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.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

1
Now when the day of Shavu`ot had come, they were all with one accord in one place. ​
2
Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ​
3
Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. ​
4
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. ​
5
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. ​
6
When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
7
They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
8
How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
9
Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10
Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11
Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
12
They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, “What does this mean?”
13
Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.” ​

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14
But Peter, standing up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. ​
15
For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.

Fulfillment of Joel's Prophecy

16
But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel: ​
17
‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. ​
18
Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
19
I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
20
The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21
It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ ​

The Resurrection and Exaltation of Jesus

22
“Men of Israel, hear these words! Yeshua of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in your midst, even as you yourselves know, ​
23
him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; ​
24
whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. ​
25
For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before my face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. ​
26
Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;
27
because you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay. ​
28
You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
29
“Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ​
30
Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Messiah to sit on his throne, ​
31
he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was his soul left in Sheol, nor did his flesh see decay.
32
This Yeshua God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
33
Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. ​
34
For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand, ​
35
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
36
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Yeshua whom you crucified.” ​

Response, Repentance, and Baptism

37
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the emissaries, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ​
38
Peter said to them, “Repent, and be immersed, every one of you, in the name of Yeshua the Messiah for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ​
39
For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” ​
40
With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41
Then those who gladly received his word were immersed. There were added that day about three thousand souls. ​

Life in the Early Christian Community

42
They continued steadfastly in the emissaries’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. ​
43
Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the emissaries.
44
All who believed were together, and had all things in common. ​
45
They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.
46
Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, ​
47
praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day 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.

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