Acts2
King James Version · Public Domain
1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11Cretans and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of 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:
18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Acts 2.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The descent of the Holy Spirit at the day of Pentecost. (1–4). The apostles speak in divers languages. (5–13). Peter's address to the Jews. (14–36). Three thousand souls converted. (37–41). The piety and affection of the disciples. (42–47).
vv1-4
We cannot forget how often, while their Master was with them there were strifes among the disciples which should be the greatest; but now all these strifes were at an end. They had prayed more together of late. Would we have the Spirit poured out upon us from on high, let us be all of one accord. And notwithstanding differences of sentiments and interests, as there were among those disciples, let us agree to love one another; for where brethren dwell together in unity, there the Lord commands his blessing. A rushing mighty wind came with great force. This was to signify the powerful influences and working of the Spirit of God upon the minds of men, and thereby upon the world. Thus the convictions of the Spirit make way for his comforts; and the rough blasts of that blessed wind, prepare the soul for its soft and gentle gales. There was an appearance of something like flaming fire, lighting on every one of them, according to John Baptist's saying concerning Christ; He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. The Spirit, like fire, melts the heart, burns up the dross, and kindles pious and devout affections in the soul; in which, as in the fire on the altar, the spiritual sacrifices are offered up. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, more than before. They were filled with the graces of the Spirit, and more than ever under his sanctifying influences; more weaned from this world, and better acquainted with the other. They were more filled with the comforts of the Spirit, rejoiced more than ever in the love of Christ and the hope of heaven: in it all their griefs and fears were swallowed up. They were filled with the gifts of the Holy Ghost; they had miraculous powers for the furtherance of the gospel. They spake, not from previous though or meditation, but as the Spirit gave them utterance.
vv5-13
The difference in languages which arose at Babel, has much hindered the spread of knowledge and religion. The instruments whom the Lord first employed in spreading the Christian religion, could have made no progress without this gift, which proved that their authority was from God.
vv14-21
Peter's sermon shows that he was thoroughly recovered from his fall, and thoroughly restored to the Divine favour; for he who had denied Christ, now boldly confessed him. His account of the miraculous pouring forth of the Spirit, was designed to awaken the hearers to embrace the faith of Christ, and to join themselves to his church. It was the fulfilling the Scripture, and the fruit of Christ's resurrection and ascension, and proof of both. Though Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost, and spake with tongues as the Spirit gave him utterance, yet he did not think to set aside the Scriptures. Christ's scholars never learn above their Bible; and the Spirit is given, not to do away the Scriptures, but to enable us to understand, approve, and obey them. Assuredly none will escape the condemnation of the great day, except those who call upon the name of the Lord, in and through his Son Jesus Christ, as the Saviour of sinners, and the Judge of all mankind.
Key Words
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
ἡμέρα (hēméra): day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)
πεντηκοστή (pentēkostḗ): fiftieth (G2250 (ἡμέρα) being implied) from Passover, i.e. the festival of "Pentecost"
συμπληρόω (symplēróō): to implenish completely, i.e. (of space) to swamp (a boat), or (of time) to accomplish (passive, be complete)
ἦν (ēn): I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were)
ἅπας (hápas): absolutely all or (singular) every one
ὁμοῦ (homoû): akin to G260 (ἅμα)) as adverb; at the same place or time
ἐπί (epí): properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.
αὐτός (autós): the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
Acts 2Directly cited by Peter as the primary prophecy being fulfilled by the Holy Spirit's outpouring.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Peter quotes and exposits Psalm 16:10 directly to prove Christ's bodily resurrection.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct citation of David's prophecy of Messiah's ascension and reign at God's right hand.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Direct development of the believers being of one heart and sharing all things in common.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Narrates the practical implementation of selling possessions and distributing to those in need.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Establishes the Old Testament feast of Pentecost (fifty days/weeks) fulfilled on this day.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Jesus uses wind as a sovereign, mysterious emblem of the Spirit's regenerative work.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Fulfills John the Baptist's prophecy that Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Peter quotes Joel's prophecy concerning salvation in the name of the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Paul employs the identical argument from Psalm 16 in Antioch of Pisidia.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Illustrates the early church practice of meeting on the first day to break bread.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Shows the continuity of the disciples continually praising God in the temple.
Supported by John Calvin
The breath/wind (ruach) from heaven breathing life into the dead, symbolizing spiritual rebirth.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Direct fulfillment of Jesus' promise that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Peter quotes this passage detailing wonders in heaven, blood, fire, and smoke.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Peter quotes this text concerning the sun turning to darkness before the Lord's great day.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallels the dual agency of God's sovereign predestination and human responsibility in Christ's death.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
God's oath to David that his descendant would sit on his throne.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Fulfills Christ's promise that the Father would send the Holy Spirit in His name.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
The source of the pentecostal outpouring which Peter identifies as now happening.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Fulfills Christ's command that repentance and remission of sins be preached starting at Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
The immediate execution of Peter's command to repent and be baptized.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic fulfillment of the Messiah's people offering themselves willingly in the day of power.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Links back to the disciples continuing with one accord in prayer before Pentecost.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The recurring theme of great fear coming upon the church and onlookers.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the combination of apostolic signs, public fear, and daily additions.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The giving of the Law on Sinai occurred fifty days after the first Passover.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Illustrates the continued massive gathering of diaspora Jews in Jerusalem during Pentecost.
Supported by John Calvin
The division and confusion of languages at Babel is reversed by the gift of tongues.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Contrasts being drunk with wine (mockers' charge) with being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Peter's parallel defense of Jesus authenticated by miracles, wonders, and signs from God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The prophecy of looking on Him whom they pierced and mourning in deep conviction.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Peter's subsequent call to repentance and conversion for the blotting out of sins.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The covenant promise extending to believers and their children.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Explains how those 'afar off' are brought near by the gospel message.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Apostolic practice of breaking bread and eating together in home gatherings.
Supported by Matthew Henry