¶ When the fiftieth day was come, they were all with one accord gathered together in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as it had been the coming of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they sat. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, as they had been fire, and it sat upon each of them: and they were all filled with the holy ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, even as the spirit gave them utterance.
¶ There were dwelling at Ierusalem iewes, devout men, which were of all nations under heaven. When this was noised about, the multitude came to gether and were astonied, because that every man heard them speak his own tongue. They wondered all, and marvelled saying among themselves: Look, are not all these which speak of Galile? And how hear we every man his own tongue wherein we were born? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites and the inhabiters of Mesopotamia, of Jury, Capadocia, Ponthus, and of Asia, Phrigia, Pamphlia, and of Egypt, and of the parts of Libia, which is beside Syrene, And strangers of Rome, Jewes and Proselites, Greeks and Arabians: We have heard them speak with our own tongues the great works of God. They were all amazed, and wondered saying one to another: what meaneth this? Other mocked them saying: They are full of new wine.
¶ Peter stepped forth with the eleven, and lift up his voice, and said unto them: Ye men of Jewry, and all ye that inhabit Ierusalem: be this known unto you, and with your ears hear my words. These are not drunken, as ye wene: For it is yet but the third hour of the day: but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Ioel: It shall be in the last days (saith God) of my spirit I will pour out upon all flesh. And your sons, and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions. And your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants, and on my hand maidens I will pour out of my spirit in those days, And they shall prophesy. And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and tokens in the earth beneath, blood and fire, and the vapour of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great, and notable day of the Lord come. And the time shall come that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved. Ye men of Israhel, hear these words. Iesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you with miracles and wonders, and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves know: him have ye taken by the hands of unrighteous persons, after he was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, and have crucified and slain him, whom God hath raised up and lowsed the sorrows of death, because it was impossible that he should be holden of it. David speaketh of him: Aforehand, saw I God always before me: For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad. Moreover also, my flesh shall rest in hope because thou shalt not leave my soul in hell, neither shalt suffer thy saint to see corruption. Thou hast shewed me the ways of life, Thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
¶ Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David: For he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre remaineth with us unto his day. Therefore since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn with an oath to him, that the fruit of his loins should sit on his seat: He saw before, and spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul should not be left in hell: neither his flesh should see corruption. This Iesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
¶ Since now that he by the right hand of God exalted is, and hath received of the father the promise of the holy ghost, he hath shed forth that which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into heaven, but he said: The Lord said to my Lord sit on my right hand, until I make thy foes, thy foot stool. So therefore let all the house of Israhel know for a surety, that God hath made the same Iesus whom ye have crucified, Lord and Christ.
¶ When they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter, and unto the other apostles: Ye men and brethren, what shall we do? Peter said unto them: Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Iesus Christ, For the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy ghost. For the promise was made unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar, even as many as our Lord God shall call. And with many other words bare he witness, and exhorted them saying: Save yourselves from this untoward generation. They that gladly received his preaching were baptised, And the same day, there were added unto them about a three thousand souls.
¶ And they continued in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayer. And fear came over every soul. And many wonders and signs were shewed by the apostles. And all that believed gathered then together, and had all things common. And sold their possessions and goods, and departed them to all men, as every man had need. And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and brake bread in every house, and ate their meat together with gladness, and singleness of heart praising God, and had favour with all the people, and the Lord added to the congregation daily them that should be saved.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526