Acts 2

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

But 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:

For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

And 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:

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

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

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Ye 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:

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

For 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:

Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

Men 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.

Therefore 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;

He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Therefore 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.

For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

Until I make thy foes thy footstool.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Now 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?

Then 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.

For 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.

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

And 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,

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

What does Acts 2:16 mean?

Explanation

The verse Acts 2:16 is found in the New Testament of the Christian Bible and addresses the events occurring during the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles.

The apostle Peter is speaking to a crowd that has gathered, puzzled by the miraculous signs of speaking in tongues.

The crowd suspects the apostles are drunk, but Peter refutes this by quoting the prophet Joel, arguing that what is happening is the fulfillment of prophecy.

This verse points to the continuity between the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament) and the events of the New Testament, suggesting that the coming of the Holy Spirit had been foretold and is now being realized.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 2:16 occurs after the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.

The apostles, together with other followers of Jesus, are gathered in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks in the Old Testament, which was a harvest festival that occurred 50 days after Passover (hence the Greek name "Pentecost" meaning "fiftieth").

During this time, Jerusalem would have been crowded with Jews from various regions.

The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles, allowing them to speak in diverse languages (tongues), and thus, they are able to preach to the multicultural crowd in their native languages.

Theological Insights

Theologically, Acts 2:16 offers several insights.

From a Christian perspective, it represents the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, a theme commonly found in the New Testament.

The verse alludes to the belief that God's plan unfolds across time and that Jesus Christ's life and mission, including the work of the Holy Spirit, are in continuity with the Hebrew Scriptures.

In a broader theological framework, this verse is seen as a foundational element for the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in Christian theology.

It signifies the inauguration of the New Covenant where God's law is internalized, written on the hearts of believers, with the Holy Spirit guiding and empowering them in a new way.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Acts 2:16 is often cited to encourage believers in several ways:

Expectancy in God's promises: Believers are reminded that God's promises are true and fulfilled across history.
Empowerment through the Spirit: The passage can serve as a reminder of the active role of the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to perform tasks beyond their natural abilities.
Unity in diversity: The coming of the Holy Spirit emphasizes unity among believers, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers.

Cross-References

Joel 2:28-29: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy..."
Acts 2:17-18: "[...] 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"
Luke 24:49: "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you [...]."

Language Study

The key phrase in Acts 2:16 is "spoken by the prophet Joel," which reflects the Greek words "εἰρημένον διὰ τοῦ προφήτου Ἰωήλ" (eirēmenon dia tou prophētou Iōēl).

A linguistic analysis highlights the importance of fulfillment of words spoken ("εἰρημένον" - "eirēmenon") through or by the means of ("διὰ" - "dia") a prophet ("προφήτου" - "prophētou"), in this case, Joel.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing this verse to other cultural and religious contexts, parallels might be drawn with various traditions where prophecy plays a role.

Ancient myths often speak of seers or oracles who predict events , Acts 2, however, places emphasis on the widespread outpouring of the Spirit and prophetic insight as being available to all people regardless of status or gender, contrasting with the exclusive role of prophecy in some cultures.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the speaking in tongues (glossolalia) described in Acts 2 has been studied in terms of neuropsychological states and linguistic phenomena.

Though there may be natural explanations for some aspects of glossolalia, its occurrence in Acts 2 is portrayed as supernatural, a fulfillment of prophecy rather than a spontaneous or learned behavior.

Commentaries

Various experts and Bible commentators offer insights into Acts 2:16:

Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecy as a testimony to the truth of Christianity.
John Wesley's notes underline the importance of prophetic fulfillment as a divine plan, stressing that the events are not random but orchestrated by God.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary discusses the significance of Peter's use of the prophet Joel to explain the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a divine legitimization of the believer's experience during Pentecost.

Acts 2

Acts 2

What does Acts 2:16 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 2:16 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?