HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1351
ACTS 2
page 981
and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said, “the
Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas,
who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was
predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking
through King David. 17 Judas was one of us and
shared in the ministry with us.”
18 (Judas had bought a field with the money
he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst
there, his body split open, spilling out all his
intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to all
the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place
the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means
“Field of Blood.”)
20 Peter continued, “This was written in the
book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also
says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’*
21 “So now we must choose a replacement
for Judas from among the men who were with
us the entire time we were traveling with the
Lord Jesus—22 from the time he was baptized by
John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’
resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called
Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.
24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every
heart. Show us which of these men you have
chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this
ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where
he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias
was selected to become an apostle with the
other eleven.
The Holy Spirit Comes
On the day of Pentecost* all the believers
were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the
roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the
house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what
looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared
and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone
present was filled with the Holy Spirit and
began speaking in other languages,* as the Holy
Spirit gave them this ability.
5 At that time there were devout Jews from
every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they
heard the loud noise, everyone came running,
and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
7 They were completely amazed. “How can
this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are
all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9 Here we
are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from
Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the
province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt,
and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors
2
1:20 Pss 69:25; 109:8. 2:1 The Festival of Pentecost came
50 days after Passover (when Jesus was crucified). 2:4 Or
in other tongues. 2:17-21 Joel 2:28-32. 2:22 Or Jesus of
Nazareth. 2:27 Greek in Hades; also in 2:31.
from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these
people speaking in our own languages about
the wonderful things God has done!” 12 They
stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can
this mean?” they asked each other.
13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
Peter Preaches to the Crowd
14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven
other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.
15 These people are not drunk, as some of you
are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is
much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was
predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17
18
19
20
21
‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women
alike—
and they will prophesy.
And I will cause wonders in the heavens
above
and signs on the earth below—
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and glorious day of
the Lord arrives.
But everyone who calls on the name of
the Lord
will be saved.’*
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene* by doing powerful
miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as
you well know. 23 But God knew what would
happen, and his prearranged plan was carried
out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of
lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and
killed him. 24 But God released him from the
horrors of death and raised him back to life, for
death could not keep him in its grip. 25 King David said this about him:
26
27
‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right
beside me.
No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
For you will not leave my soul among
the dead*
or allow your Holy One to rot in the
grave.