1. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2. Suddenly a noise came from heaven. It sounded like a strong wind blowing. This noise filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3. They saw something that looked like flames of fire. The flames were separated and stood over each person there.
4. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak different languages. The Holy Spirit was giving them the power to speak these languages.
5. There were some religious Jews staying in Jerusalem who were from every country in the world.
6. When they heard this noise, a crowd came together. They were all surprised, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
7. They were completely amazed at this. They said, “Look! Aren’t all these men that we hear speaking from Galilee?
8. But each of us hears them in his own language. How is this possible? We are from different places:
9. Parthia, Media, Elam, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10. Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the areas of Libya near Cyrene, Rome
11. (both Jews and those who had become Jews), Crete and Arabia. But we hear these men telling in our own languages about the great things God has done!”
12. They were all amazed and confused. They asked each other, “What does this mean?”
13. But others were making fun of them, saying, “They have had too much wine.”
14. But Peter stood up with the 11 apostles. In a loud voice he spoke to the crowd: “My fellow Jews, and all of you who are in Jerusalem, listen to me. Pay attention to what I have to say.
15. These men are not drunk, as you think; it is only nine o’clock in the morning!
16. But Joel the prophet wrote about what is happening here today:
17. ‘God says: In the last daysI will give my Spirit freely to all kinds of people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy.Your old men will dream dreams.Your young men will see visions.
18. At that time I will give my Spiriteven to my servants, both men and women.And they will prophesy.
19. I will show miraclesin the sky and on the earth:blood, fire and thick smoke.