And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were
all, with one accord, and with one mind, in one place. And suddenly there
came a sound out of the sky like as a blast of mighty rushing, sweeping,
violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And
there appeared unto them tongues like as of fire, being divided into parts
and distributed; and it remained, stayed or continued upon each of them.
And they were all under the full influence of, and filled (mentally, with
the) Holy Spirit and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit
gave to them to speak out or declare (concerning solemn and weighty matters).
And Jews were staying in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation of those
under heaven.
And upon this sound occurring, the multitude came together
and were confounded, perplexed and amazed, for they each heard them speaking
in their own dialect. And all were amazed, and marveled, saying one to another,
“Behold, are not all these which are speaking Galileans? But how are we hearing
every man in his own native dialect, indigenous vernacular, or idiom? Parthians
and Medes and Elamites, and those inhabiting Mesopotamia; both Judea and
Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia; both Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts
of Libya over by Cyrene, and those resident alien Romans; both Jews and (their)
proselytes or converts, Cretans and Arabians; we are hearing them speaking
to us in our languages the wonderful works of God.” And they were all amazed
and were utterly at a loss, saying one to another, “What could this possibly
be?” But mocking, others said that they are filled with new sweet wine.
But Peter, standing with the eleven, (for they had replaced
Judas Iscariot with Matthias) lifted up his voice and spoke out for himself
unto them, “Men, Jews, and all those inhabiting Jerusalem, let this be known
to you and listen to my words: for these are not drunk as you are presuming,
for it is merely the third hour of the day [9:00 A.M.]. But this is that
which has been spoken of by the prophet Joel [Joel 2:28-32a]; “And it will
come to pass in the last days [Hebrews 1:2a], says God, that I will liberally
bestow forth from out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your
daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old
men will dream dreams: and even upon these my male slaves and upon these
my female slaves in those days I will liberally bestow forth from out of
my Spirit; and they will prophesy: and I will reveal prodigious portents
in heaven above, and signs upon the earth beneath; blood and fire and acrid
smoke: the sun will be changed into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
that great and glorious, illustrious, splendid day of the Lord comes: and
it will come to pass that all whosoever may invoke or call upon the Name
of the Lord for him or herself will be saved.”
“Men, Israelites, hear these words: Jesus the Nazarene,
a man from God, having been constituted and appointed to you all by mighty
manifestations of power and miraculous wonders and extraordinary signs, which
God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves also surely know: this
(Jesus), delivered up (according) to the counsel, purpose, design, decree
and previous determination or purpose of God having been pre-determinately
fixed, you all having taken with lawless hands, lifting (him) up, affixing
(him) to (a cross), murdered (him), by putting (him) to death: whom God raised
up (from the dead), having released him from the stringent snare or noose
of death, because it was not possible for him to be vanquished under it (death).
For David said regarding him [Psalms 16:8-11], “I was mindful of the Lord
in my estimation; (he) was vividly present in all respects while (I was)
subject to (trouble); for he is at my right hand (for help), in order that
I should not be disturbed or agitated: therefore my heart became glad and
exulted or rejoiced; and my tongue celebrated exceedingly for my state; and
in addition, my flesh also will settle and abide upon a guarantee of security:
because you will not leave my soul in the invisible abode of the dead, neither
will you permit or allow your Holy One to see dissolution, corruption or
decay. You have made known, and declared to me a course or way of life; you
will fully possess and influence me with joy, gladness and rejoicing by means
of your personal presence.” [The Father and the Son had a deal prior to the
foundation of the world: Jesus would ransom fallen man and God would raise
him from the dead and exalt him as a result.]
“Men (and) brethren, it is lawfully permitted (for me)
to speak unto you with plainness concerning the patriarch David, that he
both died and was buried, and his sepulcher is here with us unto this day.
Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him with an
oath that of the fruit of his loins according to the flesh (Mary) he (God)
would cause the Messiah to rise up and to sit on his throne, he, seeing this
in advance, spoke of or about the resurrection of the Messiah, that his soul
would not be left behind in the abode of the dead, neither saw his flesh
dissolution, corruption or decay. God has raised up this Jesus (from the
dead) of which we are all witnesses. Therefore or consequently, being raised
and exalted to the right hand of God, and receiving from the Father the promise
of the Holy Spirit, he has liberally bestowed, poured out and shed forth
this which you are now seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into
the heavens; but he said [Psalms 110:1], “The Lord God said to my Lord, “You
sit at my right hand until I can make your enemies a footstool for your feet.””
Therefore, let all the house of Israel know with certainty, that God has
made this Jesus whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ - Messiah.”
And having heard, they became pierced through their heart
(with compunction), and said both unto Peter, and the rest of the apostles,
“Men and brethren, what will we do?” And Peter said unto them, “You all repent,
undergoing a change in both mind and feeling while making a reforming change
in both principle and practice, and be baptized, every one of you separately,
in the Name of Jesus Christ, in preparation for, or with a view towards,
or with reference to, or because of the remission, pardon or forgiveness
of sins, and you will receive the beneficent free gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the annunciation is unto you all, and to your children - even unto all
those (who are) alien - as many as our Lord God may call unto himself and
invite.” And with many other such words he was solemnly and earnestly testifying,
exhorting and charging, saying, “Be delivered and set free from this wicked,
perverse generation.” Then those gladly embracing his words (with hearty
assent) were baptized: and about three thousand souls were added (to the
Church) that day. And they were remaining constantly in the teaching of the
apostles, and the partnership or fellowship, and the breaking of the bread,
and the prayers. And fear came (upon) every soul: and many signs and wonders
were taking place by means of the apostles. And all those faithing were unified
together or united (as a commune), and were having all (things) or the whole
in common, belonging equally to all; and they were selling goods and possessions
and were distributing them unto all in proportion according as anyone was
having necessity. And they were remaining constantly together at the same
time from day to day in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house,
and were sharing food in simple sincerity and extreme joy of heart, celebrating
and praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was
adding to the Church from day to day such as were being brought within the
pale of saving privilege. Amen.