Acts 2:14

¶ But 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:

But {G1161} Peter {G4074}, standing up {G2476} with {G4862} the eleven {G1733}, lifted up {G1869} his {G846} voice {G5456}, and {G2532} said {G669} unto them {G846}, Ye men {G435} of Judaea {G2453}, and {G2532} all {G537} ye that dwell {G2730} at Jerusalem {G2419}, be {G2077} this {G5124} known {G1110} unto you {G5213}, and {G2532} hearken {G1801} to my {G3450} words {G4487}:

Then Kefa stood up with the Eleven and raised his voice to address them: “You Judeans, and all of you staying here in Yerushalayim! Let me tell you what this means! Listen carefully to me!

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words.

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, saying, Ye men of Judæa, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words.

Commentary

Context of Acts 2:14

Acts 2:14 marks a pivotal moment in the early Christian church, immediately following the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The disciples, filled with the Spirit, began to speak in other tongues, which led to a mixture of amazement and derision among the diverse crowd gathered in Jerusalem. Some onlookers accused them of being drunk (Acts 2:13). It is at this critical juncture that Peter steps forward to address the multitude, transitioning from miraculous display to clear, authoritative proclamation.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Apostolic Boldness and Leadership: This verse highlights Peter's emergence as a prominent leader among the apostles. Once timid and prone to denial (see Luke 22:54-62), Peter, now empowered by the Holy Spirit, stands with confidence to defend the disciples and explain the miraculous events. His action signifies the beginning of the apostolic witness to the world.
  • Addressing Misconceptions: Peter's immediate objective is to refute the accusation of drunkenness. He calls for attention ("hearken to my words") to clarify the spiritual nature of what they were witnessing, setting the stage for his explanation of the fulfillment of prophecy, particularly from Joel (Acts 2:16-21).
  • The Call to Attention: Peter's command, "be this known unto you, and hearken to my words," underscores the urgency and importance of his message. He is not merely responding to an accusation but inaugurating the public declaration of the Gospel to a wide audience of "men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "standing up with the eleven" (Greek: stathēis sun tois hendeka) emphasizes Peter's unified front with the other apostles. He is not acting alone but as the spokesman for the collective apostolic witness. "Lifted up his voice" (Greek: epēren tēn phōnēn autou) conveys a sense of powerful, public declaration, indicating that he spoke with authority and clarity to be heard by the large, bustling crowd of Jewish residents and pilgrims from various nations gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost.

Practical Application

Acts 2:14 offers several timeless lessons for believers today concerning the early church's mission:

  • Speaking Truth Boldly: Like Peter, we are called to stand firm and speak God's truth, even when facing misunderstanding or opposition. The Holy Spirit empowers us to proclaim the Gospel with confidence.
  • Clarifying the Message: It's important to address misconceptions about faith and to clearly explain the truth of God's Word to those who are curious or confused.
  • Unity in Witness: Peter stood "with the eleven," demonstrating the importance of unity among believers in proclaiming the message of Christ. The collective witness strengthens the impact of the Gospel message.

This verse serves as the powerful introduction to Peter's first sermon, which would lead to the conversion of thousands (Acts 2:41), marking a foundational moment for the growth of the early Christian church.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 51:7 (4 votes)

    Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart [is] my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

  • Isaiah 58:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

  • Isaiah 51:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock [whence] ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit [whence] ye are digged.

  • Deuteronomy 27:9 (3 votes)

    And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.

  • Hosea 8:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ [Set] the trumpet to thy mouth. [He shall come] as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

  • Acts 5:35 (3 votes)

    And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

  • Isaiah 55:2 (2 votes)

    Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.