the Fourth Week of Advent
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Acts 2
1 When the day of pentecost was come, they all met together with one accord. 2 when all of a sudden there came a sound from heaven, like that of an impetuous wind, which filled all the house where they were. 3 and there appeared several little flames, and sat upon each of them: 4 and they were all filled with the holy ghost, and began to speak in different languages, as the spirit gave them utterance.
5 now many devout Jews were residing at Jerusalem, who came from all quarters of the world. 6 and upon the rumour of this event, the multitude came together, and were confounded, every man hearing the disciples speak in his own language. 7 struck with astonishment and admiration, they said to one another, are not these men who are speaking, all Galileans? 8 how comes it then that we hear every man talking in our own native tongue? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, 10 Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya about Cyrene, foreigners from Rome, Jews, and proselytes, 11 Cretes, and Arabians, we hear them all proclaiming in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 and they were all amazed, and perplex'd, saying one to another, what can the meaning of this be? 13 others in derision said, these men are full of sweet wine.
14 But Peter standing up with the eleven, and raising his voice, said to them, ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and observe what I say. 15 these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is but the third hour of the day. 16 but this is the accomplishment of what was said by the prophet Joel , 17 "it shall come to pass in the last days (saith God) I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men dream dreams: 18 and on my servants, and on my handmaidens I will pour out of my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy: 19 and I will shew prodigies in the heavens, and signs on the earth; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke. 20 the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and illustrious day of the Lord shall come. 21 and then whoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved." 22 ye men of Israel attend to what I say; Jesus of Nazareth was a man whom God distinguished among you, by miracles, by prodigies, and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as you your selves also know: 23 him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by means of the wicked, have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, 24 having delivered him from the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be overpower'd by it. 25 for David says concerning him , "I had the Lord always present before me, he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. 26 therefore did my heart rejoice, my tongue was glad: and my body shall rest in hope. 27 because thou wilt not leave my soul in the grave, nor wilt thou give thine holy one a prey to corruption. 28 thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy by thy presence." 29 men and brethren, let me with assurance tell you of the patriarch David, who died and was buried here, his sepulchre being with us to this day: 30 that, as he was a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him , to place the fruit of his loins upon his throne: foreseeing this, 31 he spoke of the resurrection of Christ, when he said, "that his soul was not lest in the grave, neither did his body undergo corruption."' 32 'tis this Jesus whom God hath raised up, of which we all are witnesses. 33 therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the father the promise of the holy spirit, he has diffused that spirit, the effects of which ye now see and hear. 34 for David is not ascended to heaven: yet he saith himself , "the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, 35 until I make thy foes thy footstool." 36 therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, their hearts were struck with remorse, and they said to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Peter replied, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy spirit. 39 for the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 and with many other discourses did he conjure and exhort them, to save themselves from that depraved generation. 41 then they that embraced his doctrine, were baptized: and there were about three thousand converts made that very day.
42 they continued stedfastly in the apostolical doctrine of a community, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 and all the people were allarm'd at the many prodigies and miracles which were done by the apostles. 44 All that believed were united together, and had all things in common, 45 so that they sold their possessions and goods, and distributed the money to every one as his occasions required. 46 and continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they did eat their meals with gladness, and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God, and showing benevolence to all the people. and the Lord encreased the church daily with new converts.