Acts 2:15

In Acts 2:15, the Apostle Peter emphatically refutes the accusation that the disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in various tongues, were merely drunk. This verse serves as a pivotal point, transitioning from the crowd's confusion and mockery to Peter's powerful, Spirit-inspired sermon.

Context of Acts 2:15

The scene is Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, a significant Jewish festival. Suddenly, a sound like a mighty rushing wind fills the house, and cloven tongues as of fire appear, resting on each of the disciples. They are all filled with the Holy Ghost and begin to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gives them utterance. This miraculous event draws a large crowd, composed of devout Jews from every nation under heaven. While some are amazed, others mock, suggesting the disciples are "full of new wine." It is at this point that Peter, standing with the eleven, raises his voice to address the multitude, beginning with this direct rebuttal.

Key Themes and Messages

• Refuting False Accusations: Peter directly confronts the slanderous charge of drunkenness, establishing the truth before delivering his main message. This highlights the importance of defending the truth against misunderstanding or malice.
• The Nature of Divine Manifestation: The verse sharply contrasts worldly intoxication with the spiritual empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Peter clarifies that what they are witnessing is not human indulgence but a divine work.
• Timing as Evidence: The phrase "the third hour of the day" (approximately 9:00 AM) is key to Peter's argument. At this early hour, especially for devout Jews on a holy day, public drunkenness would be highly unusual and socially unacceptable. This practical detail underscores the absurdity of the accusation and points to a supernatural explanation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the third hour of the day" (Greek: tritē hōra tēs hēmeras) refers to the third hour after sunrise, which aligns with approximately 9:00 AM in the Jewish reckoning of time. This was a time when people would be sober, preparing for morning prayers or commencing their daily work, making the accusation of drunkenness particularly baseless. The Greek word for "drunken" is methyousi, which implies ordinary human intoxication, clearly distinct from the supernatural state of the disciples.

Practical Application

Acts 2:15 offers several timeless lessons:

• Discernment Over Hasty Judgment: It encourages us not to jump to conclusions or make assumptions about others, especially concerning spiritual experiences.
• The Holy Spirit's Purpose: The verse reminds us that the Holy Spirit empowers believers for God's purposes, leading to spiritual clarity and divine utterance, not worldly excess. This stands in contrast to the warning in Ephesians 5:18 not to be drunk with wine, but to be filled with the Spirit.
• Standing for Truth: Peter's immediate and clear defense serves as an example for believers to speak truth with boldness and clarity when faced with misunderstanding or false accusations regarding their faith.