Acts 2 (selected verses)

This being a special Festival in the Christian calendar, I have added two readers for a total of four.

Reader one: This is the story of the birthday of the church

Reader two: This happened during the Jewish feast of Pentecost, when the disciples, like all the other Jews in the area, were gathered to celebrate. Here’s the story as it is told in the second chapter of the book of Acts.

Reader one: When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples of Jesus were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Reader two: Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Reader one: Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered. They were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. They were amazed and astonished.

Reader three: “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? We all hear them as if they are speaking our own languages, and we’re visitors from all over the world. In our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”

Reader one: All the people who gathered were amazed and perplexed.

Reader three: “What does this mean?”

Reader two: (disgusted) “They are filled with new wine. They are drunk!”

Reader one: But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and spoke to them.

Reader four:  “People of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

“You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know – this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.

But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Reader one: Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles.

Reader three: “My friends, what should we do?”

Reader four: Repent – turn your lives around – and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”

Reader one: Peter testified with many other arguments. He spoke with power and passion.

Reader four: “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

Reader one: So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Reader two: Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Reader one: Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts,  praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.

Reader two: And day by day the Lord added to their number, those who were being saved.

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