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 2:33 mean?

Explanation

Acts 2:33 speaks to the exaltation of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit.

In this verse, the apostle Peter is addressing a crowd of people who witnessed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

Peter explains that Jesus, having been crucified and resurrected, has now been lifted up ("exalted") to the right hand of God.

This position at God's right hand signifies a place of power and authority.

Jesus has received from the Father the promise which is the Holy Spirit.

Consequently, according to Peter, Jesus has poured out the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, which is the cause of the miraculous events the crowd is witnessing, including speaking in tongues and prophetic declarations.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts was written by Luke, the same author of the Gospel according to Luke.

Acts 2 describes the events of Pentecost, which occurred after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven.

Recorded roughly in A.D. 30-33, Pentecost marks the birth of the Christian church with the coming of the Holy Spirit.

This was a pivotal moment in Christian history, as it signified the shift from Old Covenant to New Covenant, where the Holy Spirit became accessible to all believers rather than a select few.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, Acts 2:33 has significant implications.

The exaltation of Jesus is a central doctrine in Christian theology, affirming his deity and messianic role.

His position at the right hand of God implies his divine authority and partnership in the divine rule.

In terms of pneumatology (the study of the Holy Spirit), this verse indicates that the Holy Spirit is a gift from Jesus, given to all believers.

This outpouring of the Spirit is seen as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies (e.g., Joel 2:28-29) and Jesus’ own promises (e.g., John 14:16).

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Acts 2:33 encourages believers to recognize the exalted status of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

It suggests that they can draw comfort and strength from the Holy Spirit, who is a counselor, guide, and power source for living a godly life. The Holy Spirit's arrival at Pentecost also establishes a model for the Christian community characterized by spiritual gifts, unity, and evangelism.

Cross-References

Acts 1:8: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me..."
Luke 24:49: "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
Psalm 110:1: "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool."
Ephesians 1:20: "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,"

Language Study

"Exalted": The Greek word used here is "ὑψόω" (hypsoó), which means to lift up on high or to elevate in status.
"Received": The Greek "λαμβάνω" (lambanó), meaning to take or receive, often with the implication of a promise or something predetermined.
"Promise": The Greek "ἐπαγγελία" (epangelia), which refers to a declaration of something to come, commonly associated with God's promises in Scripture.
"Shed forth": Translated from "ἐκχέω" (ekcheó), meaning to pour out or emit freely and abundantly.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse contrasts with many ancient myths where gods often are in conflict with one another, competing for power.

The Christian concept of the Trinity, however, depicts a harmonious relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 2:33, the unity within the Godhead is evident as Jesus receives the Holy Spirit from the Father to share with humanity – a concept unique in ancient religious traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

The promise of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:33 does not directly intersect with scientific understandings, as it pertains to spiritual beliefs that are not within the realm of empirical science.

However, the impact of belief in the Holy Spirit can be studied in psychological terms, such as the effects of religious belief on mental health and community behavior.

commentaries

Contemporary biblical scholars and theologians offer various insights into Acts 2:33.

F.F.

Bruce notes the importance of Peter's claim that Christ is the source of the Spirit's outpouring – a significant statement about Jesus' authority and divinity.

John Stott emphasizes the fulfillment of God’s promises in this event as pivotal in salvation history.

Craig S.

Keener discusses the cultural reactions to such spiritual manifestations, indicating that while some may have been skeptical of the events occurring at Pentecost, Peter asserts their divine origin in light of Jesus’ exaltation.

Each of these experts brings attention to the multifaceted implications of this passage for understanding the nature of Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the formation of the early Christian community.

Acts 2

Acts 2

What does Acts 2:33 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 2:33 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?