Acts Chapter 2

From The Open Bible Project

2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.

• (1) The Apostles being gathered together on a most solemn feast day in one place, that it might evidently appear to all the world that they all had one office, one Spirit, and one faith, are by a double sign from heaven authorised, and anointed with all the most excellent gifts of the Holy Spirit, and especially with an extraordinary and necessary gift of tongues.
• (a) Literally, "was fulfilled": that is, was begun, as in (Luke 2:21). For the Hebrews say that a day or a year is fulfilled or ended when the former days or years are ended, and the other has begun; (Jeremiah 25:12): "And it will come to pass that when seventy years are fulfilled, I will visit, etc." For the Lord did not bring his people home after the seventieth year was ended, but in the seventieth year: Now the day of Pentecost was the fiftieth day after the feast of the Passover.
• (b) The twelve apostles, who were to be the patriarchs as it were of the Church.

2:2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

2:3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.

2:4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

• (c) He calls them "other tongues" which were not the same as the apostles commonly used, and Mark calls them "new tongues".
• (d) By this we understand that the apostles were not speaking one language and then another by chance at random, or as eccentric men used to do, but that they kept in mind the languages of their hearers: and to be short, that they only spoke as the Holy Spirit directed them to speak.

2:5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.

2:6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.

2:7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, aren't all these who speak Galileans?

2:8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?

• (e) Not that they spoke one language, and different languages were heard, but the apostles spoke with different languages: for otherwise the miracle would have been in the hearers, whereas it is really in the speakers; Nazianzen in his oration of Whitsunday.

2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,

2:10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

• (f) By Jews he means those that were both Jews by birth and Jews by profession of religion, though they were born in other places: and these latter ones were proselytes, who were born Gentiles, and embraced the Jewish religion.

2:11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!"

2:12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What does this mean?"

• (2) God’s word pierces some in such a way that it drives them to seek out the truth, and it so chokes others that it forces them to be witnesses of their own impudency.

2:13 Others, mocking, said, "They are filled with new wine."

• (g) The word which he uses here signifies a kind of mocking which is reproachful and insolent: and by this reproachful mocking we see that no matter how great and excellent the miracle, the wickedness of man still dares to speak evil against it.

2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, "You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

• (h) The holiness of Peter is to be marked, in which the grace of the Holy Spirit is to be seen, even from the very beginning.

2:15 For these aren't drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only [3] the third hour of the day [See Acts Footnotes 3].

• (i) After the sunrise, which may be about seven or eight o’clock to us.

2:16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

• (k) There is nothing that can dissolve questions and doubt except testimony taken out of the Prophets: for men’s reasonings may be overturned, but God’s voice cannot be overturned.

2:17 'It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.

• (3) Peter setting forth the truth of God against the false accusations of men, shows in himself and in his companions that the prophecy of Joel concerning the full giving of the Holy Spirit in the latter days has been fulfilled: and this grace is also offered to the whole Church, to the certain and undoubted destruction of those who condemn it.
• (l) All without exception, both upon the Jews and Gentiles.
• (m) That is, men.

2:18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

2:19 I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

2:20 The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

2:21 It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.'[4]

• (4) The most important use of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to bring men to salvation by faith.
• (n) These words "call on" signify in Holy Scriptures and earnest praying and craving for help from God’s hand.

2:22 "Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know,

• (5) Christ, being innocent, was by God’s providence crucified by wicked men.
• (o) Who is by those works which God did by him so manifestly approved and admitted of, that no man can deny him.

2:23 him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;

• (p) God’s everlasting foreknowledge, which can neither be separated from his determinate counsel, as the Epicureans say, neither yet be the cause of evil: for God in his everlasting and unchangeable counsel appointed the wicked act of Judas to an excellent end: and God does that well which the instrument does wickedly.
• (q) God’s counsel does not excuse the Jews, whose hands were wicked.
• (r) The fact is said to be theirs by whose counsel and urging on it is done.

2:24 whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.

• (6) As David foretold, Christ did not only rise again, but also was void of all decay in the grave.
• (s) The death that was full of sorrow both of body and mind: therefore when death appeared conqueror and victor over those sorrows, Christ is rightly said to have overcome those sorrows of death when, as being dead, he overcame death, to live forever with his Father.

2:25 For David says concerning him, 'I saw the Lord always before my face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

2:26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;

2:27 because you will not leave my soul in [5] Hades [See Acts Footnotes 5], neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.

• (t) You will not allow me to remain in the grave.

2:28 You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.'[6]

• (u) You have opened to me the way of true life.

2:29 "Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

2:30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,

• (x) Had sworn solemnly.

2:31 he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in [7] Hades [See Acts Footnotes 7], nor did his flesh see decay.

2:32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.

• (7) Peter witnesses that Jesus Christ is the appointed everlasting King, which he manifestly proves by the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of David.

2:33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.

• (y) Might and power of God.

2:34 For David didn't ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit by my right hand,

2:35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."'[8]

2:36 "Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

• (z) Christ is said to be "made" because he was advanced to that dignity, and therefore it is not spoken with reference to his nature, but with reference to his position and high dignity.

2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

• (8) Repentance and remission of sins in Christ are two principles of the Gospel and therefore of our salvation: and they are obtained by the promises apprehended by faith, and are ratified by us in baptism; and with our salvation comes the power of the Holy Spirit (Ed.).

2:39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself."

• (a) The word that is used here shows us that it was a free gift.

2:40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"

• (9) He is truly joined to the Church who separates himself from the wicked.

2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

• (10) A notable example of the power of the Holy Spirit: but such are not baptized until they make confession of their faith. (Ed.)

2:42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

• (11) The marks of the true Church are the doctrine of the apostles, the duties of charity, the pure and simple administration of the ordinances, and the true invocation used by all of the faithful.
• (b) Sharing of goods, and all other duties of charity, as is shown afterwards.
• (c) The Jews used thin loaves, and therefore they broke them rather than cut them: so by breaking of bread they meant living together, and the banquets which they used to keep. And when they kept their love feasts, they used to celebrate the Lord’s supper, which even in those days began to be corrupted, and Paul corrects this in (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).

2:43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

• (12) As often as the Lord thinks it to be expedient, he bridles the rage of strangers, so that the Church may be planted and have some refreshing.

2:44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common.

• (13) Charity makes all things common with regard to their use, according as necessity requires.

2:45 They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

2:46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

• (14) The faithful came together at the beginning with tremendous results, not only for the hearing of the word, but also to eat.

2:47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.