<h3>THE WONDERS OF THE DAY OF PENTECOST</h3>
<p>On the Day of Pentecost, as they were all together, suddenly,
there came from heaven a sound like the rushing blast of a mighty
wind which filled the whole house where they were seated. And
they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in a strange
way and to cry aloud and shout.</p>
<p>When this was reported a crowd gathered, astonished and perplexed,
and asked one another, "What can it mean?" Others with
a sneer said, "They are full of new wine!"</p>
<p>But Peter, together with the eleven apostles, stood up and addressed
them: "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, understand
this and listen to what I say: these men are not drunk as you
suppose, for it is only nine in the morning, but this is what was foretold
by the prophet Joel:</p>
<div class='poem'>
"'In the last days,' God declared,<br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">'I will pour out my Spirit on all mankind;</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Your young men shall see visions.</span><br/>
<br/>
"'And your old men shall dream dreams,<br/>
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</SPAN></span><span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Even upon my slaves and slave-girls</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">In those days I will pour out my Spirit,</span><br/>
<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And they shall prophesy.'"</span><br/></div>
<p>"Men of Israel, hear these words: By the help of lawless men
you nailed to the cross and murdered Jesus of Nazareth, a man who
was proved to be from God through the deeds of healing and the
wonderful acts which God performed by him among you, as you
yourselves know. But God released him from the bonds of death
and raised him to life, for death could not hold him. Lifted on high
at God's right hand and having received from the Father the
promised Holy Spirit, he has poured it upon us as you now see and
hear. Let the whole nation of Israel know beyond a doubt that God
has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."</p>
<p>When they heard this, their conscience troubled them, and they
said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what are we
to do?" Peter answered, "Say that you are sorry for your sins,
and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, that
your sins may be forgiven; then you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit, for it is promised to you, and to your children, and to all in
distant lands, to any and to all whom the Lord our God shall call."</p>
<p>With many other words he warned and urged them to save themselves
from this wicked time. So those who believed what he taught
were baptized; and on that day about three thousand were added
to the brotherhood.</p>
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