Pentecost Sunday

Published: June 9, 2019, 10 a.m.

b'Acts 2\\n\\nThe Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost\\n2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.\\n\\n5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: \\u201cAren\\u2019t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs\\u2014we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!\\u201d 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, \\u201cWhat does this mean?\\u201d\\n\\n13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, \\u201cThey have had too much wine.\\u201d\\n\\nPeter Addresses the Crowd\\n14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: \\u201cFellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It\\u2019s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:\\n\\n17 \\u201c\\u2018In the last days, God says,\\n I will pour out my Spirit on all people.\\nYour sons and daughters will prophesy,\\n your young men will see visions,\\n your old men will dream dreams.\\n18 Even on my servants, both men and women,\\n I will pour out my Spirit in those days,\\n and they will prophesy.\\n19 I will show wonders in the heavens above\\n and signs on the earth below,\\n blood and fire and billows of smoke.\\n20 The sun will be turned to darkness\\n and the moon to blood\\n before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.\\n21 And everyone who calls\\n on the name of the Lord will be saved.\\u2019\\n\\n22 \\u201cFellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God\\u2019s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:\\n\\n\\u201c\\u2018I saw the Lord always before me.\\n Because he is at my right hand,\\n I will not be shaken.\\n26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;\\n my body also will rest in hope,\\n27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,\\n you will not let your holy one see decay.\\n28 You have made known to me the paths of life;\\n you will fill me with joy in your presence.\\u2019\\n\\n29 \\u201cFellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,\\n\\n\\u201c\\u2018The Lord said to my Lord:\\n \\u201cSit at my right hand\\n35 until I make your enemies\\n a footstool for your feet.\\u201d\\u2019\\n\\n36 \\u201cTherefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.\\u201d\\n\\n37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, \\u201cBrothers, what shall we do?\\u201d\\n\\n38 Peter replied, \\u201cRepent and be baptized, every 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 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off\\u2014for all whom the Lord our God will call.\\u201d\\n\\n40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, \\u201cSave yourselves from this corrupt generation.\\u201d 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.\\n\\nThe Fellowship of the Believers\\n42 They devoted themselves to the apostles\\u2019 teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.'