Acts 2

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

1The day of Pentecost came. Pentecost was a Jewish holiday. Jesus' followers were all together in one place.

2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

2Suddenly a sound came from the sky. It was like a strong, rushing wind. It filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

3They saw something like flames of fire. The flames spread apart. One came to rest on each of them.

4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

4The Holy Spirit filled them all. They began to speak in other languages. The Spirit gave them the words to say.

5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

5Jews were living in Jerusalem at that time. They came from every nation on earth. They loved God and wanted to obey him.

6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

6People heard the sound and came together. They could not understand it. Each one heard the men speaking his own language.

7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

7They were surprised and amazed. They said to each other, "All these men are from Galilee, aren't they?"

8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

8"Then how does each of us hear them in his own language, the one he grew up speaking?"

9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

9"Some of us come from Parthia, Media, and Elam. Others live in Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia."

10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

10"Others come from Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the part of Libya near Cyrene. Some are visitors from Rome. Some were born Jews. Others joined the Jewish faith later."

11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

11"Some of us come from Crete, and some from Arabia. We all hear them telling about God's wonderful works in our own languages."

12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

12They were amazed and puzzled. They asked each other, "What does this mean?"

13Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

13But other people made fun of them. They said, "These men have had too much new wine."

14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

14Then Peter stood up with the eleven other apostles. Apostles were the men Jesus chose to lead. Peter spoke out loud: "Men of Judea, and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me. I want you to understand what is happening."

15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

15"These men are not drunk, as you think. It is only nine o'clock in the morning."

Note"The third hour of the day" counts from sunrise, so it means about nine in the morning. Peter's point is that it was far too early for anyone to be drunk.

16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

16"This is what God said long ago through the prophet Joel. A prophet told people what God said."

17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

17"God says: In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will speak my words. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will have dreams."

18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

18"In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants, both men and women. And they will speak my words."

19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

19"I will show wonders in the sky above. I will show signs on the earth below. There will be blood, and fire, and thick smoke."

20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

20"The sun will turn dark. The moon will turn red like blood. All this comes before the great and shining day of the Lord."

21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

21"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

22"Men of Israel, listen to me. God showed you that Jesus of Nazareth came from him. God did miracles, wonders, and signs through Jesus, right in front of you. You know this is true."

23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

23"God knew this would happen, and he had planned it. You handed Jesus over. Wicked men nailed him to a cross and killed him."

24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

24"But God raised Jesus back to life. God set him free from the pain of death. Death could not keep its hold on him."

25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

25"David wrote about Jesus. He said, 'I always saw the Lord in front of me. He is right beside me, so I will not be shaken.'"

26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

26"'So my heart is happy and my words are glad. My body will rest, still full of hope.'"

27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

27"'You will not leave me in the place of the dead. You will not let your Holy One rot in the grave.'"

NoteThe KJV says "hell" here, but the word means the place of the dead where everyone goes when they die. It does not mean a place of punishment.

28Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

28"'You have shown me the paths that lead to life. Being close to you will fill me with joy.'"

29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

29"Brothers, I can say this plainly. David, the father of our people, died and was buried. His grave is still here today."

30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

30"David was a prophet. God had made him a solemn promise. One of David's own family would sit on his throne. That one would be the Christ, God's chosen king."

31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

31"David saw this ahead of time. He spoke about the Christ coming back to life. The Christ was not left in the place of the dead. His body did not rot in the grave."

32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

32"God raised this same Jesus back to life. We all saw it, and we tell you it is true."

33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

33"God lifted Jesus up to the place of honor at his right side. The Father gave Jesus the Holy Spirit he had promised. Jesus has poured that Spirit out. That is what you see and hear right now."

34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

34"David did not go up into heaven. But David himself said, 'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right side,'"

35Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

35"'until I put your enemies under your feet, like a stool.'"

36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

36"So everyone in Israel should know this for sure. God has made this Jesus both Lord and Christ. He is the one you nailed to the cross."

37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

37When the people heard this, it hurt deep in their hearts. They said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"

38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

38Peter told them, "Turn away from your sins. Every one of you, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

NoteTo be baptized is to be dipped in water. People did this in public to show they now belonged to Jesus.

39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.

39"This promise is for you and for your children. It is also for everyone far away. It is for all the people the Lord our God calls."

40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

40Peter said much more to warn them and urge them on. He said, "Save yourselves from the wrong ways of the people around you."

41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

41Many people were glad to believe what Peter said. They were baptized. About three thousand people joined the group that day.

42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

42They kept on learning what the apostles taught. They stayed close as friends. They broke bread together and prayed together.

43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

43Everyone felt a deep sense of awe. The apostles did many wonders and signs.

44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

44All the believers stayed together. They shared everything they had.

45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

45They sold their land and their things. They gave to anyone who was in need.

46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

46Every day they met together at the temple. They broke bread in each other's homes. They shared their food with glad and honest hearts.

47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

47They praised God, and all the people liked them. Each day the Lord added more people who were being saved.