Acts 2

1 When the day [of celebration, festival] of Pentecost [fifty days after Passover] came, they were all [united, with one accord] together in one place [at the same location, in harmony]. word study 2 Suddenly [without warning, unexpectedly] a sound [noise, roar] like [similar to, comparable with] a mighty [strong, powerful] rushing [violent, forceful] wind [breath, breeze] came [proceeded, originated] from [out of, out from] heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] and [also, additionally] filled [completely filled, satisfied] the whole [entire, complete] house [dwelling, home] where [in the place, location] they were [existed, sat] sitting [seated, gathered]. word study 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire [resembling fire] that separated [divided, distributed] and came to rest [sat, settled] on each [every individual] of them [the disciples]. word study 4 And they were all [completely, utterly] filled with the Holy [set apart, dedicated to God] Spirit [the vital principle, mental disposition] and began [to commence, to start] to speak in other [different, foreign] tongues [languages, dialects] as the Spirit [the vital principle, mental disposition] enabled [gave them power, granted ability] them. word study 5 Now there were dwelling [residing, making their home] in Jerusalem [the capital of Palestine, a city of great spiritual significance] God-fearing [devout, reverent] Jews [people from Judah, descendants of Abraham] from every [all, each] nation [Gentiles, non-Jewish people] under [beneath, subject to] heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place]. word study 6 And when this sound [noise, voice] rang out, a crowd [multitude, large group] came together in bewilderment [confusion, astonishment], because each one [every individual] heard them speaking [talking, uttering words] his own [private, personal] language [dialect, native tongue]. word study 7 Astounded [completely amazed, utterly astonished] and amazed [filled with wonder, marvelled], they asked, “Are not [is it not the case that] all [every single one] these men who are speaking [uttering words, talking] Galileans [from the region of Galilee, Galilean by birth]? word study 8 How [in what manner, by what means] is it then that each [every individual, each one] of us hears [listens, understands, obeys] them in his own [private, personal] native language [dialect, tongue, the language of our birth]? word study 9 Parthians [from the region of Parthia], Medes [inhabitants of Media], and Elamites [people of Elam]; residents [dwellers, inhabitants] of Mesopotamia [the land between the rivers], Judea [southern Palestine] and Cappadocia [a region in Asia Minor], Pontus [a region near the Black Sea] and Asia [the Roman province of Asia Minor], word study 10 Phrygia [a region in Asia Minor] and Pamphylia [a province with mixed tribes], Egypt [a country] and the parts [regions or areas] of Libya [a north African region] near Cyrene [a city in Libya]; visitors [sojourners or foreigners] from Rome [the capital city of the Roman Empire] [including both Jews and proselytes], word study 11 both Jews [native-born, having God’s covenant] and converts [proselytes, Gentiles who have accepted Judaism] to Judaism; Cretans [from the island of Crete] and Arabs [from the region of Arabia]—we hear [perceive, understand] them declaring [speaking, uttering] the wonders [mighty works, magnificent deeds] of God [the one true deity] in our own [native, maternal] tongues [languages, dialects]!” word study 12 Astounded [amazed and shocked] and perplexed [completely baffled, in doubt], they asked one another [each other, to one another], “What [which thing] does this [this event, this phenomenon] mean [signify, represent]?” word study 13 But others [different ones] mocked them and said, “They are drunk [filled to excess] on new wine [sweet wine]!” word study 14 Then [at that time, afterwards] Peter [the rock, a disciple of Jesus] stood up [rose to his feet, took a stand] with the Eleven [the remaining apostles], lifted up [raised, elevated] his voice [sound, noise], and addressed [spoke to, declared to] the crowd [the multitude, the gathering]: “Men [adult males, Jews] of Judea [the region of Judah] and all [every one, everyone] who dwell [reside, live] in Jerusalem [the holy city, the capital of Palestine], let this [this matter, this truth] be known [understood, acknowledged] to you, and listen carefully [give ear, pay attention] to my words [my declarations, my message]. word study 15 These men [are not overcome with wine, as it seems to you] are not drunk [intoxicated, under the influence], as you [directly addressed] suppose [take up, assume]. It is only [but, merely] the third hour [a specific time] of the day [a 24-hour period]! word study 16 No [but, in contrast], this [what is happening now] is what was spoken [proclaimed, uttered] by the prophet [one who speaks forth God’s will] Joel [an Israelite prophet who wrote the book of Joel]: word study 17 ‘In the last [final] days, God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] says, I will pour out [liberally, abundantly] My Spirit [the divine Presence, pneuma] on all [every, entire] people. Your sons [male children, descendants] and daughters [female children, heirs] will prophesy [speak under divine inspiration], your young men [youths, servants] will see [perceive, experience] visions [inspired appearances, oracles], your old men [elders, respected leaders] will dream [have prophetic, symbolic] dreams [visions while sleeping]. word study 18 Even on My [male and female] menservants [servants, slaves] and maidservants [female servants, handmaidens] I will pour out [liberally bestow, abundantly give] My Spirit [the divine breath, God’s vital principle] in those days [at that time, during that period], and they will prophesy [speak under God’s inspiration, tell forth His message]. word study 19 I will show [miraculous, supernatural] wonders [marvels, amazing things] in the heavens [the sky, God’s dwelling place] above [on high, in the highest realm] and signs [tokens, indications of God’s power] on the earth [the land, the physical world] below [underneath, in the lower realm], blood and fire [purifying flames, God’s judgment] and billows [vapor, thick clouds] of smoke [a sign of God’s presence, divine judgment]. word study 20 The sun [turned into darkness, to become dark] will be turned to darkness [absence of light, spiritual or physical], and the moon [turned into blood, to appear red] to blood, before [prior to, sooner than] the coming [arrival, advent] of the great [magnificent, intense] and glorious [renowned, conspicuous] Day [a 24-hour period, a period of time] of the Lord [God, the supreme authority, Master]. word study 21 And [also, in addition] everyone [all people, whoever] who calls [invokes, appeals to] on the name [character, authority] of the Lord [God, Master] will be saved [rescued, delivered from harm].’ word study 22 Men [Israelites, descendants of Israel] of Israel, listen [hear and understand, give attention to] to this message: Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] of Nazareth [a Nazoraeus, from Nazareth] was a man [an adult male, a human being] certified [approved, demonstrated] by God [the one true deity] to you by miracles [mighty works, supernatural events], wonders [marvels, signs of God’s power], and signs [indications, tokens of God’s presence], which God did among you [in your midst, through Jesus] through Him [as His instrument, by His authority], as you yourselves [personally, as eyewitnesses] know. word study 23 He was delivered up [handed over, surrendered] by God’s [the supreme deity, Elohim] set plan [determinate counsel, deliberate intention] and foreknowledge [knowing beforehand, predestination], and you, by the hands [power, instrument] of the lawless [wicked, ungodly], put Him to death [killed, slain] by nailing [fastening, crucifying] Him to the cross [the instrument of execution, the tree]. word study 24 But God [the supreme Creator, Almighty] raised Him from the dead, releasing [loosing, freeing] Him from the agony [pains, labor] of death [separation from God, eternal death], because it was impossible [not possible, unable] for Him to be held [seized, grasped] in its [death’s] clutches [power, grasp]. word study 25 David [the king of Israel, a man after God’s heart] says about Him: ‘I saw [foresaw, had a vision of] the Lord [God, the divine Master] always [at all times, continually] before me [in my presence, before my face]; because He is [exists, abides] at my right hand [the place of power, honor, and protection], I will not be [shall not, will never] shaken [moved, disturbed, agitated]. word study 26 Therefore [because of this, for this reason] my heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions] is glad [rejoices, celebrates] and my tongue [the organ of speech] rejoices [is full of joy, praises]; my body [flesh, physical form] also will dwell [rest, remain] in hope [trust, expectation, confidence in God’s goodness], word study 27 because You will not abandon [leave behind, desert] my soul [the breath of life, seat of emotions] to Hades [the place of the dead, hell], nor will You let Your Holy One [sacred, righteous] see decay [corruption, destruction]. word study 28 You have made known [revealed, informed] to me the paths [roads, ways] of life [physical and spiritual existence]; You will fill me with joy [gladness, happiness] in Your presence [with Your countenance, face].’ word study 29 Brothers [men and brethren, fellow believers], I can tell you with confidence [freely, with boldness] that the patriarch [family founder, ancestor] David [King David of Israel] died [came to the end of his life, deceased] and was buried [given a funeral, laid to rest], and his tomb [memorial, burial place] is with us [among us, in our presence] to this day [until now, in the present time]. word study 30 But he was a prophet [one who speaks for God, having God’s message] and knew that God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] had promised him on oath [with a solemn vow, a sacred promise] that He would place one of his descendants [from the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh] on his throne [the seat of power and authority]. word study 31 Foreseeing [having knowledge of the future, to see beforehand] this, David [the king and prophet] spoke about [concerning, regarding] the resurrection [a standing up again from death] of the Christ [the anointed One, Messiah], that He was not abandoned [left behind] to Hades [the place of the dead, hell], nor did His body [physical flesh] see [perceive, experience] decay [corruption]. word study 32 God [the one true deity] has raised [to arise, to stand up from death] this [referring to a specific person] Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] to life [from the dead, to become alive again], to which [of this fact, as a result] we [all of us, as witnesses] are all [every one of us, without exception] witnesses [testifying to what we have seen]. word study 33 Exalted [lifted up, elevated to a position of supreme power], then, to the right hand [the place of honor and authority] of God [the Father, the supreme deity], He has received [taken, accepted] from the Father [the source of all things, the one who gives generously] the promised [assured, guaranteed] Holy Spirit [the Spirit of God, the giver of life] and has poured out [shed forth, generously given] what you now [at this present time] see [perceive with your eyes, understand] and hear [listen to, comprehend]. word study 34 For David [did not go up into heaven as Jesus did] did not ascend [to a higher place, climb] into heaven [the sky and God’s home], but he himself [personally, as his own words] says: ‘The Lord [God, the supreme authority] said to my Lord [the Messiah, Jesus Christ], “Sit [reign, be seated in power] at My right hand [the place of honor, authority, and power] word study 35 until [at the point when, till the time] I make Your enemies [those who are against you, foes] a footstool [a stool to put your feet on, a sign of subjection] for Your feet [the place of rest and dominance].”’ word study 36 Therefore let all [every single one, the entire house] Israel [the adopted name of Jacob, including his descendants] know with certainty [assuredly, beyond doubt] that God [the one true deity, Creator of all] has made this Jesus [the anointed one, Christ], whom you [directly addressing the people] crucified [put to death on a cross, impaled], both Lord [Master, ruler of all] and Christ [the Messiah, anointed one]!” word study 37 When the people heard [and understood, were pierced by] this, they were cut [pricked, struck] to the heart [their inner being, seat of emotions] and asked Peter [the rock, Jesus’ appointed leader] and the other apostles [Jesus’ messengers, delegates], “Brothers [fellow believers, men and brethren], what shall we do [to be saved, to make things right]?” word study 38 Peter replied, “Repent [turn away from sin, change your mind] and be baptized, every one of you, in the name [authority and character] of Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] for the forgiveness [pardon, remission] of your sins [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards], and you will receive the gift [free, unmerited favor] of the Holy Spirit [the divine, life-giving breath]. word study 39 This promise [a commitment or assurance from God] belongs to you [as individuals, directly addressed] and your children [descendants, offspring] and to all who are far off [distant, scattered abroad]—to all whom the Lord [the supreme authority] our God [the one true deity] will call [summon, invite] to Himself [into a personal relationship].” word study 40 With many [numerous, several] other words he testified [solemnly witnessed, bore witness], and he urged [pleaded with, exhorted] them, “Be saved [rescued, delivered] from this [present, current] corrupt [crooked, perverse] generation [group of people, age].” word study 41 Those who [gladly, with joy] embraced [received warmly, accepted] his message [word, logos] were baptized [immersed, submerged in water], and about [approximately, like] three thousand [a large multitude, 3000] were added [joined, united] to the believers [faithful, followers of Christ] that day [a 24-hour period, a specific time]. word study 42 They devoted themselves [steadfastly, continually] to the apostles’ [messengers of Jesus Christ] teaching [instruction, doctrine] and to the fellowship [partnership, communion], to the breaking [fracturing, splitting] of bread [loaves, food] and to prayer [worship, communion with God]. word study 43 A sense of awe [fear, reverence] came over everyone [all people, every soul], and the apostles [messengers of Jesus Christ] performed many [numerous, abundant] wonders [miraculous signs, marvels] and signs [supernatural indications, tokens] [through their ministry, by their hands]. word study 44 All [every single one] the believers [who trusted in Jesus] were together [in one place, united] and had [possessed, shared] everything [all things] in common [shared by all, unselfishly]. word study 45 Selling [exchanging for money, disposing of] their possessions [property, belongings] and goods [wealth], they shared [distributed, parted] with anyone [all men] who was in need [had necessity]. word study 46 With one accord [united, in harmony] they continued [persevering, steadfastly] to meet daily [day by day, every day] in the temple [sacred place, house of worship] courts and to break bread [share food, distribute loaves] from house to house [in their homes, among their families], sharing their meals [partaking of food, eating together] with gladness [joy, exultation] and sincerity [simplicity, genuineness] of heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], word study 47 praising [giving thanks to, honoring] God [the one true deity] and enjoying [having favor with, being pleasing to] the favor [graciousness, divine influence] of all [every, the whole] the people [a group of individuals, a nation]. And the Lord [God, the supreme authority] added [increased, gave more] to their number [those who belonged to them] daily [every day, day by day] those who were being saved [delivered from sin, rescued]. word study