Peter Speaks to the People (continued)

²²"My Jewish brothers, listen to these words: Jesus from Nazareth was a very special man. God clearly showed this to you. God proved this by the powerful and amazing things he did through Jesus. You all saw these things. So you know this is true. ²³Jesus was given to you, and you killed him. With the help of bad men you nailed Jesus to a cross. But God knew all this would happen. This was God's plan. God made this plan long ago. ²⁴Jesus suffered the pain of death, but God made him free. God raised Jesus from death. Death could not hold Jesus. ²⁵David* said this about Jesus: 'I saw the Lord before me always; he is at my right side to keep me safe. ²⁶So my heart is happy, and the words I speak are words of joy. Yes, even my body will live with hope; ²⁷because you will not leave my soul in the place of death.* You will not let the body of your Holy One rot in the grave. ²⁸You taught me how to live. You will come close to me and give me great joy.' Psalm 16:8-11

²⁹"My brothers, I can tell you truly about David,* our ancestor.* He died and was buried. His grave is still here with us today. ³⁰David was a prophet* and knew something God said. God promised David that he would make a person from David's family to be a king like David.* ³¹David knew this before it happened. That is why David said this about that person: 'He was not left in the place of death.* His body did not rot in the grave.' David was talking about the Christ* rising from death. ³²So Jesus is the One God raised from death, [not David]! We are all witnesses of this. We saw him! ³³Jesus was lifted up to heaven. Now Jesus is with God, at God's right side. The Father (God) has now given the Holy Spirit* to Jesus. The Holy Spirit is what God promised to give. So now Jesus is pouring out (giving) that Spirit. This is what you see and hear. ³⁴David* was not the one who was lifted up to heaven. [It was Jesus who was lifted up to heaven]. David himself said: 'The Lord (God) said to my Lord: Sit at my right side, ³⁵until I put your enemies under your power.*' Psalm 110:1

³⁶"So, all the Jewish people should know this truly: God has made Jesus to be Lord and Christ.* He is the man you nailed to the cross!" ³⁷When the people heard this, they felt very, very sorry. They asked Peter and the other apostles,*"Brothers, what should we do?" ³⁸Peter said to them, "Change your hearts and lives and be baptized,* each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ. Then God will forgive your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.* ³⁹This promise is for you. It is also for your children and for the people that are far away. It is for every person that the Lord our God calls to himself." ⁴⁰Peter warned them with many other words; he begged them, "Save yourselves from the evil of the people that live now!" ⁴¹Then those people who accepted (believed) what Peter said were baptized.* On that day about 3,000 people were added to the group of believers. ⁴²[The believers continued to meet together.] They used their time to learn the teaching of the apostles.* The believers shared with each other. They ate* together and prayed together.

The Believers Share

⁴³The apostles* were doing many powerful and amazing things; and every person felt great respect for God. ⁴⁴All the believers stayed together. They shared everything. ⁴⁵The believers sold their land and the things they owned. Then they divided the money and gave it to those people who needed it. ⁴⁶The believers met together in the temple* yard every day. They all had the same purpose. They ate* together in their homes. They were happy to share their food and ate with joyful hearts. ⁴⁷The believers praised God, and all the people liked them. More and more people were being saved every day; the Lord was adding those people to the group [of believers].

David King of Israel about 1000 years before Christ. place of death Literally, "Hades." ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the people they are descended from. prophet A person that spoke for God. Sometimes prophets told about things that would happen in the future. God promised ... like David See 2 Sam. 7:12,13 and Ps. 132:11. place of death Literally, "Hades." Christ The "anointed one" (Messiah) or chosen one of God. Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. until I put ... power Literally, "until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." apostles The men Jesus chose to be his special helpers. baptized A Greek word meaning to be immersed, dipped, or buried briefly under water. apostles The men Jesus chose to be his special helpers. ate Literally, "broke bread." This may mean a meal or the Lord's Supper, the special meal Jesus told his followers to eat to remember him (Lk. 22:14-20). temple The special building in Jerusalem for Jewish worship.