Study Desk

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!^(p)

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.^(q) Your sons and daughters will prophesy,^(r) your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.^(s)

I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below,^(t) blood and fire and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood^(u) before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord^(v) will be saved.'^[c](w)

"Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth^(x) was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs,^(y) which God did among you through him,^(z) as you yourselves know.

This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge;^(aa) and you, with the help of wicked men,^[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross.^(ab)

But God raised him from the dead,^(ac) freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.^(ad)

David said 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 rest in hope,

because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.^(ae)

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'^[e](af)

"Fellow Israelites,^(ag) I can tell you confidently that the patriarch^(ah) David died and was buried,^(ai) and his tomb is here^(aj) 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.^(ak)

Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.^(al)

God has raised this Jesus to life,^(am) and we are all witnesses^(an) of it.

Exalted^(ao) to the right hand of God,^(ap) he has received from the Father^(aq) the promised Holy Spirit^(ar) and has poured out^(as) what you now see and hear.

For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "‘The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."'^[f](at)

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord^(au) and Messiah."^(av)

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"^(aw)

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized,^(ax) every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.^(ay) And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.^(az)

The promise is for you and your children^(ba) and for all who are far off^(bb)—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."^(bc)

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number^(bd) that day.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching^(be) and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread^(bf) and to prayer.^(bg)

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.^(bh)

All the believers were together and had everything in common.^(bi)

They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.^(bj)

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.^(bk) They broke bread^(bl) in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.^(bm) And the Lord added to their number^(bn) daily those who were being saved.