The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2 ¹When the day of Pentecost* came, the apostles* were all together in one place. ²Suddenly a noise came from the sky. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there. ⁴They were all filled with the Holy Spirit,* and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to do this. ⁵There were some Jewish men that truly worshiped God in Jerusalem at this time. These men were from every country in the world. ⁶A large group of these men came together because they heard the noise. They were surprised because the apostles* were speaking, and every man heard in his own language. ⁷The Jews were all amazed at this. They did not understand how the apostles could do this. They said, "Look! These men (the apostles) that we hear speaking are all from Galilee*! ⁸But we hear them in our own languages. How is this possible? We are from different places: ⁹Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,* ¹⁰Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near the city of Cyrene, Rome, ¹¹Crete and Arabia. Some of us were born Jews. Others are converts.* We are from these different countries. But we can hear these men in our own languages! We can all understand the great things they are saying about God." ¹²The people were all amazed and confused. They asked each other, "What is happening?" ¹³Other people were laughing at the apostles. These people thought the apostles were drunk from too much wine.

Peter Speaks to the People

¹⁴Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles.* He spoke loudly so that all the people could hear. He said, "My Jewish brothers and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me. I will tell you something you need to know. Listen carefully. ¹⁵These men are not drunk like you think; it is only nine o'clock in the morning! ¹⁶But Joel the prophet* wrote about the things you see happening here today. This is what Joel wrote: ¹⁷'God says: In the last days, I will pour out (give) my Spirit* on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.* Your young men will see visions.* Your old men will have special dreams. ¹⁸At that time, I will pour out (give) my Spirit* on my servants, men and women, and they will prophesy.* ¹⁹I will show amazing things in the sky above. I will give proofs on the earth below. There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke. ²⁰The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon will become red like blood. Then the great and glorious day of the Lord will come. ²¹And every person who trusts in the Lord will be saved.' Joel 2:28-32

Pentecost Jewish festival celebrating the wheat harvest. It was fifty days after Passover. apostles The men Jesus chose to be his special helpers. Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. from Galilee The people thought men from Galilee could speak only their own language. Asia The western part of Asia Minor. converts People that changed their religion to become Jews. prophet A person that spoke for God. Sometimes prophets told about things that would happen in the future. prophesy To speak for God. vision(s) Something like dreams used by God to speak to people.