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 2:25 mean?

Explanation

Acts 2:25 is a part of the apostle Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, wherein he cites a passage from Psalm 16:8-11, attributed to King David, to affirm that Jesus Christ is the foretold Messiah.

The verse conveys David's confidence in God's continual presence and protection, which reflects a profound trust in God's sovereignty.

The phrase "I foresaw the Lord always before my face" indicates an ongoing awareness of God's presence and guidance.

When David mentions that God is on his "right hand," it implies a position of favor and power, ensuring that he will not be shaken or overcome by adversities.

In the context of Peter's speech, this verse is used to argue that such a level of assured victory and presence was fully realized in Jesus's life, death, and resurrection.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 2 takes place during the Jewish festival of Pentecost, which historically celebrated the first fruits of the harvest and later came to commemorate the giving of the Law at Sinai.

The New Testament describes Pentecost as the moment when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the early followers of Jesus.

Peter, addressing a diverse crowd in Jerusalem, uses this opportunity to connect the Old Testament writings with the life of Jesus to demonstrate that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah.

By quoting Psalm 16, which was recognized as a psalm of David, Peter associates Jesus with the promises given to David and applies them to Christ's resurrection, which was still a recent event.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse carries significant implications:

Continual Divine Presence: Peter uses the psalm to indicate that Jesus, like David, experienced the continual presence of God, which for Christians confirms Jesus's identity as the Son of God. 2.

Messianic Fulfillment: This passage is often perceived as messianic because Peter interprets David's words as not solely speaking about himself but prophetically about the Messiah. 3.

Resurrection and Exaltation: The right hand signifies a place of honor, Jesus's resurrection and ascension are seen as his exaltation to the right hand of God. 4.

Unwavering Hope: David's confidence, as transferred to Jesus, exemplifies a steadfast hope in resurrection and in God's ultimate plan, an essential tenet of Christian faith.

Practical Applications

Unshakable Faith: Christians are encouraged to emulate the unwavering faith exhibited by David and realized in Jesus, finding strength in God's constant presence. 2.

Spiritual Awareness: Believers are called to maintain an awareness of God's presence in all situations, as a guide and protector. 3.

Resilience: Just as David expressed confidence in God's support, individuals are inspired to face trials confidently, knowing that God upholds them.

Cross-References

Psalm 16:8-11: "I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved..."
Acts 2:31: "He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption."
Psalm 110:1: "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."

Language Study

The verse incorporates key phrases and terms that are central to its meaning:

"Foresaw" (προοράω, prooráō in Greek): This term implies a vision or contemplation before an event occurs.

It conveys a sense of prophecy or anticipation.

"Lord" (Κύριος, Kyrios in Greek): This title denotes one with authority, often used in the Septuagint to translate the Hebrew name for God, YHWH.
"Right hand" (δεξιὰ, dexia in Greek): Symbolizes power, authority, and protection in biblical literature, reinforcing the image of God as a defender.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the ancient Near East, including in Jewish culture, the right hand was considered the place of honor and authority.

Kings and gods were often depicted with their favored ones sitting or standing at their right hand, similar to figures like Baal or Marduk in other Semitic myths.

The belief in divine beings protecting and guiding individuals was common in religious texts, and in Judaism, this was uniquely ascribed to the one God, Yahweh.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse does not directly engage with scientific ideas but may touch on psychological aspects, such as the impact of faith and belief on mental and emotional resilience.

The conviction of being accompanied by a higher power or purpose can provide individuals with a sense of stability and hope, which psychology recognizes as factors in coping with stress and adversity.

Commentaries

Different biblical scholars and theologians offer various insights on this passage:

Some commentators suggest Peter's use of Psalm 16 was strategic, appealing to the messianic expectations of his Jewish audience. 2.

Others emphasize that this quotation serves to highlight the continuity between the Old Testament’s prophetic literature and the New Testament's portrayal of Jesus. 3.

There is a consensus that Peter's sermon solidifies the early Christian understanding of Jesus as both the prophesied Messiah and the Divine Son of God, with David's experience pointing to the greater experience of Jesus.

Acts 2

Acts 2

What does Acts 2:25 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 2:25 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?