Acts 2

1 When the day of hPentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a imighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of jfire appeared to them and rested1 on each one of them. 4 And they were all kfilled with the Holy Spirit and began to lspeak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because meach one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others nmocking said, “They are ofilled with new wine.”

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.2 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17  p“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams;

18  even on my male servants and female servants

in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

19  And I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

20  the qsun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

21  And it shall come to pass that reveryone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus,3 delivered up according to the definite plan and sforeknowledge of God, tyou crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 uGod vraised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was wnot possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

x“‘I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

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

my flesh also will dwell in hope.

27  For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

or let your Holy One see corruption.

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

you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both ydied and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had zsworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are awitnesses. 33 Being therefore bexalted cat the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the dpromise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

e“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my fright hand,

35  until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both gLord and hChrist, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, i“Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, j“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the kforgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the lgift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and mfor your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God ncalls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this ocrooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were padded that day about three thousand souls.

42 And they qdevoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the rbreaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe4 came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had sall things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

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Acts 10

1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who hfeared God with all his household, gave ialms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day1 he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour2 to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a jtrance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were kall kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, l“By no means, Lord; for mI have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, n“What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the oSpirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation,3 for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests.

The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and pworshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how qunlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour,4 and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God rshows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who sfears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is tLord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, ubeginning from Galilee after vthe baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God wanointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was xwith him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a ytree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as zwitnesses, who aate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he bcommanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be cjudge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets dbear witness that eeveryone who fbelieves gin him hreceives forgiveness of sins ithrough his jname.”

44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit kfell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the lcircumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out meven on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them nspeaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 o“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit pjust as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the qname of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

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2 View All Leviticus 19:27
ch. 21:5; [Isa. 15:2; Jer. 9:26; 48:37]