Acts — Chapter 2
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1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14But 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:
15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
1And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place.
2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them.
4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language.
7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans?
8And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?
9Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia,
10in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God.
12And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine.
14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, [saying], Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words.
15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day.
16but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams:
18Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
19And I will show wonders in the heaven above, And signs on the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:
20The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable [day].
21And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know;
23him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay:
24whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25For David saith concerning him, I beheld the Lord always before my face; For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope:
27Because thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades, Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption.
28Thou madest known unto me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of gladness with thy countenance.
29Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day.
30Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins he would set [one] upon his throne;
31he foreseeing [this] spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
32This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.
34For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.
36Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.
37Now when they heard [this,] they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?
38And Peter [said] unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.
40And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.
41They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added [unto them] in that day about three thousand souls.
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles` teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need.
46And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,
47praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.
1Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting.
3And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them.
4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem.
6When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
7Completely baffled, they said, “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?
8And how is it that each one of us hears them in our own native language?
9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the province of Asia,
10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!”
12All were astounded and greatly confused, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13But others jeered at the speakers, saying, “They are drunk on new wine!”
14But Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “You men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this and listen carefully to what I say.
15In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.
16But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:
17‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says,‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,and your young men will see visions,and your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
19And I will perform wonders in the sky aboveand miraculous signs on the earth below,blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20The sun will be changed to darknessand the moon to bloodbefore the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21And then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know—
23this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles.
24But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death because it was not possible for him to be held in its power.
25For David says about him,‘I saw the Lord always in front of me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced;my body also will live in hope,
27because you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor permit your Holy One to experience decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;you will make me full of joy with your presence.’
29“Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne,
31David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay.
32This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it.
33So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear.
34For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my lord,“Sit at my right hand
35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
36Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”
37Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What should we do, brothers?”
38Peter said to them, “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
40With many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!”
41So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added.
42They were devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and miraculous signs came about by the apostles.
44All who believed were together and held everything in common,
45and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need.
46Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts,
47praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.
1Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.
6When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
7They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
8How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
12They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14But 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.
15For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.
16But 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.
18Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,
23him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
24whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.
25For 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.
26Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;
27because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
28You 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.
30Therefore, 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 Christ to sit on his throne,
31he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, and his flesh didn’t see decay.
32This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
33Being 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.
34For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand,
35until 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 Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39For 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.”
40With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
43Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44All who believed were together, and had all things in common.
45They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.
46Day 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,
47praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
Summary
The Holy Spirit falls at Pentecost with rushing wind and tongues of fire, the apostles speak in languages they never learned, Peter preaches the first gospel sermon, three thousand are converted, and the first church is born.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Jerusalem / the Upper Room (v.1): The Holy Spirit came upon the 120 disciples gathered in Jerusalem during the Feast of Pentecost (50 days after Passover).
- The list of nations (vv.9-11): Jews and proselytes from Parthia, Media, Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Rome, Crete, and Arabia — showing the geographic diversity of Jerusalem's Pentecost crowds.
- Jerusalem (v.5): "Devout men, out of every nation under heaven" were dwelling in Jerusalem — the hub where the Gospel first exploded outward.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik examines the signs of Pentecost, Peter's sermon structure, the Joel prophecy, the Psalm 16 argument, and the early church's life.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Pentecost" on vv.1-4 (MTP Vol. 10, No. 601) "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost — all. Not just Peter, not just the leaders — all. The Spirit is not for the elite; He is for every believer. And when He fills you, you speak. You cannot be filled with the Spirit and remain silent about Christ." Sermon: "What Shall We Do?" on v.37 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1336) "They were pricked in their heart — convicted, pierced, undone. That is the Spirit's work through the Word. And their question — 'What shall we do?' — is the right question. Peter's answer: Repent. Be baptized. Receive the Spirit. Simple, clear, life-changing."
Reflection
- 1. The Spirit came when they were "all with one accord in one place" (v.1). Unity preceded power. Is there disunity in your church, your family, or your relationships that might be hindering the Spirit's work?
- 2. Peter — who denied Jesus seven weeks earlier — now preaches boldly to thousands. The Spirit transforms cowards into courageous witnesses. Where do you need the Spirit's boldness? What fear is keeping you silent?
- 3. "Repent, and be baptized... and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (v.38). Have you repented? Have you been baptized? Are you living in the power of the Spirit? Which of these needs attention?
- 4. The early church had four priorities: teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer (v.42). How does your church life compare? Which of these four is strongest in your experience? Which is weakest?
- 5. The tongues at Pentecost were real languages — enabling people from every nation to hear the Gospel in their own tongue. God meets people where they are, in language they understand. How are you communicating the Gospel in ways people around you can actually understand?
- 6. Peter's sermon was simple: Jesus lived, died, rose, and is Lord (vv.22-36). The response: repent and believe (v.38). The Gospel is not complicated. Can you explain it that simply? Could you give a 3-minute summary of the Gospel right now?
- 7. "The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (v.47). Church growth is God's work — but it happened in the context of devoted teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer. Are you creating the conditions for God to add to your community?
- 8. The early believers "had all things common" and "sold their possessions" for those in need (vv.44-45). This was voluntary, not mandated. How generous are you with your resources toward other believers in need?
- 9. "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (v.21). The offer is universal — whosoever. No one is excluded by background, ethnicity, or past sin. Who in your life needs to hear that "whosoever" includes them?