostles doctrine, and fellowship, and breaking of bread, and prayers.

And feare came vpon euery soule: and many wonders and signes were done by ye Apostles.

And all that beleeued, were in one place, and had all things common.

And they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all me, as euery one had need.

And they continued dayly with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread at home, did eate their meate together with gladnesse and singlenesse of heart,

Praysing God, and had fauour with all the people: and the Lord added to the Church from day to day, such as should be saued.

(Genesis 11:1–9; Leviticus 23:15–22)

Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.

When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.

They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?

How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?

Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,

Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”

They were all amazed and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd

(Psalm 16:1–11; Joel 2:28–32)

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.(a)

But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.

Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’(b)

“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,

him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;

whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.

For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope,

because you will not leave my soul in Hades,(c) neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.

You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’(d)

“Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ(e) to sit on his throne,

he foreseeing this, spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades,(f) and his flesh didn’t see decay.

This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.

Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you now see and hear.

For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’(g)

“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Three Thousand Believe

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

Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”

With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of Believers

(Acts 4:32–37)

They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

All who believed were together, and had all things in common.

They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

praising God and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

Footnotes

(a)2:15 about 9:00 a.m.

(b)2:21 ℘ Joel 2:28-32

(d)2:28 ℘ Psalms 16:8-11

(e)2:30 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.

(f)2:31 or, Hell

(g)2:35 ℘ Psalms 110:1