The Church Begins

After Jesus went up to heaven, his friends stayed in Jerusalem, just as he had told them. On the day of Pentecost, they were all together in one place.

Suddenly a sound came from heaven, like a mighty rushing wind. It filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like little flames of fire resting on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages!

Now, people from every nation were staying in Jerusalem. When they heard the sound, a great crowd came running. Everyone was amazed. "How can this be?" they said. "These men are from Galilee — yet each of us hears them in his own language, telling the wonderful works of God!"

Then Peter stood up with the eleven and spoke to the crowd. He told them about Jesus — how he had been crucified, and how God had raised him from the dead. "We all saw him alive," Peter said. "God has made this same Jesus both Lord and Christ."

The people's hearts were touched. "What shall we do?" they asked. Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. This promise is for you and for your children."

That very day, about three thousand people believed and were baptized. They prayed together, ate together, shared what they had with anyone in need, and praised God with glad hearts. And every day, the Lord added more people to them.