Acts 2:37

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ Now 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?

Complete Jewish Bible:

On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Kefa and the other emissaries, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Berean Standard Bible:

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

American Standard Version:

Now when they heardthis, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Now^{G1161} when they heard^{G191} this, they were pricked^{G2660} in their heart^{G2588}, and^{G5037} said^{G2036} unto^{G4314} Peter^{G4074} and^{G2532} to the rest^{G3062} of the apostles^{G652}, Men^{G435} and brethren^{G80}, what^{G5101} shall we do^{G4160}?

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Commentary for Acts 2:37

Acts 2:37 is a pivotal verse in the New Testament that captures a moment of profound impact on the early Christian Church. The setting is the Day of Pentecost, a Jewish harvest festival, which in this year had a transformative significance for the followers of Jesus Christ. Earlier in Acts 2, the apostles, including Peter, were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in various languages, miraculously understood by the diverse crowd of Jewish pilgrims in Jerusalem. This event attracted a multitude, leaving them bewildered and amazed.

In Acts 2:37, the crowd, having witnessed the apostles' display of speaking in tongues and Peter's subsequent sermon, which included a powerful explanation of the prophetic significance of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection, were deeply convicted. The Greek word for "pricked" in their heart conveys a strong emotional and spiritual response, akin to being pierced or stung. This reaction was in response to Peter's message about Jesus, whom they had crucified, and the realization that He was indeed the promised Messiah.

The question they asked, "Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?" reflects a sense of urgency and genuine repentance. It signifies a turning point where the audience, having been confronted with the truth of the Gospel, seeks guidance on how to respond appropriately to this revelation. The themes present in this verse include repentance, the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the preaching of the Gospel, and the early Church's evangelistic mission.

Historically, this moment marks a critical juncture in the expansion of Christianity. Peter's response in the following verses provides the first recorded Christian sermon that leads to a mass conversion, laying the foundation for the Christian doctrine of repentance and baptism. This event is traditionally seen as the birth of the Christian Church, as thousands were added to their number that day, forming the nucleus of the first Christian community in Jerusalem. Acts 2:37 thus stands as a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel message and the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing about conviction and conversion.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1161
   There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δέ
   Transliteration: dé
   Pronunciation: deh
   Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
   
2. Strong's Number: G191
   There are 448 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀκούω
   Transliteration: akoúō
   Pronunciation: ak-oo'-o
   Description: a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.
   
3. Strong's Number: G2660
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: κατανύσσω
   Transliteration: katanýssō
   Pronunciation: kat-an-oos'-so
   Description: from κατά and νύσσω; to pierce thoroughly, i.e. (figuratively) to agitate violently ("sting to the quick"):--prick.
   
4. Strong's Number: G2588
   There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καρδία
   Transliteration: kardía
   Pronunciation: kar-dee'-ah
   Description: prolonged from a primary (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).
   
5. Strong's Number: G5037
   There are 192 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: τέ
   Transliteration: té
   Pronunciation: teh
   Description: a primary particle (enclitic) of connection or addition; both or also (properly, as correlation of καί):--also, and, both, even, then, whether. Often used in composition, usually as the latter participle.
   
6. Strong's Number: G2036
   There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἔπω
   Transliteration: épō
   Pronunciation: ep'-o
   Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω.
   
7. Strong's Number: G4314
   There are 674 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: πρός
   Transliteration: prós
   Pronunciation: pros
   Description: a strengthened form of πρό; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
   
8. Strong's Number: G4074
   There are 157 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Πέτρος
   Transliteration: Pétros
   Pronunciation: pet'-ros
   Description: apparently a primary word; a (piece of) rock (larger than λίθος); as a name, Petrus, an apostle:--Peter, rock. Compare Κηφᾶς.
   
9. Strong's Number: G2532
   There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: καί
   Transliteration: kaí
   Pronunciation: kahee
   Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.
   
10. Strong's Number: G3062
    There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: λοιποί
    Transliteration: loipoí
    Pronunciation: loy-poy'
    Description: masculine plural of a derivative of λείπω; remaining ones:--other, which remain, remnant, residue, rest.
    
11. Strong's Number: G652
    There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀπόστολος
    Transliteration: apóstolos
    Pronunciation: ap-os'-tol-os
    Description: from ἀποστέλλω; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers):--apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
    
12. Strong's Number: G435
    There are 279 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀνήρ
    Transliteration: anḗr
    Pronunciation: an'-ayr
    Description: a primary word (compare ἄνθρωπος); a man (properly as an individual male):--fellow, husband, man, sir.
    
13. Strong's Number: G80
    There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀδελφός
    Transliteration: adelphós
    Pronunciation: ad-el-fos'
    Description: from Α (as a connective particle) and (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like Α):--brother.
    
14. Strong's Number: G5101
    There are 483 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: τίς
    Transliteration: tís
    Pronunciation: tis
    Description: probably emphatic of τὶς; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions):--every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why.
    
15. Strong's Number: G4160
    There are 519 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ποιέω
    Transliteration: poiéō
    Pronunciation: poy-eh'-o
    Description: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare πράσσω.