May 19, 2024 – Acts 2: 1-21 and Galatians 3:26-29 – by Pastor Sheila Rawn

SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 2: 1-21  

A reading from Acts:   

1When the day of Pentecost had come, [the apostles] were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 
 5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” 
 14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 
 17‘In the last days it will be, God declares, 
 that I will pour out 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. 
 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, 
  in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy. 
 19And I will show portents in the heaven above 
  and signs on the earth below, 
   blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 
 20The sun shall be turned to darkness 
  and the moon to blood, 
   before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 
 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ” 

God’s story, our story. Thanks be to God.   

  

SCRIPTURE READING: Galatians 3:26-29 

A reading from Galatians:   

26for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.