Acts 2

Acts 2 records the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost — tongues of fire, the apostles preaching in many languages, Peter's sermon, and the birth of the church as three thousand are baptized.

The Book of Acts · New Testament · chapter 2 of 28.

Where this chapter sits

Luke's second volume opened with the risen Jesus telling the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for a promised gift, and that waiting is answered now. The feast underway, Weeks, fell fifty days after Passover and drew Jewish pilgrims from across the Mediterranean world, explaining the crowd's mixed languages. Peter's speech reaches back to Joel and to David before urging repentance, and the section closes with the new community holding its life in common.

Key verses (KJV)

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” — Acts 2:4 (KJV)

“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ.” — Acts 2:38 (KJV)

What to notice as you read

Watch the shift at verse 14, from the strange scene of speech in many tongues to Peter standing to explain it in plain terms, citing scripture rather than defending the experience. The crowd's question, what shall we do, sets up his direct answer: repent and be baptized.

Read Acts 2 on your iPhone

Read the full text of Acts 2 in Quiethaven — choose your translation, read offline, and pick up where you left off. Pair it with a daily verse and a prayer timer.

Other chapters worth reading

• Romans 5
• Romans 6
• Romans 8
• Romans 12

Explore more

• Full overview of Acts
• Read the whole Bible offline
• Today's verse of the day

Frequently asked questions

Where does Acts 2 come in Acts?

It is chapter 2 of 28 in Acts, a book of History in the New Testament. The other widely-read chapters of Acts are linked further down this page.

Where can I read Acts 2?

Read the full text of Acts 2 — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.