Acts 2
2
The Coming of the Spirit. 1#Luke’s pentecostal narrative consists of an introduction (Acts 2:1–13), a speech ascribed to Peter declaring the resurrection of Jesus and its messianic significance (Acts 2:14–36), and a favorable response from the audience (Acts 2:37–41). It is likely that the narrative telescopes events that took place over a period of time and on a less dramatic scale. The Twelve were not originally in a position to proclaim publicly the messianic office of Jesus without incurring immediate reprisal from those religious authorities in Jerusalem who had brought about Jesus’ death precisely to stem the rising tide in his favor. When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.#Lv 23:15–21; Dt 16:9–11. 2And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind,#There came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind: wind and spirit are associated in Jn 3:8. The sound of a great rush of wind would herald a new action of God in the history of salvation. and it filled the entire house in which they were.#Jn 3:8. 3Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,#Tongues as of fire: see Ex 19:18 where fire symbolizes the presence of God to initiate the covenant on Sinai. Here the holy Spirit acts upon the apostles, preparing them to proclaim the new covenant with its unique gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38). which parted and came to rest on each one of them.#Lk 3:16. 4And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,#To speak in different tongues: ecstatic prayer in praise of God, interpreted in Acts 2:6, 11 as speaking in foreign languages, symbolizing the worldwide mission of the church. as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.#1:5; 4:31; 8:15, 17; 10:44; 11:15–16; 15:8; 19:6; Ps 104:30; Jn 20:33.
5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. 6At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?#1:11. 8Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? 9We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, 11both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.”#10:46. 12They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others said, scoffing, “They have had too much new wine.”#1 Cor 14:23.
II. THE MISSION IN JERUSALEM
Peter’s Speech at Pentecost. 14#The first of six discourses in Acts (along with Acts 3:12–26; 4:8–12; 5:29–32; 10:34–43; 13:16–41) dealing with the resurrection of Jesus and its messianic import. Five of these are attributed to Peter, the final one to Paul. Modern scholars term these discourses in Acts the “kerygma,” the Greek word for proclamation (cf. 1 Cor 15:11). Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them, “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17‘It will come to pass in the last days,’ God says,
‘that I will pour out a portion of my spirit
upon all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
your old men shall dream dreams.#Is 2:2; 44:3; Jl 3:1–5.
18Indeed, upon my servants and my handmaids
I will pour out a portion of my spirit in those days,
and they shall prophesy.
19And I will work wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below:
blood, fire, and a cloud of smoke.
20The sun shall be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the great and splendid day of the Lord,
21and it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord.’#Rom 10:13.
22You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.#10:38; Lk 24:19. 23This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.#1 Thes 2:15. 24But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.#13:34. 25For David says of him:
‘I saw the Lord ever before me,#Ps 16:8–11.
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
26Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;
my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,
27because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.#13:35.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
29My brothers, one can confidently say to you about the patriarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. 30But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,#2 Sm 7:12; Ps 132:11. 31he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption.#13:35; Ps 16:10. 32God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. 33Exalted at the right hand of God,#At the right hand of God: or “by the right hand of God.” he received the promise of the holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you [both] see and hear.#1:4–5. 34For David did not go up into heaven, but he himself said:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand#Ps 110:1.
35until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
36Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”#9:22; Rom 10:9; Phil 2:11.
37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?”#Lk 3:10. 38Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized,#Repent and be baptized: repentance is a positive concept, a change of mind and heart toward God reflected in the actual goodness of one’s life. It is in accord with the apostolic teaching derived from Jesus (Acts 2:42) and ultimately recorded in the four gospels. Luke presents baptism in Acts as the expected response to the apostolic preaching about Jesus and associates it with the conferring of the Spirit (Acts 1:5; 10:44–48; 11:16). 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.#3:19; 16:31; Lk 3:3. 39For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.”#Is 57:19; Jl 3:5; Eph 2:17. 40He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”#Dt 32:5; Ps 78:8; Lk 9:41; Phil 2:15. 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.#2:47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 11:21, 24; 21:20.
Communal Life.#The first of three summary passages (along with Acts 4:32–37; 5:12–16) that outline, somewhat idyllically, the chief characteristics of the Jerusalem community: adherence to the teachings of the Twelve and the centering of its religious life in the eucharistic liturgy (Acts 2:42); a system of distribution of goods that led wealthier Christians to sell their possessions when the needs of the community’s poor required it (Acts 2:44 and the note on Acts 4:32–37); and continued attendance at the temple, since in this initial stage there was little or no thought of any dividing line between Christianity and Judaism (Acts 2:46). 42#4:32–35. They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.#1:14; 6:4. 43Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.#5:12–16. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common;#4:32, 34–35. 45they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. 46Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, 47praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Acts 2
2
Coming of the Holy Spirit
1When #Lev. 23:15; Deut. 16:9; Acts 20:16; 1 Cor. 16:8the Day of Pentecost had fully come, #Acts 1:14they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it #Acts 4:31filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And #Matt. 3:11; 5:6; 10:20; Luke 3:16; John 14:16; 16:7–15; Acts 1:5they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began #Mark 16:17; Acts 10:46; 19:6; (1 Cor. 12:10, 28, 30; 13:1)to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Crowd’s Response
5And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, #Luke 2:25; Acts 8:2devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6And when this sound occurred, the #Acts 4:32multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak #Matt. 26:73; Acts 1:11Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and #1 Pet. 1:1Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
13Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
Peter’s Sermon
14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15For these are not drunk, as you suppose, #1 Thess. 5:7since it is only the third hour of the day. 16But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17‘And#Is. 44:3; Ezek. 11:19; Joel 2:28–32; (Zech. 12:10; John 7:38) it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
#Acts 10:45That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and #Acts 21:9your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
#Acts 21:4, 9; 1 Cor. 12:10And they shall prophesy.
19#Joel 2:30I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20#Is. 13:10; Ezek. 32:7; Matt. 24:29; Mark 13:24, 25; Luke 21:25; Rev. 6:12The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
21And it shall come to pass
That #Rom. 10:13whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’
22“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you #Is. 50:5; John 3:2; 5:6; Acts 10:38by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23Him, #Matt. 26:4; Luke 22:22; Acts 3:18; 4:28; (1 Pet. 1:20)being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, #Acts 5:30you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24#(Rom. 8:11; 1 Cor. 6:14; 2 Cor. 4:14; Eph. 1:20; Col. 2:12); 1 Thess. 1:10; Heb. 13:20whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25For David says concerning Him:
#Ps. 16:8–11‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
27For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see #Acts 13:30–37corruption.
28You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
29“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you #Acts 13:36of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Therefore, being a prophet, #2 Sam. 7:12; Ps. 132:11; Luke 1:32; Rom. 1:3; 2 Tim. 2:8and 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 concerning the resurrection of the Christ, #Ps. 16:10; Is. 50:8; 53:10that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32#Acts 2:24This Jesus God has raised up, #Acts 1:8; 3:15of which we are all witnesses. 33Therefore #Ps. 68:18; (Acts 5:31); Phil. 2:9being exalted to #Ps. 110:1; Mark 16:19; (Heb. 10:12)the right hand of God, and #Luke 24:49; (John 14:26)having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He #Matt. 3:11; 5:6; Luke 3:16; 22:69; John 14:16; 16:7–15; Acts 2:1–11, 17; 10:45; Eph. 4:8poured out this which you now see and hear.
34“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
#Ps. 68:18; 110:1; Matt. 22:44; Luke 23:43; John 20:17; 1 Cor. 15:25; Eph. 1:20; Heb. 1:13‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
35Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’
36“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37Now when they heard this, #(Zech. 12:10); Luke 3:10, 12, 14; John 16:8they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38Then Peter said to them, #Luke 24:47“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is to you and #Joel 2:28, 32to your children, and #Acts 11:15, 18; Eph. 2:13to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
A Vital Church Grows
40And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42#Acts 1:14; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2; Heb. 10:25And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43Then fear came upon every soul, and #Mark 16:17; Acts 2:22many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44Now all who believed were together, and #Acts 4:32, 34, 37; 5:2had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and #Is. 58:7divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46#Acts 1:14So continuing daily with one accord #Luke 24:53in the temple, and #Luke 24:30; Acts 2:42; 20:7; (1 Cor. 10:16)breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And #Acts 5:14the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.