Acts2

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking in diverse tongues, which amazed a multitude of devout Jews from many nations. Peter then preached, explaining that this event fulfilled Joel's prophecy and proclaiming Jesus as the crucified and resurrected Lord and Christ. This sermon led about three thousand people to repent, be baptized, and join the nascent church, which then devoted itself to apostolic teaching, fellowship, and communal living.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

1
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ​
2
Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ​
3
They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ​
4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. ​
5
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ​
6
And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.
7
Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
8
How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language?
9
Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10
Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,
11
both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
12
Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13
But others mocked them and said, “They are drunk on new wine!” ​

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14
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. ​
15
These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!

Fulfillment of Joel's Prophecy

16
No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ​
17
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. ​
18
Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
19
I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20
The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.
21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ​

The Resurrection and Exaltation of Jesus

22
Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. ​
23
He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. ​
24
But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches. ​
25
David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. ​
26
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell in hope,
27
because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. ​
28
You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’
29
Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ​
30
But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne. ​
31
Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.
32
God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.
33
Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. ​
34
For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand ​
35
until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’
36
Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!” ​

Response, Repentance, and Baptism

37
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ​
38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ​
39
This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off—to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.” ​
40
With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”
41
Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day. ​

Life in the Early Christian Community

42
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ​
43
A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.
44
All the believers were together and had everything in common. ​
45
Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need.
46
With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, ​
47
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. ​

Study Notes for Acts 2

Verse 1

Pentecost (Shavuot) was a major Jewish harvest festival occurring fifty days after Passover, ensuring that devout Jews from the Diaspora were present in Jerusalem, maximizing the impact of this divine event.

Verse 2

The sound of the 'rushing mighty wind' (pneuma) is symbolic of the Spirit's presence, echoing God's activity in creation and prophecy (cf. Ezek. 37).

Verse 3

The 'cloven tongues like as of fire' symbolize divine purification and presence, recalling the giving of the Law on Sinai and confirming the personal empowering of each believer.

Verse 4

The 'other tongues' (heterais glossais) here refers to recognizable human languages (Vv. 6, 8), fundamentally reversing the confusion of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9) and demonstrating the universality of the gospel.

Verse 5

This diverse assembly of 'devout men' from the Jewish diaspora highlights Luke's theme that the gospel is immediately intended for the entire world.

Verse 13

The mocking accusation shows the confusion of those who did not understand the divine miracle. Peter must first refute this charge before presenting the gospel message.

Verse 14

Peter, who had previously denied Jesus, now stands publicly as the chief spokesman for the apostles, demonstrating the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 16

Peter interprets the current events not as drunkenness, but as the fulfillment of the eschatological promise found in Joel 2:28-32, marking the arrival of the 'last days.'

Verse 17

The Spirit is poured out 'upon all flesh,' signifying a radical expansion of God's covenant work beyond a select few, including men, women, young, and old alike.

Verse 21

This verse provides the ultimate hope and conclusion of the prophecy: salvation is universally available to 'whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord.'

Verse 22

Peter begins the kerygma (proclamation) by establishing Jesus’ identity through his documented miracles, appealing to the crowd's personal knowledge of Jesus' ministry.

Verse 23

This verse introduces the profound theological paradox: while Jesus was executed by human 'wicked hands,' his death occurred according to the predetermined, sovereign plan of God ('determinate counsel and foreknowledge').

Verse 24

God’s action in raising Jesus broke the power of death ('loosed the pains of death'). Peter argues the necessity of the resurrection based on the nature of Christ—it was impossible for death to hold God's Messiah.

Verse 25

Peter shifts the argument to Scripture, quoting Psalm 16:8-11. The core of his subsequent argument is that David could not have been speaking about himself, as David died and saw corruption.

Verse 27

'Hell' (Hades) refers to the realm of the dead. The crucial claim is that God would not permit his 'Holy One' (the Messiah) to experience physical decay, proving the resurrection was necessary.

Verse 29

Peter confirms that David’s tomb is still present, proving that the prophecy in Psalm 16 could not have been fully fulfilled in David himself.

Verse 30

Peter identifies David as a prophet who foresaw the resurrection of his promised descendant (the Christ/Messiah) who would sit on his throne.

Verse 33

The outpouring of the Spirit (Vv. 2-4) is presented as the direct evidence of Jesus' exaltation and installation as Lord at the right hand of God, fulfilling the promise he received from the Father.

Verse 34

Peter uses Psalm 110:1—the most frequently quoted Old Testament verse in the New Testament—to prove that David recognized a superior 'Lord,' confirming Jesus' divine status and heavenly enthronement.

Verse 36

This is the theological climax of the sermon: the crucified Jesus has been definitively appointed by God as both Lord (divine authority) and Christ (Messiah).

Verse 37

To be 'pricked in their heart' indicates conviction by the Holy Spirit. The question 'what shall we do?' shows they accepted Peter's conclusion regarding their guilt and Jesus' identity.

Verse 38

Peter provides the essential path to salvation: repentance (a change of mind), baptism (public identification with Christ), and the promise of forgiveness and receipt of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 39

The scope of the promise is universal—extending beyond the immediate crowd to their descendants and 'all that are afar off' (a phrase often used to include Gentiles, though the immediate audience is Jewish).

Verse 41

The immediate conversion of 'about three thousand souls' marks the founding and explosive initial growth of the Christian church on the day of Pentecost.

Verse 42

This verse defines the four core commitments of the nascent church: theological instruction, communal fellowship, the Lord's Supper ('breaking of bread'), and prayer.

Verse 44

The believers shared possessions voluntarily, demonstrating radical communal solidarity and selfless commitment to ensuring no member of the body lacked basic necessities.

Verse 46

They maintained devotion both publicly in the Temple and privately in homes, showing continuity with Jewish piety while establishing distinct Christian practices (like the Lord's Supper).

Verse 47

The growth of the church was attributed directly to the Lord's action ('The Lord added'), emphasizing that numerical increase is a result of divine favor and work.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Options