Acts chapter 2 describes the Day of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the birth of the Christian church.
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
-
The Event: Followers of Jesus gather in Jerusalem. A sound like a strong wind comes, and fire-like tongues rest on each person.
-
Speaking in Languages: The believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in different foreign languages they did not know before.
-
The Crowd: Visitors from many nations hear the believers praising God in their own native home languages.
Peter's Sermon
-
Explaining the Miracle: Peter tells the crowd that this event fulfills an old Bible prophecy by the prophet Joel, where God pours His Spirit on all people.
-
Proclaiming Jesus: Peter preaches about Jesus of Nazareth, His death on the cross, and His rising back to life.
-
The Call to Action: The listeners feel guilty and ask what they should do. Peter tells them to turn away from sin (repent) and be baptized in the name of Jesus.
The Early Believers
-
A Big Response: About three thousand people believe the message and are baptized on that single day.
-
Life Together: The new believers share their time, learn from the apostles, eat together, and share their money and goods to help the poor among them.
