1 Chegou o dia de Pentecostes .2 Estando os crentes reunidos naquele dia, ouviu-se, subitamente nos céus, um som semelhante ao rugido de um furacão, enchendo a casa onde se encontravam.ÿ3 Apareceram então como que línguas de fogo que pousaram sobre as suas cabeças e todos os presentes ficaram cheios do Espírito Santo, começando a falar línguas que desconheciam, pois o Espírito Santo deu-lhes esse poder.5 Ora, encontravam-se naquele dia em Jerusalém, para assistir às celebrações religiosas, muitos judeus piedosos vindos de diversas nações. Ao ouvir-se aquele rugido no céu por cima da casa, o povo acorreu para ver o que se passava, e ficaram todos pasmados ouvindo os discípulos falar nas próprias línguas deles.7 Como é que isto pode ser?, exclamaram. Estes homens são da Galileia e, afinal, ouvimo-los falar em todas as línguas dos países onde nascemos! Estamos aqui partos, medos, elamitas, gente da Mesopotâmia, Judeia, Capadócia, Ponto, Ásia , Frígia, Panfília, Egipto, terras da Líbia perto de Cirene, forasteiros vindos de Roma (tanto judeus como convertidos ao judaismo), cretenses e árabes. Todos ouvimos estes homens contar nas nossas diversas línguas os poderosos milagres de Deus! E ficaram ali pasmados, sem saber o que pensar, perguntando uns aos outros: Que quer isto dizer?13 Mas também havia quem troçasse: Beberam demais!14 Então Pedro, avançando com os onze apóstolos, falou à multidão: Escutem, forasteiros e moradores de Jerusalém! Há quem esteja aí a dizer que estes homens se embriagaram! Não é verdade! Seria demasiado cedo para isso! São apenas nove horas da manhã! Não! Aquilo a que acabam de assistir foi predito há séculos pelo profeta Joel:22 Gente de Israel, ouçam! Deus deu público testemunho de Jesus de Nazaré com os espantosos milagres que através dele realizou, como bem sabem. Mas, de acordo com o seu plano, deixou que vocês se servissem de mãos de injustos para o pregarem na cruz e o assassinarem. Porém, Deus libertou-o dos horrores da morte, trazendo-o de novo à vida, pois a morte não poderia ter prendido este homem.29 Irmãos, permitam que vos diga isto com toda a clareza - o nosso antepassado David não se referia a si próprio, pois morreu e foi sepultado, e o seu túmulo ainda o temos entre nós! Mas era profeta e sabia que Deus tinha prometido com juramento que um dos seus descendentes seria o Messias e se sentaria no seu trono.31 David previa e anunciava assim a ressurreição de Cristo, dizendo dele que a sua alma não ficaria no mundo dos mortos e que o seu corpo não conheceria a podridão.32 Referia-se, pois, a Jesus, e todos nós somos testemunhas de que Deus o ressuscitou dos mortos, encontrando-se agora no lugar de honra no céu, à direita de Deus. E, cumprindo a promessa que fizera, o Pai deu-lhe autoridade para enviar o Espírito Santo, com os resultados que hoje estão a ver e a ouvir.36 Portanto, declaro a todos em Israel que Deus fez deste Jesus, que vocês crucificaram, o Senhor e o Messias!37 Estas palavras de Pedro causaram tanta convicção que o povo lhe disse a ele e aos outros apóstolos: Irmãos, que devemos fazer?38 E Pedro respondeu: Cada um deve arrepender-se do seu pecado, converter-se a Deus e ser baptizado em nome de Jesus Cristo, para perdão dos pecados. E então receberão também este dom do Espírito Santo,c39 pois Cristo prometeu-o a todos quantos ouvirem a chamada do Senhor nosso Deus, tanto vocês como os vossos filhos, e até os que estão em terras distantes!40 Pedro continuou com persuasão a falar-lhes de Jesus, e insistia para que se salvassem, se livrassem dos males do seu tempo.41 Aqueles que creram nas palavras de Pedro foram baptizados, cerca de três mil ao todo, e juntaram-se aos outros crentes, participando regularmente no ensino administrado pelos apóstolos, na união fraterna, no partir do pão e nas orações.43 Todos sentiam profundo temor e respeito, e os apóstolos faziam muitos milagres.44 Os crentes encontravam-se constantemente, repartindo tudo uns com os outros,45 vendendo os seus bens e ajudando os necessitados.46 Cada dia adoravam juntos no templo; reuniam-se em pequenos grupos familiares para celebrar a comunhão, e tomavam as refeições em comum,47 com grande alegria e gratidão, louvando Deus. A cidade inteira via-os com bons olhos e todos os dias Deus ia acrescentando ao seu número aqueles que se salvavam.

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.3 And there appeared to them, cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance.5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because every man heard them speak in his own language.7 And they were all amazed, and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these who speak Galileans?8 And how do we hear every man in our own language, wherein we were born?9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and Proselytes,11 Cretes and Arabians we hear them speak in our languages the wonderful works of God.12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?13 Others mocking, said, These men are full of new wine.14 But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said to them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and hearken to my words:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel,17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of 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:18 And on my servants, and on my hand-maidens I will, in those days, pour out of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:19 And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke.20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come.21 And it shall come to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved.22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be held by it.25 For David speaketh concerning him, I saw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also, my flesh shall rest in hope:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of joy with thy countenance.29 Men, brethren, let me freely speak to you concerning the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us to this day.30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to him with an oath, that from the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;31 He seeing this before, spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither did his flesh see corruption.32 This Jesus hath God raised up, of which we all are witnesses.33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he saith himself, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men, brethren, what shall we do?38 Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this perverse generation.41 Then they that gladly received his word, were baptized: and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, ate their food with gladness and singleness of heart,47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.