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Common English Bible CEB
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
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When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
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Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
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They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
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They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.
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There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.
6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
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When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages.
7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
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They were surprised and amazed, saying, "Look, aren't all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them?
8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
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How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language?
9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
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Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
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Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism),
11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. ”
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Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!"
12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean? ”
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They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, "What does this mean?"
13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine. ”
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Others jeered at them, saying, "They're full of new wine!"
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
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Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words!
15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
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These people aren't drunk, as you suspect; after all, it's only nine o'clock in the morning!
16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
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Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
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In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young will see visions. Your elders will dream dreams.
18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
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Even upon my servants, men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
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I will cause wonders to occur in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
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The sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon will be changed into blood, before the great and spectacular day of the Lord comes.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ’
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And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—
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“Fellow Israelites, listen to these words! Jesus the Nazarene was a man whose credentials God proved to you through miracles, wonders, and signs, which God performed through him among you. You yourselves know this.
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
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In accordance with God's established plan and foreknowledge, he was betrayed. You, with the help of wicked men, had Jesus killed by nailing him to a cross.
24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
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God raised him up! God freed him from death's dreadful grip, since it was impossible for death to hang on to him.
25 For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
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David says about him, I foresaw that the Lord was always with me; because he is at my right hand I won't be shaken.
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.
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Therefore, my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover, my body will live in hope,
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.
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because you won't abandon me to the grave, nor permit your holy one to experience decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence. ’
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You have shown me the paths of life; your presence will fill me with happiness.
29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
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“Brothers and sisters, I can speak confidently about the patriarch David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this very day.
30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,
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Because he was a prophet, he knew that God promised him with a solemn pledge to seat one of his descendants on his throne.
31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
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Having seen this beforehand, David spoke about the resurrection of Christ, that he wasn't abandoned to the grave, nor did his body experience decay.
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
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This Jesus, God raised up. We are all witnesses to that fact.
33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
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He was exalted to God's right side and received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit. He poured out this Spirit, and you are seeing and hearing the results of his having done so.
34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,
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David didn't ascend into heaven. Yet he says, The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right side,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool. ”’
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until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. ”
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"Therefore, let all Israel know beyond question that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do? ”
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When the crowd heard this, they were deeply troubled. They said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent 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.
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Peter replied, "Change your hearts and lives. Each of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. ”
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This promise is for you, your children, and for all who are far away—as many as the Lord our God invites."
40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation. ”
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With many other words he testified to them and encouraged them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
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Those who accepted Peter's message were baptized. God brought about three thousand people into the community on that day.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
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The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
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A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
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All the believers were united and shared everything.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
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They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
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Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity.
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
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They praised God and demonstrated God's goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible