Acts 2

Acts 2

MSG — The Message Bible (MSG)
NIRV — New International Reader's Version Bible (NIRV)
Verse 1
When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers gathered in one place.
Verse 2
— not in MSG
Suddenly a sound came from heaven. It was like a strong wind blowing. It filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Verse 3
— not in MSG
They saw something that looked like fire in the shape of tongues. The flames separated and came to rest on each of them.
Verse 4
— not in MSG
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in languages they had not known before. The Spirit gave them the ability to do this.

Verse 5
There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
    Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
    Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!

“They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”

Godly Jews from every country in the world were staying in Jerusalem.
Verse 6
— not in MSG
A crowd came together when they heard the sound. They were bewildered because each of them heard their own language being spoken.
Verse 7
— not in MSG
The crowd was really amazed. They asked, “Aren’t all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Verse 8
— not in MSG
Then why do we each hear them speaking in our own native language?
Verse 9
— not in MSG
We are Parthians, Medes and Elamites. We live in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia. We are from Pontus, Asia,
Verse 10
— not in MSG
Phrygia and Pamphylia. Others of us are from Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene. Still others are visitors from Rome.
Verse 11
— not in MSG
Some of the visitors are Jews. Others have accepted the Jewish faith. Also, Cretans and Arabs are here. We hear all these people speaking about God’s wonders in our own languages!”
Verse 12
Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”

They were amazed and bewildered. They asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Verse 13
Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.”

Peter Speaks Up

But some people in the crowd made fun of the believers. “They’ve had too much wine!” they said.

Peter Speaks to the Crowd

Verse 14
That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:

“In the Last Days,” God says,
“I will pour out my Spirit
    on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy,
    also your daughters;
Your young men will see visions,
    your old men dream dreams.
When the time comes,
    I’ll pour out my Spirit
On those who serve me, men and women both,
    and they’ll prophesy.
I’ll set wonders in the sky above
    and signs on the earth below,
Blood and fire and billowing smoke,
    the sun turning black and the moon blood-red,
Before the Day of the Lord arrives,
    the Day tremendous and marvelous;
And whoever calls out for help
    to me, God, will be saved.”

Then Peter stood up with the 11 apostles. In a loud voice he spoke to the crowd. “My fellow Jews,” he said, “let me explain this to you. All of you who live in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I say.
Verse 15
— not in MSG
You think these people are drunk. But they aren’t. It’s only nine o’clock in the morning!
Verse 16
— not in MSG
No, here is what the prophet Joel meant.
Verse 17
— not in MSG
He said,

“ ‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Holy Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
    Your young men will see visions.
    Your old men will have dreams.

Verse 18
— not in MSG
In those days, I will pour out my Spirit on my servants.
    I will pour out my Spirit on both men and women.
    When I do, they will prophesy.
Verse 19
— not in MSG
I will show wonders in the heavens above.
    I will show signs on the earth below.
    There will be blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
Verse 20
— not in MSG
The sun will become dark.
    The moon will turn red like blood.
    This will happen before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
Verse 21
— not in MSG
Everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ (Joel 2:28–32)

Verse 22
“Fellow Israelites, listen carefully to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man thoroughly accredited by God to you—the miracles and wonders and signs that God did through him are common knowledge—this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you. And you pinned him to a cross and killed him. But God untied the death ropes and raised him up. Death was no match for him. David said it all:

I saw God before me for all time.
    Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side.
I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic;
    I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope.
I know you’ll never dump me in Hades;
    I’ll never even smell the stench of death.
You’ve got my feet on the life-path,
    with your face shining sun-joy all around.

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this! Jesus of Nazareth was a man who had God’s approval. God did miracles, wonders and signs among you through Jesus. You yourselves know this.
Verse 23
— not in MSG
Long ago God planned that Jesus would be handed over to you. With the help of evil people, you put Jesus to death. You nailed him to the cross.
Verse 24
— not in MSG
But God raised him from the dead. He set him free from the suffering of death. It wasn’t possible for death to keep its hold on Jesus.
Verse 25
— not in MSG
David spoke about him. He said,

“ ‘I know that the Lord is always with me.
    Because he is at my right hand,
    I will always be secure.

Verse 26
— not in MSG
So my heart is glad and joy is on my tongue.
    My whole body will be full of hope.
Verse 27
— not in MSG
You will not leave me in the place of the dead.
    You will not let your holy one rot away.
Verse 28
— not in MSG
You always show me the path that leads to life.
    You will fill me with joy when I am with you.’ (Psalm 16:8–11)

Verse 29
“Dear friends, let me be completely frank with you. Our ancestor David is dead and buried—his tomb is in plain sight today. But being also a prophet and knowing that God had solemnly sworn that a descendant of his would rule his kingdom, seeing far ahead, he talked of the resurrection of the Messiah—‘no trip to Hades, no stench of death.’ This Jesus, God raised up. And every one of us here is a witness to it. Then, raised to the heights at the right hand of God and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out the Spirit he had just received. That is what you see and hear. For David himself did not ascend to heaven, but he did say,

God said to my Master, “Sit at my right hand
Until I make your enemies a stool for resting your feet.”

“All Israel, then, know this: There’s no longer room for doubt—God made him Master and Messiah, this Jesus whom you killed on a cross.”

“Fellow Israelites, you can be sure that King David died. He was buried. His tomb is still here today.
Verse 30
— not in MSG
But David was a prophet. He knew that God had made a promise to him. God had promised that he would make someone in David’s family line king after him.
Verse 31
— not in MSG
David saw what was coming. So he spoke about the Messiah rising from the dead. He said that the Messiah would not be left in the place of the dead. His body wouldn’t rot in the ground.
Verse 32
— not in MSG
God has raised this same Jesus back to life. We are all witnesses of this.
Verse 33
— not in MSG
Jesus has been given a place of honor at the right hand of God. He has received the Holy Spirit from the Father. This is what God had promised. It is Jesus who has poured out what you now see and hear.
Verse 34
— not in MSG
David did not go up to heaven. But he said,

“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
    “Sit at my right hand.

Verse 35
— not in MSG
I will put your enemies
    under your control.” ’ (Psalm 110:1)

Verse 36
— not in MSG
“So be sure of this, all you people of Israel. You nailed Jesus to the cross. But God has made him both Lord and Messiah.”

Verse 37
Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?”

When the people heard this, it had a deep effect on them. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Verse 38
Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.”

Peter replied, “All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 39
— not in MSG
The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”

Verse 40
He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!”

Peter said many other things to warn them. He begged them, “Save yourselves from these evil people.”
Verse 41
That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

Those who accepted his message were baptized. About 3,000 people joined the believers that day.

The Believers Share Their Lives Together

Verse 42
— not in MSG
The believers studied what the apostles taught. They shared their lives together. They ate and prayed together.
Verse 43
Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.

Everyone was amazed at what God was doing. They were amazed when the apostles performed many wonders and signs.
Verse 44
— not in MSG
All the believers were together. They shared everything they had.
Verse 45
— not in MSG
They sold property and other things they owned. They gave to anyone who needed something.
Verse 46
They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

Every day they met together in the temple courtyard. They ate meals together in their homes. Their hearts were glad and sincere.
Verse 47
— not in MSG
They praised God. They were respected by all the people. Every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

Acts 2