When the day of Pentecost arrived, Jesus’ followers were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a powerful rushing wind came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. Something like divided flames appeared and rested on each of them.
Everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Spirit enabled them. Devout Jews from nations across the world were staying in Jerusalem. Hearing the sound, a crowd gathered and was bewildered because each person heard the disciples speaking in his or her native language.
The listeners knew that the speakers were Galileans, yet people from regions across Asia, Africa, and the Roman world heard the languages of their birthplaces. Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, all heard the disciples declaring God’s great deeds in their own tongues. Some asked what this meant, while others mocked the disciples as drunk on new wine.
Peter stood with the other eleven apostles and addressed the crowd. It was only nine in the morning, he said, so drunkenness did not explain what they were witnessing. He turned instead to the prophet Joel, who spoke of God pouring out his Spirit on all people in the last days. Sons and daughters would prophesy, young people would see visions, and old people would dream. Everyone calling on the Lord’s name would be saved.
Peter then spoke about Jesus of Nazareth. God had publicly attested Jesus through deeds of power, wonders, and signs. Jesus was handed over according to God’s determined purpose and foreknowledge, and people used lawless hands to crucify and kill him. God, however, raised Jesus and freed him from death’s pain because death could not hold him.
Quoting David’s psalms, Peter spoke of one who would not be abandoned to the realm of the dead or left to decay. David himself had died, and his tomb was still among them. As a prophet, however, David knew God’s promise that one of his descendants would sit on his throne. Peter said David had looked ahead and spoken about the Messiah’s resurrection.
Peter and the apostles were witnesses that God had raised Jesus. Exalted to God’s right hand, Jesus had received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father and poured out what the crowd now saw and heard. Peter concluded that all Israel should know with certainty that God had made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Messiah.
The listeners were cut to the heart. They asked Peter and the other apostles what they should do. Peter told each of them to repent and be baptized in Jesus Christ’s name for the forgiveness of sins. They would receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. The promise extended to them, their children, and all who were far away—everyone God would call.
Peter continued to testify and urged them to be saved from a corrupt generation. Those who welcomed his message were baptized, and about three thousand people were added that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, shared life, the breaking of bread, and prayers.
Awe came upon everyone as the apostles performed many wonders and signs. The believers stayed together and shared their possessions. They sold property and goods and distributed the proceeds according to each person’s need.
Day by day they met together in the temple. They broke bread in their homes and ate with glad and sincere hearts. They praised God and had the goodwill of the people. Each day the Lord added to their community those who were being saved.