The Acts of the Apostles

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

(Genesis 11:1–9; Leviticus 23:15–22)

And when the days of Pentecost were completed, they were all together in the same place.

And suddenly, there came a sound from heaven, like that of a wind approaching violently, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

And there appeared to them separate tongues, as if of fire, which settled upon each one of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they began to speak in various languages, just as the Holy Spirit bestowed eloquence to them.

Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, pious men from every nation that is under heaven.

And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together and was confused in mind, because each one was listening to them speaking in his own language.

Then all were astonished, and they wondered, saying: “Behold, are not all of these who are speaking Galileans?

And how is it that we have each heard them in our own language, into which we were born?

Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya which are around Cyrene, and new arrivals of the Romans,

likewise Jews and new converts, Cretans and Arabs: we have heard them speaking in our own languages the mighty deeds of God.”

And they were all astonished, and they wondered, saying to one another: “But what does this mean?”

But others mockingly said, “These men are full of 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 he spoke to them: “Men of Judea, and all those who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and incline your ears to my words.

For these men are not inebriated, as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day.

But this is what was spoken of by the prophet Joel:

‘And this shall be: in the last days, says the Lord, I will pour out, from my Spirit, upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. And your youths shall see visions, and your elders shall dream dreams.

And certainly, upon my men and women servants in those days, I will pour out from my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

And I will bestow wonders in heaven above, and signs on earth below: blood and fire and the vapor of smoke.

The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and manifest day of the Lord arrives.

And this shall be: whoever shall invoke the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene is a man confirmed by God among you through the miracles and wonders and signs that God accomplished through him in your midst, just as you also know.

This man, under the definitive plan and foreknowledge of God, was delivered by the hands of the unjust, afflicted, and put to death.(a)

And he whom God has raised up has broken the sorrows of Hell, for certainly it was impossible for him to be held by it.(b)

For David said about him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always in my sight, for he is at my right hand, so that I may not be moved.

Because of this, my heart has rejoiced, and my tongue has exulted. Moreover, my flesh shall also rest in hope.

For you will not abandon my soul to Hell, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption.

You have made known to me the ways of life. You will completely fill me with happiness by your presence.’(c)

Noble brothers, permit me to speak freely to you about the Patriarch David: for he passed away and was buried, and his sepulcher is with us, even to this very day.

Therefore, he was a prophet, for he knew that God had sworn an oath to him about the fruit of his loins, about the One who would sit upon his throne.

Foreseeing this, he was speaking about the Resurrection of the Christ. For he was neither left behind in Hell, nor did his flesh see corruption.

This Jesus, God raised up again, and of this we are all witnesses.

Therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured this out, just as you now see and hear.

For David did not ascend into heaven. But he himself said: ‘The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies your footstool.’

Therefore, may the entire house of Israel know most certainly that God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Three Thousand Believe

Now when they had heard these things, they were contrite in heart, and they said to Peter and to the other Apostles: “What should we do, noble brothers?”

Yet truly, Peter said to them: “Do penance; and be baptized, each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the Promise is for you and for your sons, and for all who are far away: for whomever the Lord our God will have called.”

And then, with very many other words, he testified and he exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this depraved generation.”

Therefore, those who accepted his discourse were baptized. And about three thousand souls were added on that day.

The Fellowship of Believers

(Acts 4:32–37)

Now they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communion of the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers.

And fear developed in every soul. Also, many miracles and signs were accomplished by the Apostles in Jerusalem. And there was a great awe in everyone.

And then all who believed were together, and they held all things in common.

They were selling their possessions and belongings, and dividing them to all, just as any of them had need.

Also, they continued, daily, to be of one accord in the temple and to break bread among the houses; and they took their meals with exultation and simplicity of heart,

praising God greatly, and holding favor with all the people. And every day, the Lord increased those who were being saved among them.

Footnotes

(a)2:23 By the determinate, etc:God delivered up his Son; and his Son delivered up himself, for the love of us, and for the sake of our salvation; and so Christ’s being delivered up was holy, and was God’s own determination. But they who betrayed and crucified him, did wickedly, following therein their own malice and the instigation of the devil; not the will and determination of God, who was by no means the author of their wickedness; though he permitted it; because he could, and did draw out of it so great a good, viz., the salvation of man.(Challoner)

(b)2:24 Having loosed the sorrow, etc:Having overcome the grievous pains of death and all the power of hell.(Challoner)

(c)2:28 The word ‘replebis’ is not merely to fill, but to complete or to fill completely. The word ‘iucunditate’ can have the mild meaning of something that is pleasing or agreeable, but in this context of complete fulfillment in the presence of God, it can only mean happiness.(Conte)

(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