THE BOOK OF ACTS | CHAPTER 2:1-21
OUTLINE AND COMMENTARY - MARK DUNAGAN
I. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 2:
I. The Coming Of The Holy Spirit: 2:1-13
A. Upon The Apostles: 2:1-4
B. The Reaction Of The Crowd: 2:5-13
II. Peter's Sermon: 2:14-40
A. An Accusation Handled: 2:14-15
B. The Fulfillment of Joel's Prophecy: 2:16-21
C. The Death, Burial, Resurrection Of Jesus: 2:22-36
D. Conviction and Exhortation: 2:37-40
III. The Church Established: 2:41-47
II. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS:
'No more opportune day could have been selected for the disciples (apostles) to begin their witness for Christ; for Pentecost was the most popular feast of the Jewish year and the whole city was then thronged with pilgrims from every quarter of the globe.' (Erdman p. 33)
'Of the three Jewish feasts, this is the one likely to be best attended. Jews were dispersed over the Mediterranean World, and it would not be possible for many to attend all three feasts during the year. Travel, especially on the sea, would be hazardous, were one to attempt to come to Passover or Tabernacles...so if a Jew had to choose which of the feasts he would attend, it was naturally Pentecost.' (Reese p. 45)
III. COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER 2:1-21:
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place.
'PENTECOST'-4005. pentekoste {pen-tay-kos-tay'}; feminine of the ord. of 4004; fiftieth (2250 being implied) from Passover, i.e. the festival of "Pentecost": -Pentecost.
In the O.T. this Jewish feast is called: (a) The Feast of Harvest (Ex. 23:16); (b) The Feast of the First-Fruits (Lev. 23:17); (c) The Feast of Weeks (Ex. 34:22). 'But after the Greek language became known in Palestine, in consequence of Alexander's conquest..it acquired the name Pentecost (a Greek word signifying the fiftieth part of a thing, or the fiftieth in order), because it was the fiftieth day after the Passover Sabbath.' (Reese p. 43)
Points to Note:
- 'This feast was a kind of thanksgiving day, a feast of thanksgiving to God for the bountiful crops that were just beginning to be harvested ("first fruits")...It was celebrated...by the special service of offering the first-fruits of the wheat harvest in the form of two loaves of bread (Leviticus 23:15-21; Numbers 28:26-31).' (Reese p. 43)
- Among commentators there is some disagreement concerning upon what day of the week this day fell in New Testament times.
Bruce notes, 'i.e. the fifth day from the first Sunday after Passover (Lev. 23:15)..This was the reckoning of the Sadducean party in the first century A.D. In the phrase "the morrow after the sabbath" (Lev. 23:15) they interpreted the sabbath as the weekly sabbath. While the temple stood, their interpretation would be normative for the public celebration of the festival; Christian tradition is therefore right in fixing the anniversary of the descent of the Spirit on a Sunday. ( The 'fifty days' of Lev. 23:15 are to be reckoned inclusively.) The Pharisees, however, interpreted the "sabbath" of Lev. 23:15 as the festival day of unleavened bread itself...in that case Pentecost would always fall on the same day of the month...but not on the same day of the week...It was the Pharisaic reckoning that became normative in Judaism after A.D. 70..' (p. 53)
McGarvey makes a good point when he makes the following observation on Leviticus 23:15: 'This language is not easily misunderstood; for if even in the first clause, the word "from the morrow after the sabbath" could be construed as meaning from the morrow after the first day of unleavened bread, the latter part of the sentence precludes such a construction; for the count was to be "unto the morrow after the seventh SABBATH" (23:16), and the word sabbath here unquestionably means a weekly sabbath.' (pp. 19-20)
In later Judaism, Pentecost came to be reckoned as the anniversary of the giving of the Law at Sinai..'There is no evidence that Jews in N.T. (or O.T.) times looked on Pentecost as the anniversary of the giving of the Law.' (Reese p. 43)
'HAD COME'-'in process of fulfillment' (Vincent p 448); 'While the Day of Pentecost was running its course' (NEB).
'THEY WERE ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE'-
Point to Note:
Various Charismatic groups try to argue that the "they" of 2:1 includes the 120 mentioned in 1:15. They argue this because it is their contention that every Christian receives the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In response: (a) 'the grammatical construction of 1:26 and 2:1 points only to the apostles as the recipients of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.' (Reese p. 46). The "they" of 2:1 naturally refers back to the 12 apostles (the last group mentioned) in 1:26. (b) The only men speaking by inspiration upon this day will be the 12 apostles (2:14). (c) The crowd addressed their question to the apostles--inferring, they were the only ones manifesting that the Spirit had come upon them (2:37). (d) Only the apostles are working miracles (2:43; 3:1-6; 4:33; 5:12); until they lay their hands on others (Acts 6:6,8). (e) The assumption that every Christian was baptized in the Holy Spirit, is a false assumption to begin with (Acts 8:12-18; 11:15-17; 1 Corinthians 12:28-31).
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
'A SOUND AS OF THE RUSHING OF A MIGHTY WIND'-'It does not appear that there was any wind, only the sudden sound like a violent wind.' (Reese p. 47) 'Lit., of a mighty wind borne along' (Vincent p. 448)
'IT FILLED ALL THE HOUSE'-i.e. the sound. 'such a rushing sound must have arrested people's attention...Men would begin to wonder how to account for a sound like that, when not a breeze was stirring.' (Reese p. 47)
'THE HOUSE'-a house in Jerusalem.
'WERE SITTING'-notice the detail. And carefully note that the apostles weren't engaged in trying to "pray down" the Spirit when this happened, neither were they rolling on the floor.
Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them.
'TONGUES PARTING ASUNDER'-'They are called "tongues" because they were tongue-shaped in form.' (Reese p. 48). 'tongues of what appeared to be flame, separating' (TCNT). The KJV rendering "cloven tongues", has confused some. The tongues weren't forked in appearance. Rather, the fire-like tongues were distributed among the apostles.
'AS OF FIRE'-'Not consisting of fire, but resembling.' (Vincent p. 449) Fire was often the symbol for purity and the Divine presence (Ex. 3:2; Deut. 5:4; Isaiah 6:6-7). Note that this isn't the fire mentioned by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11). For in that context, the baptism of fire refers to being overwhelmed by condemnation (3:12).
'IT SAT UPON EACH ONE OF THEM'-'Note the singular. One of these luminous appearances sat upon each.' (Vincent p. 449)
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
'OTHER TONGUES'-Which are defined as real human languages in the following verses (2:6-8,11). Even various translators can see this: 'in foreign tongues' (Mof); 'in foreign languages' (Gspd); 'in different languages' (Phi).
'GAVE THEM UTTERANCE'-'as the Spirit prompted their utterances' (TCNT); 'according as the Spirit gave them words to utter' (Wey).
Point to Note:
The speech was inspired, the words were being selected and chosen by God (2 Peter 1:20-21). Speaking in tongues was speaking by inspiration (expressing God's truth infallibly) in a foreign language that one had never previously studied. Vincent notes, 'A graphic imperfect; "kept giving" them the language and the appropriate words as the case required from time to time.' (p. 449)
'UTTERANCE'-669. apophtheggomai {ap-of-theng'-om-ahee}; from 575 and 5350; to enunciate plainly, i.e. declare: -say, speak forth, utterance.
-'A peculiar word, and purposely chosen to denote the clear, loud utterance under the miraculous impulse.' (Vincent p. 449)
Acts 2:5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
'DWELLING AT JERUSALEM'-Permanently and temporarily.
'DEVOUT MEN, FROM EVERY NATION UNDER HEAVEN'-'it characterizes them as the best of the adherents of the Jewish religion. They were so anxious to avoid offending God, that they travelled, some of them, thousands of miles to attend the feast at Jerusalem, just as the O.T. prescribed.' (Reese p. 50) 'The Jews were scattered over the Roman Empire at this time, and only the "devout" ones would make the long journey to Jerusalem to keep this feast.' (Boles p. 34)
Points to Note:
Acts 2:6 And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language.
'THIS SOUND'-The sound of rushing wind, the sound of the apostles speaking or both.
'THE MULTITUDE CAME TOGETHER'-Apparently people from the city or near the house (possibly the house was near the temple area), began tracking down the source of the noise and the languages they were hearing. From 2:15 we learn that all this is happening around 9:00 in the morning.
'WERE CONFOUNDED'-Luke uses descriptive word after another in this context ('confounded', 'amazed', 'marvelled', 'perplexed'), to point out that the crowd was truly taken back by all of this. 'bewildered' (RSV). 'They did not understand what was happening, nor could they come up with any reasonable explanation of it.' (Reese p. 51)
'EVERY MAN HEARD THEM'-'the Greek imperfect tense, which indicates the continuance of their "speaking" over a period of time.' (Reese p. 51)
'IN HIS OWN LANGUAGE'-i.e. his native tongue (2:8).
Points to Note:
Acts 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans?
'AMAZED AND MARVELLED'-'beside themselves with wonder' (Wey).
'ARE NOT ALL THESE THAT SPEAK'-'Those who believe that more than the twelve apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost are hard pressed by this expression. Were all the 120 Galileans?' (Reese p. 52)
'GALILEANS'-'Galilean men came from a despised district (John 7:52) where education was scanty, the standard of culture low, and the spoken dialect was peculiar (Mark 14:30)....the apostles dress would have aided in their identification by the devout men..' (Reese p. 51) 'This was an international, multi-lingual crowd which gathered...Yet the speakers were known to be Galileans..who had a reputation for being uncultured..so they were looked down upon by the people of Jerusalem as being provincial.' (Stott p. 65)
Galileans spoke a rude Aramaic...i.e. they didn't even excel in their own native language-not to mention a foreign dialect.
Acts 2:8 And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?
'AND HOW HEAR WE'-'And how is it' (NASV) We might say, 'How are they doing that?'
'IN OUR OWN LANGUAGE WHEREIN WE WERE BORN'-Even though Greek was almost universally spoken throughout the Empire, most districts or regions held on to their own dialects (Acts 14:11). Vincent notes, 'The Phrygians and Pamphylians, for instance, both spoke Greek, but in different idioms; the Parthians, Medes, and Elamites all spoke Persian, but in different provincial forms.' (Vincent p. 450)
Speaking in tongues was the miraculous ability to FLUENTLY speak in a foreign language and even in a certain regional dialect, that might only be spoken in one area. And to speak it the way a "native", a person born there and or raised in that region all their life would speak it.
Acts 2:9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia,
'PARTHIANS AND MEDES AND ELAMITES'-'Luke's list comprises five groupings, as he moves with his mind's eye approximately from East to West...that is peoples from the Caspian Sea westwards, many of whom will have been descended from the Jewish exiles who had been transported there in the eighth and sixth centuries B.C.' (Stott p. 63) (See 2 Kings chapter 17).
'These were the lands of the earliest dispersion, to which exiles from the ten northern tribes of Israel had been carried by the Assyrians. They did not lose their identity so completely as is commonly supposed...In spite of the Persian royal decrees, many of those exiles preferred to remain where they were instead of returning to Palestine...so that the number of Jews in these eastern territories ran into millions.' (Bruce pp. 61-62)
Point to Note:
Various groups put a lot of stress on 'Whatever happened to the lost 10 tribes of Israel?' This verse tells us, they were never lost! The deported Israelites didn't become Europeans, The United Kingdom (England) or the United States of America. And neither did they become the Incas, Aztecs or Mayans.
'DWELLERS IN MESOPOTAMIA'-the region lying between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. 'The language spoken here was probably Syriac (or perhaps including a mixture of the Chaldee).' (Reese p. 53)
'IN JUDEA'-'the language of Galilee was so different from that of Judea as it rendered it remarkable that the apostles could speak like a Judean (i.e. without the usual Galilean peculiarities of pronunciation.' (Reese p. 53) In this text, Judea may also include Syria.
'CAPPADOCIA, IN PONTUS AND ASIA'-'Luke refers to five areas of what we call Asia Minor or Turkey, namely Cappadocia (east), Pontus (north), Asia (west), Phrygia and Pamphylia (south).' (Stott p. 63)
Acts 2:10 in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
'EGYPT AND THE PARTS OF LIBYA ABOUT CYRENE'-i.e. the region of North Africa. 'Jews had lived in Egypt continuously from the earlier parts of the 6th century B.C. and were always receiving fresh accessions...Philo, an Alexandrian Jew himself, estimated in A.D. 38 that there were about a million Jews in Egypt; two out of the five wards which made up the city of Alexandria were Jewish in population.' (Bruce pp. 62-63)
'SOJOURNERS FROM ROME'-'visitors from Rome' (TCNT). 'We have references in Roman inscriptions to at least seven Jewish synagogues in Rome.' (Bruce p. 63)
'PROSELYTES'-4339. proselutos {pros-ay'-loo-tos}; from the alternate of 4334; an arriver from a foreign region, i.e. (specifically) an acceder (convert) to Judaism ("proselyte"): -proselyte.
-'a proselyte was a Gentile who undertook to keep the Jewish law in its entirely and was admitted into full fellowship with the people of Israel.' (Bruce p. 64) For a male, this included being circumcised. Bruce also notes, 'Nowhere was Jewish proselytizing activity carried on more energetically than in Rome.' (p. 63)
Acts 2:11 Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God.
'CRETANS'-inhabitants of the island of Crete, which contained a good size Jewish population.
'ARABIANS'-'Arabia in NT is the kingdom of the Nabatean Arabs, east of Syria and Palestine, stretching from the Red Sea to the Euphrates, with its capital at Petra. This kingdom was at the height of its power under Aretas IV (9 B.C.-A.D. 40).' (Bruce p. 64)
'SPEAKING IN OUR TONGUES THE MIGHTY WORKS OF GOD'-Indicating that the audience understood precisely what was being said. For if the "tongues" were babbling-then how did such a diverse audience all reach the same conclusion concerning the specific message of what was being spoken, i.e. 'the mighty works of God'? If you can't understand what a person is saying, for all you know they might be cursing God.
Point to Note:
Some have said that the miracle happened in the ears of the people. But the Holy Spirit didn't come upon those who heard. Stott notes, 'it was not a mistake or a miracle of hearing..so that the audience supposed that the believers spoke in other languages when they did not.' (p. 66) Luke is very clear: The apostles spoke in the languages (2:4), and what people were hearing was true and accurate-they were hearing their own dialects (2:33).
Acts 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
'PERPLEXED'-'utterly at a loss' (Rhm). 'To be wholly at a loss' (Robertson p. 24)
'SAY ONE TO ANOTHER'-'In their amazement, they turned to each other, trying to find an explanation for the astounding events..' (Reese p. 55)
'WHAT MEANETH THIS?'-'What will this be..what will this become?' (Reese p. 55) 'Their question, however, was the very one which the miracle was designed to call forth, and the speech which followed furnished the answer.' (McGarvey p. 25) 'They believed that it was a sign or omen that signified something remarkable, but they did not know what to think of it.' (Boles p. 36)
Acts 2:13 But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine.
'BUT OTHERS'-'Of a different class. The first who commented on the wonder did so curiously, but with no prejudice. Those who now spoke did so in a hostile spirit.' (Vincent p. 451) Reese notes, '"others" is heteros (not allos), i.e another class of hears of a different kind than those just named..' (p. 56)
'MOCKING'-to deride, scoff, making fun of. 'Others said contemptuously' (NEB).
'FILLED WITH NEW WINE'-i.e. these men are drunk. '"new wine"..is misleading, for it carries the idea it was just freshly squeezed. That cannot be, for at the time of year when Pentecost falls the only wine available was last year's vintage. The vintage of the current year is still some months off..' (Reese p. 56) 'Lit., "sweet wine"' (Vincent p. 451) '"Sweet wine" was artificially prepared to retain its sweetness and extra strength and was very intoxicating.' (Reese p. 56)
Point to Note:
Some argue, 'If the apostles were actually speaking in foreign languages, what was the occasion for the accusation of drunkenness?' (Reese p. 110) (a) But this argument completely ignores the testimony of the majority who did understand (2:11), and who never made such an accusation. (b) This accusation is just as ridiculous as the claim that Jesus had a demon (Matthew 12:24) and was a drunkard (Matthew 11:19). (c) Those who made this accusation weren't interested in knowing what 'these things mean'. (d) Those who base their interpretation of this text solely on the accusation of 2:13, are putting all their stock in an accusation given by less than honest hearts.
PETER'S SERMON:
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, {saying}, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words.
'PETER'-Who had been given the "keys" to open up the Kingdom of God (Matthew 16:19), to the first converts (John 3:5).
'STANDING UP WITH THE ELEVEN'-The following facts seem to indicate that all 12 apostles spoke this day: (a) The variety of languages and or dialects spoken. (b) Those convicted addressed their question to all the apostles (2:37), and not just Peter. But it could be that once the attention of the crowd was seized, that the rest of the apostles stopped speaking and Peter then spoke in a language that all present could understand, i.e. Greek or possibly Aramaic.
Reese notes, 'Perhaps we should picture Peter as speaking first, and the others acting as interpreters for the people gathered round each of them. Or perhaps all preached in a different place in that 35-acre temple area.' (p. 57)
'LIFTED UP HIS VOICE'-One must speak up to be heard. 'addressed them in a loud voice' (Wey)
'BE THIS KNOWN UNTO YOU'-'let me tell you what this means' (TCNT).
Acts 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is {but} the third hour of the day.
'FOR THESE ARE NOT DRUNKEN'-The charge of drunkenness must first be handled. For such a charge was very serious: 'it was a strict violation of Jewish law to drink intoxicants on a feast day, especially before noon, for on feast days devout Jews did not even eat their first meal till after the sixth hour, let alone drink.' (Reese p. 57)
'THE THIRD HOUR OF THE DAY'-i.e. about 9:00 a.m. 'If the charge itself was made in jest, there is good humor in Peter's dismissal of it: it is only the third hour since sunrise, he says, and therefore too early for them to have had any opportunity to drink to excess.' (Bruce p. 67) McGarvey notes, 'Peter had heard what the mockers said, and although it came from only a few, he spoke of it as though it expressed the sentiment of the multitude. This had the advantage of avoiding a personal issue with those who had made the remark, while it was calculated to excite for it the disgust of those who had taken the matter seriously. His answer was not a complete refutation of the charge, for men might be intoxicated at any hour of the day; but the early hour made it highly improbable...while the rest of his discourse was relied upon to demonstrate the falsity of the charge.' (p. 27)
Point to Note:
Be impressed that the various charges brought against Christianity in this book are about as unfounded or lame as this accusation. This should tell us (as many of us already know), that the world doesn't have a good argument against the claims found in the Bible.
Peter's sermon will demonstrate or argue the following points: (a) The time of the fulfillment of the OT prophecies had come. (b) God was with Jesus-as the miracles clearly proved. (c) God raised Jesus from the dead-and the O.T. had even taught such. (d) Jesus is now the reigning Messiah-therefore come to Him for salvation.
Acts 2:16 but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel:
'BUT'-Far from these events being manifestations of drunkenness.
'THIS IS THAT'-The events taking place mark the beginning fulfillment of what the prophet Joel had mentioned.
Acts 2:17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth 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 IT SHALL BE'-Quotation from Joel 2:28-32.
'IN THE LAST DAYS'-(Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1)
Point to Note:
'I WILL POUR FORTH'-'to illustrate the generosity of God's gift of the Spirit' (Stott p. 74) God didn't "drizzle" the Spirit upon the apostles.
'MY SPIRIT'-The Holy Spirit. Which is a distinct person within the Godhead (Eph. 4:30); and is a Divine Being Himself (Acts 5:3-4).
'UPON ALL FLESH'-
Point to Note:
At this point various groups try to argue that "all flesh" means that God promises the outpouring of the Spirit (along with the miraculous gifts which follow) to every Christian. But every Christian in the N.T. didn't have a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:29-31). The phrase "all flesh" must be limited, because without any limitations, "all flesh" would mean everyone-Christian and non-Christian. The expression refers to Jews and Gentiles. At Pentecost the Spirit was poured out on Jews (the apostles), at the household of Cornelius, the Spirit is poured out on Gentiles (Acts 10).
'YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY'-(Acts 21:9)
'YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS'-The prophecy itself defines "all flesh" for us. 'Sons, daughters, young men, old men, servants, handmaids'; all these expressions inform us that the Spirit would be given-regardless of one's social status, gender, or rank.
Point to Note:
Some groups argue that the above passage teaches us that women should hold any and all positions of leadership in the Church that men hold. That is, women can be elders, preachers, etc.. Because some say that the above passage teaches us that no "role" or "gender" distinctions will be found in the Kingdom of God. But such an argument proves too much. For the text also mentions "young men and daughters". Can teenagers be elders? (1 Timothy 3:1ff; Titus 1:6ff).
Acts 2:18 Yea and on My servants and on My handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
'YEA'-'And even' (Rhm)
'MY SERVANTS'-'Even on the servants--for they are mine' (TCNT). 'Slaves, actual slaves of men. The humblest classes will receive the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 1:26-31).' (Robertson p. 27)
Acts 2:19 And I will show wonders in the heaven above, And signs on the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:
Acts 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable {day}.
Points to Note:
'BEFORE THE DAY OF THE LORD COME, THAT GREAT AND NOTABLE DAY'-
Points to Note:
Acts 2:21 And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
'WHOSOEVER'-John 3:16. No predestination here.
'SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD'-Which involves much more than merely claiming to believe in Jesus (Matthew 7:21). In this very context, Peter will tell us what is involved in "calling on the name of the Lord", repentance and baptism (Acts 2:38). See also-Acts 22:16. Reese notes, 'He who would be saved must "call" in the appointed time and in the appointed way..' (p. 62) For it will be vain to attempt to call on the name of the Lord-after He has come (2 Thess. 1:8).
'SHALL BE SAVED'-'Saved from what?' (Reese p. 63) A passage that infers the existence of hell--a place that everyone needs to be saved from.
FINAL NOTE:
To call on the name of the Lord means that one realizes that Jesus is the only hope for salvation that they have. That all other supposed places of refuge are vain. It also infers that a person has accepted the fact, that they can't save themselves or atone for their own sins--through good works, their own moral goodness or acts of tremendous self-sacrifice. It also involves being completely prepared to accept God's plan of saving us. Hence, the person who rejects baptism or thinks they can be saved without being baptized, has yet to reach the point at where they realize that calling upon the name of the Lord means that you completely trust His way of saving you (Acts 2:38).