Pentecost Reading in Many Languages
This is an effective method of reading the passage from the book of Acts at Pentecost. Involve as many people as possible from the congregation in presenting this.
Feel free to use any other languages spoken by members of your community or congregation.
It is helpful to have the entire reading printed in English in the bulletin for the congregation to follow along.
Speakers of each language do not read the English translation that appears in italics below each verse below. That is just provided as a guide here.
First Reader:
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
(German)
Und es erschienen ihnen zerteilte Zungen wie von Feuer, und sie setzten sich auf jeden einzelnen von ihnen.
Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them and a tongue rested on each of them.First Reader:
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
(french)
A Jerusalem vivaient des Juifs, les gens pieux venus de tous les pays du monde. Quand ce bruit se fit entendre, ils s'assemblerent en foule. Ils étaient tous profondément surpris, car chacun d'eux entendait les croyants parler dans sa propre langue.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
First Reader:
Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?” Parthians, Medes, Elamites and residents of Mesapotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs –
(Polish)
– słyszymy ich głoszących w naszych językach wielkie dzieła Boże
in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power.
(swahili)
– sisi sótay tuna-wa-si kia wakisema kwa lugha zétu wen-yewe mamb
o makuu ya Mungu.
in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power.
First Reader:
All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”
(Spanish)
Entonces Pedro se puso de pie junto con los otros once apóstoles, y con voz fuerte dijo: “Judíos y todos los que viven en Jerusalén, sepan ustedes esto y oigan bien lo que les voy a decir. Estos no están borrachos como ustedes creen, ya que apenas son las nueve de la mañana. Al contrario, aquí está sucediendo lo que anunció el profeta Joel, cuando dijo:
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “People of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say, Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
First Reader:
In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all people,
a youth:
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions
an older man:
and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
Youth and Older man together: and they shall prophesy,
(Latin):
et dabo prodigia in caelo sursum et signa in terra deorsum sanguinem et ignem et vaporem fumi sol convertetur in tenebras et luna in sanguinem antequam veniat dies Domini magnus et manifestus
And I will show portents in the heavens above
And signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood
Before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.
First Reader:
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Instruct the congregation to wait until each reader has spoken in this next part, before they respond with “Thanks be to God” after the English
Each reader in turn says “The Word of the Lord” in their language:
German: das wort vom Herrn
French: le parole de Dieu
Polish : słowo Boga
Swahili: neno wa Bwana
Spanish : la palabra del Señor
Latin: vox Deus
First Reader: The Word of the Lord
