2:1 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.
2:2 Suddenly a ·noise [roar] like a ·strong [violent], ·blowing [rushing] wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
2:3 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.
2:4 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].
2:5 There were some ·religious [devout; God-fearing] Jews ·staying [living] in Jerusalem who were from every ·country [nation] ·in the world [L under heaven].
2:6 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.
2:7 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]?
2:8 Then how is it possible that we each hear them in our own [native] languages? We are:
2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia [C a Roman province, in present-day Turkey],
2:10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near Cyrene, [visitors from] Rome
2:11 (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!”
2:12 They were all amazed and confused, asking each other, “What does this mean?”
2:13 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].”
2:14 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.
2:15 These people are not drunk, as you think; it is only ·nine o’clock in the morning [L the third hour of the day]!
2:16 But Joel the prophet wrote about what is happening here today:
2:17 ‘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.
2:18 At that time I will pour out my Spirit also on my male ·slaves [servants] and female ·slaves [servants], and they will prophesy.
2:19 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.
2:20 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.
2:21 Then anyone who calls on [L the name of] the Lord will be saved [Joel 2:28–32].’
2:22 “·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].
2:23 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].
2:24 God raised Jesus from the dead and set him free from the ·pain [agony; birthpains] of death, because death could not hold him.
2:25 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].
2:26 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,
2:27 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.
2:28 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].”
2:29 “·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.
2:30 [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].
2:31 ·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].’
2:32 So Jesus is the One whom God raised from the dead. And we are all witnesses to this.
2:33 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.
2:34 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],
2:35 until I ·put your enemies under your control [L make your enemies a footstool for your feet; Ps. 110:1].”’
2:36 “·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].”
2:37 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]?”
2:38 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.
2:39 [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].”
2:40 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]!”
2:41 Then those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About three thousand ·people [souls] were added to the number of believers that day.
2:42 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.
2:43 The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and ·everyone [every soul] felt great ·respect [fear; awe; Prov. 1:7] for God.
2:44 All the believers were ·together [in one place; or in close fellowship] and ·shared everything [L had/held all things in common].
2:45 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.
2:46 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.
2:47 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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