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 2:28 mean?

Explanation

The verse "Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance." found in Acts 2:28 of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is understood as an expression of confidence in the guidance and presence of God.

In a literal sense, the speaker acknowledges that God has revealed the path to a fulfilling life. Figuratively, "the ways of life" may refer to understanding God's design for humanity, including the moral and spiritual dimensions of living.

The phrase "thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance" suggests that being in God's presence, or enjoying His favor, is a source of profound happiness and satisfaction.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 2:28 appears in the book of Acts in the New Testament, which records the early history of the Christian church following the ascension of Jesus into heaven.

The specific context of this verse is the day of Pentecost when the apostle Peter addresses a crowd in Jerusalem.

He is explaining how Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are the fulfillment of ancient prophecies.

This particular verse is actually a quotation from Psalm 16:11, suggesting continuity between the Christian message and Jewish scriptures.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse has been interpreted in several ways. Within Christian thought, it is often seen as a proclamation of the assurance of eternal life and the joy that comes from fellowship with God.

Some theologians focus on the eschatological aspect, that the "ways of life" refer to the promise of heaven or the resurrected life. Others stress the present reality of experiencing the joy of God's "countenance," or presence, here and now, through the Holy Spirit.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse can serve as a source of comfort and encouragement for believers.

It reminds individuals to seek God's guidance in all aspects of life and reassures them of the joy that comes from a relationship with God.

In daily living, it might be applied by prioritizing spiritual growth, making ethical decisions, and fostering a sense of joy despite circumstances.

Cross-References

Psalm 16:11: "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."
Psalm 21:6: "For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance."
Psalm 4:6-7: 'There be many that say, “Who will shew us any good?” LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.'

Language Study

The key words in this verse, taken from the original Greek, include:

"Ways of life" (ὁδοὺς τῆς ζωῆς): Often signifies paths or manners of living that lead to life.
"Full of joy" (πληρώσεις χαρᾶς): Implies a completeness or fullness of joy, suggesting an overflowing sense.
"Countenance" (τῷ προσώπῳ): Can signify face or presence, indicating a personal encounter with God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient religious writings, it's common to find themes of divine guidance and the quest for happiness through knowledge of the divine.

For example, in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the protagonist seeks eternal life.

In the writings of Plato, the contemplation of the Good is said to lead to the best life.

These themes echo the biblical idea of finding the "ways of life" through divine revelation.

Scientific Perspectives

While the verse itself does not directly relate to scientific perspectives, the concept of joy having a positive impact on life aligns with psychological research that finds a connection between well-being, happiness, and a sense of purpose or spiritual fulfillment.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars have offered various interpretations of Acts 2:28.

Commentators like Matthew Henry view it as indicative of Christ's resurrection being the way to life.

John Calvin sees the presence of God's face as crucial to finding complete joy.

Modern commentaries highlight the verse's connection to the deeper spiritual journey of the believer and the transformative power of experiencing God's presence.

The consensus recognizes the verse's importance in emphasizing the relationship between divine revelation, the path to spiritual fulfillment, and joy in the Christian walk.

Acts 2

Acts 2

What does Acts 2:28 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 2:28 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?