New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
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When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
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Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force - no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building.
3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
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Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks,
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
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and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.
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There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world.
6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
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When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck.
7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
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They couldn't for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, "Aren't these all Galileans?
8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
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How come we're hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?
9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
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Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
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Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."
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both Jews and proselytes; Even Cretans and Arabs! "They're speaking our languages, describing God's mighty works!"
12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
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Their heads were spinning; they couldn't make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: "What's going on here?"
13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
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Others joked, "They're drunk on cheap wine."
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.
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That's when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: "Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight.
15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.
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These people aren't drunk as some of you suspect. They haven't had time to get drunk - it's only nine o'clock in the morning.
16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
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This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:
17 "In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon 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 every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
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When the time comes, I'll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they'll prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
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I'll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke,
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.
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the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous;
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
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And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved."
22 "You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know—
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"Fellow Israelites, listen carefully to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man thoroughly accredited by God to you - the miracles and wonders and signs that God did through him are common knowledge -
23 this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.
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this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you. And you pinned him to a cross and killed him.
24 But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.
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But God untied the death ropes and raised him up. Death was no match for him.
25 For David says concerning him, "I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
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David said it all: I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; he's right by my side.
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope.
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I'm glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I've pitched my tent in the land of hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption.
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I know you'll never dump me in Hades; I'll never even smell the stench of death.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
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You've got my feet on the life-path, with your face shining sun-joy all around.
29 "Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
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"Dear friends, let me be completely frank with you. Our ancestor David is dead and buried - his tomb is in plain sight today.
30 Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne.
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But being also a prophet and knowing that God had solemnly sworn that a descendant of his would rule his kingdom,
31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, "He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.'
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seeing far ahead, he talked of the resurrection of the Messiah - 'no trip to Hades, no stench of death.'
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.
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This Jesus, God raised up. And every one of us here is a witness to it.
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 both see and hear.
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Then, raised to the heights at the right hand of God and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out the Spirit he had just received. That is what you see and hear.
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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For David himself did not ascend to heaven, but he did say, God said to my Master, "Sit at my right hand
35 until I make your enemies your footstool." '
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Until I make your enemies a stool for resting your feet."
36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified."
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"All Israel, then, know this: There's no longer room for doubt - God made him Master and Messiah, this Jesus whom you killed on a cross."
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"
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Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?"
38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him."
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The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away - whomever, in fact, our Master God invites."
40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."
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He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, "Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!"
41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
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That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
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They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.
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Everyone around was in awe - all those wonders and signs done through the apostles!
44 All who believed were together and had all things in common;
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And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common.
45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.
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They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.
46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts,
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They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful,
47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
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as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.