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 2:17 mean?

Explanation

Acts 2:17 is a verse that documents the Apostle Peter's interpretation of the events that occurred during the Day of Pentecost, as part of his address to the bewildered onlookers who witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The verse quotes from the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32), indicating that the events unfolding during Pentecost were a fulfillment of prophecy.

The verse emphasizes a democratization of God's Spirit, suggesting that no one is excluded from the gifts of the Spirit based on age, gender, or status.

"Sons and daughters prophesying" represents a breaking away from traditional, patriarchal constraints, while "young men seeing visions" and "old men dreaming dreams" suggest that the Spirit's influence inspires both the vigor of the young and the wisdom of the aged.

It is a picture of a community unified and animated by a divine force offering guidance, revelation, and empowerment.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts was written by Luke circa A.D. 63-70 and captures the history of the early Christian church after Jesus’ resurrection.

Acts 2 describes the Day of Pentecost, a Jewish festival occurring 50 days after Passover, which by this time had brought Jews from many nations to Jerusalem.

Pentecost became a significant moment for the nascent church when the Holy Spirit dramatically came upon the apostles, enabling them to speak in various languages.

Peter’s speech is a pivotal moment, clarifying that what was happening was foretold by Joel and is a sign of the messianic age.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Acts 2:17 is seen as significant across various Christian traditions.

For Pentecostals and Charismatic Christians, it is a foundational verse justifying the ongoing experience of spiritual gifts.

Mainline Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions may emphasize the verse as pointing to the universality of God's call and the work of the Holy Spirit in the church.

The continuing work of the Spirit, as interpreted by these traditions, is seen in the wisdom and actions in the life of the church rather than in overtly miraculous manifestations.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Acts 2:17 can remind believers of the inclusive nature of God’s ministry. It encourages followers to be open to the varied ways the Spirit may work through individuals regardless of their societal status.

Many believers find motivation in this verse to listen to diverse voices within their communities, recognizing that prophetic insight can come from unexpected places.

This passage also often inspires people to pursue a deeper spiritual life, seeking to be vessels through which God can communicate and work.

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, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."
1 Corinthians 12:4-11: "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."
1 Samuel 2:10: "[...] for by strength shall no man prevail."
Numbers 11:29: "And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!"

Language Study

The key phrase "I will pour out of my Spirit" from the Greek text "ἐκχεὼ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου" is central to understanding this passage. The verb ἐκχεὼ (ekcheō) has the connotation of pouring out abundantly or without reservation, implying a generous and widespread bestowal of the Holy Spirit.

The term πνεῦμα (pneuma) refers to Spirit, breath, or wind, symbolically connecting to the Genesis creation narrative where life is given by God’s breath.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of divine inspiration or possession by a spirit is not unique to Christianity and can be compared to various ancient myths and religious practices.

For example, the Greco-Roman tradition included prophecies delivered by oracles, who were thought to be divinely inspired.

The idea that divinity could communicate through dreams is found in many cultures, including ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific community generally does not engage with supernatural claims like those in Acts 2:17, as they fall outside the realm of empirical study.

However, the areas of psychology and neurology may explore the nature of spiritual experiences, visions, and dreams, offering naturalistic explanations for phenomena that individuals or religious traditions might interpret as spiritual or divine.

commentaries

Various biblical commentaries offer insights into Acts 2:17.

Matthew Henry's Commentary suggests that the promise is an indication of the plentiful and rich grace of God.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges emphasizes the universality of the Spirit's outpouring as something that breaks down all barriers.

The Pulpit Commentary notes the contrast with ancient prophecy, which was often limited to specific individuals, whereas now it is accessible to all believers.

Contemporary scholarship often sees Peter’s usage of Joel's prophecy as indicative of an inauguration of a new era in salvation history.

Acts 2

Acts 2

What does Acts 2:17 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 2:17 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?