Acts 2
The Holy Spirit is poured out
Then when the day of Pentecost came, they were all gathered together. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a violent gust of wind, and it filled the whole house where they were. They saw tongues of fire, like tongues of fire, which parted and sat on each of them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were devout Jews living in Jerusalem, who had come from every nation under heaven. When this sound occurred, a large crowd gathered there, and they were all amazed, because each of them heard them speaking in his own language. They were amazed and said, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that we hear each of us in our own language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, from Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, from Egypt and Libya near Cyrene, from Rome, Some of us are Jews by birth, some are proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—and we all hear them proclaiming in our own languages the wonderful works of God.” They were perplexed and asked one another, “What does this mean?” But some mocked, “They are drunk with new wine.”
Peter’s speech
Then Peter stood up, and the eleven with him, and began to speak in a loud voice:
“Listen to me, all you Jews who live in Jerusalem! Be aware of this: These men are not drunk, as you think – it is only the morning, the third hour of the day. This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
– In the last days, says God,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
Young men see visions and old men prophesy.
This is what I do: to my servants and maidservants
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they prophesied.
I will show wonders in the sky above,
signs below on the earth:
blood, fire and billowing smoke.
The sun darkens, the moon turns to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes,
large and dazzling.
But whoever calls on the name of the Lord,
it will be saved.
“Men of Israel, listen to what I say: Jesus of Nazareth was a man approved by God among you by miracles, signs, and wonders that God did through him in the midst of you, as you yourselves know. This Jesus you killed, having been handed over to you by the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified him in the hands of the Gentiles who did not know the law. But God raised him up, freeing him from the grip of death, for it was not possible for death to hold him in its power, for David says of him:
– I see the Lord always before me,
He stands at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices,
yet my body shall rest in hope,
for you will not abandon my soul to hell.
and you will not allow the body of your holy servant to see decay.
You show me the path of life.
I get to see your face,
You fill me with joy.
“My brother, it is certain that our ancestor David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. But David was a prophet, and God had sworn with an oath to David that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. David knew this. and foresaw Christ resurrection. That is what he meant when he said that the Lord would not abandon him to Hades, nor would his body see corruption. This Jesus God raised from the dead, and we are all witnesses of it. God has exalted him to his right hand, and he has received the gift of the Holy Spirit promised by the Father and has poured it out, as you can see and hear. David himself did not ascend to heaven. For he says:
– The Lord said to my master:
Sit on my right.
I will defeat your enemies,
I will make them a footstool for your feet.
Therefore, let all the people of Israel be sure of this: God has made Jesus Lord and Messiah. ”This Jesus, whom you crucified.”
When they heard this, they were all stabbed to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 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 is for you, for you and for your children, and for all who are far away—for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Peter continued his speech, appealing to them, “Save yourselves from being destroyed along with this crooked generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand souls were added to the number of believers that day.
So this is what the Bible says about Pentecost.
I myself was filled with the Holy Spirit on February 13, 1975, as a very young woman in North Karelia, in Finland.
A respected servant of God, Eino Lindström, laid his hands on me and I began to speak in new tongues and praise God.
Hallelujah!
Marja Toukola