The flat rooftops of Jerusalem on a spring morning, a sudden wind bending a palm and tearing smoke sideways, the temple bright in the distance.

The Book of

Acts 2

Fifty days after the cross, a wind fills a house in Jerusalem, and a fisherman from Galilee preaches to pilgrims from every nation.

47 verses≈ 7 min3 peopleBSB

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In this chapter

The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

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Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:4

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.

Pilgrims from every nation

Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language?

Pilgrims from every nation

Stylised map · locations approximate

Where it happened

Every nation under heaven

The pilgrims’ own roll call, from Parthia, Media, Elam and Mesopotamia in the east to Rome in the west, Egypt and Cyrene in the south. All of them heard “the wonders of God” in their own tongues, in one city on one morning.

Pilgrims from every nation

Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Others

But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!”

Question

Quick question

Galileans were speaking, and a crowd from every nation came together in bewilderment.

How did each person in the crowd hear the believers speaking?

Peter Addresses the Crowd

Peter

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!

Spring rain sweeping in grey sheets over bare Judean hills while sunlight breaks through behind and pours down onto the slopes.

No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out My Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

Even on My menservants and maidservants

I will pour out My Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness,

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord

will be saved.’

0:42

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip.

it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip

Acts 2:24

David says about Him:

‘I saw the Lord always before me;

because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will dwell in hope,

because You will not abandon my soul to Hades,

nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the paths of life;

You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’

Acts 2:25–28

The dark rock-cut entrance of an ancient royal tomb on the slope of the old City of David, cut steps and a sealing stone in afternoon light.

Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.

David and the Christ

Whiteboard

Peter’s argument in one frame. David’s grave was still there for anyone to visit, so Psalm 16 could not be about David himself. It was about his descendant, the Christ, whom God raised. And Peter and the others had seen Him alive.

God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.

Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand

until I make Your enemies

a footstool for Your feet.”’

Acts 2:33–35

Three Thousand Believe

The crowds

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter

Peter replied, “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. This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.”

With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”

Broad stepped immersion pools beside the great stairs of the temple mount, with many people going down into the water.

Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.

Reflect

Cut to the heart

When the crowd heard that the Jesus they had rejected is “both Lord and Christ,” they were “cut to the heart” and asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter did not tell them to try harder. He said, “Repent and be baptized,” and promised forgiveness and “the gift of the Holy Spirit.” What is your honest answer to that question today?

The Fellowship of Believers

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:42

the Lord added to their number daily

Acts 2:47

Pray

With gladness

The first believers shared their bread, their homes and their possessions “with gladness and sincerity of heart,” and “the Lord added to their number daily.” Ask the Holy Spirit to make your church that kind of family: devoted to the apostles’ teaching, quick to share, and full of praise, so that others are drawn to Jesus.

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Acts 2

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A verse to carry with you

God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.

Acts 2:32

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