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The Coming of the Holy Spirit

When the day of Pentecost [C a harvest festival fifty days after Passover, celebrating the firstfruits of the crops (while on this day the firstfruits of the Spirit); Ex. 34:22; Deut. 16:10, 16] ·came [arrived], they were all together in one place. Suddenly a ·noise [roar] like a ·strong [violent], ·blowing [rushing] wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw something like ·flames [L tongues] of fire ·that were separated [that were divided; or that spread out] and ·stood [came to rest] over each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak ·different [other; or foreign] ·languages [L tongues] by the power the Holy Spirit was giving them [C reversing the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel; Gen. 11:1–9].

There were some ·religious [devout; God-fearing] Jews ·staying [living] in Jerusalem who were from every ·country [nation] ·in the world [L under heaven]. When they heard this noise, a crowd came together. They were all ·surprised [or confused; bewildered], because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were ·completely [L astounded and] amazed at this. They said, “Look! Aren’t all these people that we hear speaking ·from Galilee [L Galileans]? Then how is it possible that we each hear them in our own [native] languages? We are: Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia [C a Roman province, in present-day Turkey], 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near Cyrene, [visitors from] Rome 11 (both Jews and ·those who had become Jews [proselytes]), Crete, and Arabia. But we hear them telling in our own ·languages [tongues] about the ·great things [mighty acts] God has done!” 12 They were all amazed and confused, asking each other, “What does this mean?”

13 But others ·were making fun of them [sneered], saying, “They have had too much [sweet; new] wine [C they accuse them of being intoxicated and speaking nonsense].”

Peter Speaks to the People

14 But Peter stood up with the eleven apostles, and in a loud voice he ·spoke to [addressed] the crowd: “·My fellow Jews [or Judeans], and all of you who ·are [are living/staying] in Jerusalem, ·listen to me [L let this be known to you]. Pay attention to what I have to say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you think; it is only ·nine o’clock in the morning [L the third hour of the day]! 16 But Joel the prophet wrote about what is happening here today:

17 ‘God says: In the last days
    I will pour out my Spirit on all ·kinds of people [people; humanity; T flesh].
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
    Your young men will see visions,
    and your old men will dream dreams.
18 At that time I will pour out my Spirit
    also on my male ·slaves [servants] and female ·slaves [servants],
    and they will prophesy.
19 I will show ·miracles [wonders; marvels]
    in the ·sky [or heaven] above
    and ·signs [miracles] on the earth below:
    blood, fire, and ·thick [L a cloud/billow of] smoke.
20 The sun will ·become dark [L be turned to darkness],
    the moon ·red as blood [L to blood],
    before the ·overwhelming [great] and glorious day of the Lord will come.
21 Then anyone who calls on [L the name of] the Lord will be saved [Joel 2:28–32].’

22 “·People of Israel [L Men, Israelites], ·listen to [hear] these words: Jesus ·from Nazareth [or the Nazarene] was a very special man. God clearly ·showed [attested; pointed out] this to you by the ·miracles [mighty deeds], wonders, and signs he did through Jesus. You all know this, because it happened ·right here among you [L in your midst]. 23 Jesus was ·given [handed over] to you, and ·with the help [L by the hands] of ·those who don’t know the law [or lawless ones; wicked people; C a reference to the Gentiles/Romans who crucified Jesus], you put him to death by nailing him to a cross. But this was ·God’s plan which he had made long ago [L according to God’s predetermined plan]; ·he knew all this would happen [L …and his foreknowledge]. 24 God raised Jesus from the dead and set him free from the ·pain [agony; birthpains] of death, because death could not hold him. 25 For David said this about him:

‘I ·keep [L saw] the Lord before me always.
    Because he is ·close by my side [L at my right hand; C a soldier’s shieldbearer would stand at his right side to protect him],
    [L so that] I will not be ·hurt [L shaken].
26 So ·I am [L my heart was] glad, and ·I rejoice [L my tongue rejoiced].
    Even my body ·has [L will live in; or will rest in] hope,
27 because you will not ·leave [abandon] ·me [L my soul/life] in ·the grave [L Hades; C the underworld].
    You will not let your Holy One [experience; L see] decay.
28 You ·will teach me [L have made known to me] ·how to live a holy life [L the way/path of life].
    ·Being with you [Your presence; L Your face] will fill me with joy [Ps. 16:8–11].”

29 “·Brothers and sisters [L Men, brothers], I can tell you ·truly [or with confidence] that David, ·our ancestor [L the patriarch], died and was buried. His ·grave [tomb] is still here with us today. 30 [But because] He was a prophet and knew God had ·promised him [sworn with an oath] that he would ·make a person from David’s family a king just as he was [L put one of his descendants on his throne; C a reference to the Davidic covenant; 2 Sam. 7:13; Ps. 132:11]. 31 ·Knowing this before it happened [L Foreseeing this], David talked about the ·Christ [Messiah] rising from the dead. He said:

‘He was not ·left [abandoned] in ·the grave [Hades].
    His ·body [flesh] did not ·rot [L see/experience decay; 2:27].’

32 So Jesus is the One whom God raised from the dead. And we are all witnesses to this. 33 Jesus was ·lifted up to heaven and is now at [L exalted to] God’s right ·side [L hand; C a position of highest honor beside the king]. The Father has given the Holy Spirit to Jesus as he promised. So Jesus has poured out that Spirit, and this is what you now see and hear. 34 David was not the one who ·was lifted up [went up; ascended] to heaven, but he said:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit by me at my right ·side [L hand; v. 33],
35     until I ·put your enemies under your control [L make your enemies a footstool for your feet; Ps. 110:1].”’

36 “·So [Therefore], all the ·people [L house] of Israel should know this ·truly [with certainty]: God has made Jesus—the man you ·nailed to the cross [crucified]—both Lord and ·Christ [Messiah].”

37 When the people heard this, they ·felt guilty [were deeply distressed; L were cut/pierced to the heart] and asked Peter and the other apostles, “What shall we do, ·brothers [L men, brothers]?”

38 Peter said to them, “·Change your hearts and lives [Repent] and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 [L For] This promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away [C both in space and time; may refer to Gentiles and/or Jews scattered outside the land of Israel]. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself [Joel 2:32].”

40 Peter ·warned [testified to] them with many other ·words [arguments]. He ·begged [pleaded with; exhorted; urged] them, “Save yourselves from ·the evil of today’s people [L this corrupt/crooked/perverse generation]!” 41 Then those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About three thousand ·people [souls] were added to the number of believers that day. 42 They ·spent [devoted] their time learning the apostles’ teaching, ·sharing [fellowship], breaking bread [C this may refer to a meal as in v. 46, or to the Lord’s Supper; Luke 22:14–20], and praying together.

The Believers Share

43 The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and ·everyone [every soul] felt great ·respect [fear; awe; Prov. 1:7] for God. 44 All the believers were ·together [in one place; or in close fellowship] and ·shared everything [L had/held all things in common]. 45 They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide ·the money [the proceeds; L them] and give it to anyone who needed it. 46 The believers met together in the Temple [C not the Temple building where only priests went, but the outer courts] every day. They ate together ·in their homes [or from home to home], sharing their food with joyful and ·sincere [or generous; or humble; or simple] hearts. 47 They praised God and were ·liked by [looked upon favorably by] all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.

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