h3. Acts 2

h4. The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

^1^ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ^2^ Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ^3^ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ^4^ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[1] as the Spirit enabled them.

^5^ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ^6^ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ^7^ Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? ^8^ Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? ^9^ Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ^10^ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome ^11^ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ^12^ Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

^13^ Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine[2].”

h4. Peter Addresses the Crowd

^14^ 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. ^15^ These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ^16^ No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

^17^ ” ‘In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.

^18^ Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.

^19^ I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.

^20^ The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

^21^ And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved[3].’

^22^ “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. ^23^ This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men[4], put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ^24^ But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

^25^ David said about him:

” ‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

^26^ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,

^27^ because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

^28^ You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence[5].’

^29^ “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. ^30^ 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. ^31^ Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ[6], that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. ^32^ God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. ^33^ Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

^34^ For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

” ‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand

^35^ until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet[7].” ‘

^36^ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

^37^ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

^38^ 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. ^39^ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

^40^ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ^41^ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

h4. The Fellowship of the Believers

^42^ They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ^43^ Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
^44^ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ^45^ Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ^46^ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ^47^ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

??(bibleref)Acts 2:1-47??

^1^ Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. ^2^ He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

bq.. ^3^ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven[1].

^4^ Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted[2].

^5^ Blessed are the gentle,
for they shall inherit the earth[3].

^6^ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,
for they shall be filled.

^7^ Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

^8^ Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.

^9^ Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

^10^ Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

p. ^11^ “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ^12^ Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

^13^ “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. ^14^ You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. ^15^ Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. ^16^ Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

^17^ “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. ^18^ For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter[4] or one tiny pen stroke[5] shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. ^19^ Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. ^20^ For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

^21^ “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder[6];’ and ‘Whoever shall murder shall be in danger of the judgment.’ ^22^ But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause[7] shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca[8]!’ shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna[9].

^23^ “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, ^24^ leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ^25^ Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him in the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. ^26^ Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny[10].

^27^ “You have heard that it was said[11], ‘You shall not commit adultery[12];’ ^28^ but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. ^29^ If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna[13]. ^30^ If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna[14].

^31^ “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce[15],’ ^32^ but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

^33^ “Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ ^34^ but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; ^35^ nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ^36^ Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. ^37^ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

^38^ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth[16].’ ^39^ But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. ^40^ If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. ^41^ Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ^42^ Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.

^43^ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor[17], and hate your enemy[18].’ ^44^ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, ^45^ that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. ^46^ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? ^47^ If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors[19] do the same? ^48^ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

??(bibleref)Matthew 5??

h3. The Ten Commandments

^1^ And God spoke all these words:

^2^ “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

^3^ “You shall have no other gods before[1] me.

^4^ “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ^5^ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ^6^ but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.

^7^ “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

^8^ “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ^9^ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ^10^ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. ^11^ For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

^12^ “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

^13^ “You shall not murder.

^14^ “You shall not commit adultery.

^15^ “You shall not steal.

^16^ “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

^17^ “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

^18^ When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance ^19^ and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”

^20^ Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

^21^ The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

h3. Idols and Altars

^22^ Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: ^23^ Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.

^24^ ” ‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings[2], your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. ^25^ If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. ^26^ And do not go up to my altar on steps, lest your nakedness be exposed on it.’

??(bibleref)Exodus 20:1-26??