241.
The
Descent Of The Holy Spirit
(Location:
The Upper Room; Jerusalem In Judea)
ACTS
2:
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 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."
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.' 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, 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.' 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, 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." 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.
This
is a Glorious Mystery of the Rosary
= The Words of Jesus
|