Acts 2:19

And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

And {G2532} I will shew {G1325} wonders {G5059} in {G1722} heaven {G3772} above {G507}, and {G2532} signs {G4592} in {G1909} the earth {G1093} beneath {G2736}; blood {G129}, and {G2532} fire {G4442}, and {G2532} vapour {G822} of smoke {G2586}:

I will perform miracles in the sky above
and signs on the earth below —
blood, fire and thick smoke.

I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

And I will show wonders in the heaven above, And signs on the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:

Acts 2:19 is a powerful verse from Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost, where he explains the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This verse is a direct quotation from the Old Testament prophet Joel 2:30, part of a larger prophecy concerning the "last days."

Context

On the Day of Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, enabling them to speak in various tongues, a bewildered crowd gathered (Acts 2:6). Peter stands up to address them, asserting that these extraordinary events are not drunkenness but the fulfillment of God's ancient promises. He begins by quoting Joel 2:28-32, setting the stage for understanding the spiritual and cosmic shifts taking place. Verse 19 describes the dramatic, visible signs that would accompany this era, preceding the "great and notable day of the Lord" mentioned in Acts 2:20.

Key Themes

  • Divine Portents and Revelation: The "wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath" emphasize God's active involvement in human history. These are not random occurrences but divinely orchestrated events designed to get humanity's attention and reveal His purposes.
  • Prophetic Fulfillment: Peter's use of Joel's prophecy highlights the continuity of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New. The signs foretold centuries earlier are now beginning to manifest, signifying the dawn of a new spiritual era.
  • Harbingers of the End Times: The imagery of "blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke" speaks to dramatic, even cataclysmic, events that precede the ultimate "day of the Lord." While terrifying, these signs serve as a warning and a call to repentance before judgment.
  • Urgency of Repentance: These awe-inspiring, potentially destructive signs underscore the urgency of responding to God's message. They set the stage for Peter's subsequent call to repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38), offering salvation amidst the unfolding divine plan.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek words translated as "wonders" (terata) and "signs" (semeia) are often paired in the New Testament. Terata refers to extraordinary, awe-inspiring phenomena, while semeia denotes actions or events that convey a specific meaning or point to a deeper truth. Together, they describe supernatural occurrences that serve as divine signals. The imagery of "blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke" is classic apocalyptic language, frequently found in prophetic books of the Old Testament (e.g., Isaiah 13:10, Revelation 6:12), symbolizing disruption, judgment, and divine intervention.

Practical Application

Acts 2:19 reminds us that God is sovereign over all creation and actively communicates His will through both natural and supernatural means. While we may not witness "blood, fire, and vapour of smoke" in the same literal way every day, the principle remains: God provides warnings and signs to draw humanity to Himself. This verse encourages believers to be discerning, recognizing God's hand in current events and living with an awareness of His ultimate plan. It also serves as a call to share the message of salvation, as these signs precede the opportunity for all who call upon the name of the Lord to be saved (Acts 2:21).

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Joel 2:30

    And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

  • Joel 2:31

    The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

  • Zephaniah 1:14

    ¶ The great day of the LORD [is] near, [it is] near, and hasteth greatly, [even] the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

  • Zephaniah 1:18

    Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

  • Malachi 4:1

    ¶ For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

  • Malachi 4:6

    And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

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