The Acts

of the Apostles

The infectious news first appeared in Jerusalem, then spread quickly

from person to person and from city to city. It faced opposition everywhere it
went. But the world was ill-equipped to fight it. Empowered by the Holy Spirit,
the followers of Christ relayed the Good News about Jesus everywhere. In less
than 35 years, the gospel had reached cities from Jerusalem to Rome.

Luke wrote the Book of Acts to show the fulfillment of Jesus’ words, “I will build
My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (see Matt. 16:18).
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He commanded His followers to make disciples
of all nations (see Luke 24:46–49). Luke begins Acts with a reiteration of that com-
mission and a description of how it would be carried out (1:8). This commission
not only ties the Book of Acts to the Gospel of Luke, but it also provides an outline
for the book: the witness in Jerusalem and Judea (1:1—6:7); the witness in Judea
and Samaria (6:8—9:31); and the witness to the ends of the earth (9:32—28:31).

The Book of Acts begins in Jerusalem with the disciples huddled in a room on
the Day of Pentecost. Then the Holy Spirit came upon them and authorized
them to be His witnesses. The rest of Acts describes the ripple effect of that
great event. Jesus’ followers first witnessed to the Jews in Jerusalem, with Peter
at the center of the movement. Then persecution broke out (7:60), scattering
believers into Samaria and the rest of the known world. Saul of Tarsus, once a
leader of the persecution, became a leader of the persecuted. In chapter 11, the
focus of the Book of Acts moves from Peter’s ministry to the Jews to Saul’s min-
istry to the Gentiles. Under his more familiar name Paul, this converted perse-
cutor established churches in Asia Minor and Europe. The Book of Acts records
three of Paul’s missionary journeys, as well as his voyage to Rome to face his
trial. The book ends abruptly with Paul under house arrest in Rome. The ending
is fitting, because the entire Book of Acts is itself just a prologue. Jesus has not
finished His work on earth. The narrative begun by Luke in this book will not end
until Jesus Christ returns in glory (see 1:11; 1 Cor. 15:28).

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 INTRODUCTION TO Acts  | 1617

Author  The Book of Acts begins with a refer- logical significance. A timeline
ence to the author’s “former account” written to believer’s faith rests
a man named Theophilus (1:1), a clear reference upon the facts of his- a.d. 14–37
to the Gospel of Luke (see Luke 1:3). Even though tory: the life, death, Tiberius Caesar is
Roman emperor
the author does not mention himself by name in and resurrection of
either the Gospel or Acts, early tradition identi- Jesus. These historical c. a.d. 30–35
fies Luke as the author of both volumes. As early events were record- Pentecost; the early
as the second century, ancient authors, such as ed by Luke in his Gos- church in Jerusalem
Irenaeus (c. a.d. 180) indicate this. pel in order to evoke
Called “the beloved physician” by Paul (see belief. If the histori- c. a.d. 35–47
Col. 4:14), Luke was a doctor Paul met in Troas (see cal fact of Christ’s res- The church grows in
Judea and Samaria
16:8–11). He cared for Paul during the illnesses he urrection is not true,
suffered on his missionary endeavors. Paul’s ref- then a believer’s faith
a.d. 37–41
erences to Luke in 2 Timothy 4:11 and Philemon has no foundation. As Caligula is Roman
24 portray Luke as Paul’s faithful traveling com- Paul states, “If Christ emperor
panion. After the two met in Troas, Luke includ- is not risen, your faith
ed himself with the missionary team recorded is futile; you are still in a.d. 37–44
in Acts (see 16:10, the beginning of the so-called your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). Herod Agrippa I
rules in Judea
“we” sections in the book). Luke’s faithful friend- The Book of Acts re-
ship to Paul continued until Paul’s death in Rome, assures believers that
a.d. 41–54
for Luke was one of the few people who did not their faith in Christ Claudius is Roman
desert him (see 2 Tim. 4:11). rests on fact. The ex- emperor
traordinary growth of
Date  The Book of Acts does not record Paul’s the early church was c. a.d. 44
death. Instead it ends abruptly during Paul’s res- based directly on the James the son of
idence in Rome (see 28:30). Paul’s house arrest in resurrected Christ. Zebedee is martyred

Rome occurred around a.d. 61, marking the earli- His command and
c. a.d. 47–49
est possible date for the book’s completion. Acts empowerment of the
Paul’s first missionary
makes no reference to the fall of Jerusalem in a.d. disciples through the journey
70 or to Nero’s persecution of Christians follow- Holy Spirit is the only
ing the fire of Rome in a.d. 64. Surely Luke would reasonable explana- c. a.d. 50–53
have mentioned these significant events if they tion for the incredi- Paul’s second
had occurred when he wrote. Moreover, the many ble and rapid spread missionary journey
references to Paul’s vindication before Roman of- of the gospel in the
a.d. 52–60
ficials would not make sense if Nero had already first century. The ear-
Felix is procurator
started his vehement persecution of Christians. ly Christians were not of Judea
Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that Acts testifying about a
was written between a.d. 61 and 64. dead Christ, but a liv- c. a.d. 53–57
ing Christ whom they Paul’s third missionary
Purpose  The Book of Acts provides a con- had seen with their journey
densed history of the early church, an eyewitness own eyes (1:1–5; Luke
a.d. 54–68
account of the miraculous spread of the gospel 24:36–53; 2 Pet. 1:16).
Nero is Roman emperor
from Jerusalem to Rome. The book details how The same is true for
the Holy Spirit authorized our spiritual forebears us today. Jesus lives a.d. 60–62
to carry out Jesus’ mandate to be His witnesses and continues to work Festus is procurator
throughout the world. The accounts in Acts in- through the church. of Judea
clude stirring examples for us to follow, but the
recurring theme of the Book of Acts is that our Christ in the c. a.d. 60–62
spiritual ancestors were empowered by the Holy Scriptures Paul is imprisoned
in Rome
Spirit. That same power is available to us. God has Although Jesus as-
not left us at the mercy of our own weaknesses; cends into heaven in
He has sent the Holy Spirit to help us follow their chapter 1, He figures sig-
example (see Eph. 5:17, 18), and to be Jesus’ wit- nificantly in the rest of the
nesses in all of the earth. Book of Acts. The resurrected
Christ is the central theme of the ser-
Theology  The Book of Acts is a historical nar- mons, defenses, and the life of the church through
rative, but at the same time it has profound theo- the entire book.

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 1618  |  INTRODUCTION TO Acts

Harbor of Attalia near Perga, where Paul stopped on his first missionary journey
© Tatiana Popova/Shutterstock

Luke intended Acts to be an apologetic that Spirit’s supernatural power. No wonder Luke
logically attests to Jesus’ divinity. And he ac- quotes Peter as saying, “To Him all the prophets
complished his purpose. Notice his references witness that, through His name, whoever believes
to the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ resurrec- in Him will receive remission of sins” (10:43). “Nor
tion, the firsthand testimonies of Jesus’ follow- is there salvation in any other, for there is no other
ers (including a converted critic of Christianity by name under heaven given among men by which
the name of Saul), and the evidence of the Holy we must be saved” (4:12).

Acts Outline C. Saul’s conversion 9:1–31

I.
The apostles’ witness in Jerusalem III. The witness to the end of the earth
1:1—6:7 9:32—28:31
A. The acts of the Holy Spirit 1:1–26 A. Extension of truth to Gentiles
B. The birth of the church 2:1–47 9:32—11:30
C. The healing of a lame man 3:1–26 B. Peter’s miraculous escape from pris-
D. Salvation in no one else 4:1–37 on 12:1–25
E. The arrest of Peter and John 5:1–42 C. Paul’s first missionary trip 13:1—14:28
F. Leadership for the infant church 6:1–7 D. The Jerusalem conference concern-
ing Gentiles in the church 15:1–35
II. The early church’s witness to all Judea E. Paul’s second missionary trip
and Samaria 6:8—9:31 15:36—18:22
A. Stephen’s defense and martyrdom F. Paul’s third missionary trip 18:23—
6:8—7:60 21:26
B. The church scattered 8:1–40 G. Paul’s trip to Rome 21:27—28:31

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 Acts 1:11  | 1619
Prologue saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the king-

1 ‌ he former account I made, O ­a Theophilus, of

T
all that ­Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 a until
the day in which 1 He was taken up, after He through
dom to Israel?” 7And He said to them, a “It is not for
you to b know times or seasons which the Father has
put in His own authority. 8a But you shall receive
the Holy Spirit b had given commandments to the power b when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
apostles whom He had chosen, 3a to whom He also c
 you shall be 1 witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in
presented Himself alive after His suffering by many all Judea and d Samaria, and to the e end of the earth.”
1
 infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty
days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Jesus Ascends to Heaven
kingdom of God. Mark 16:19, 20; Luke 24:50–­53
9a Now when He had spoken these things, while
The Holy Spirit Promised they watched, b He was taken up, and a cloud re-
4a And being assembled together with them, He ceived Him out of their sight. 10And while they
commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up,
but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” behold, two men stood by them a in white apparel,
He said, “you have b heard from Me; 5a for John truly 11who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand
baptized with water, b but you shall be baptized with gazing up into heaven? This same ­Jesus, who was
the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6There- taken up from you into heaven, a will so come in like
fore, when they had come together, they asked Him, manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
1:1 a Luke 1:3  ​ 1:2 a Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9, 11, 22 ​ b Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 10:42 ​ 1 He ascended into heaven.  ​ 1:3 a Matt. 28:17; Mark 16:12, 14;
Luke 24:34, 36; John 20:19, 26; 21:1, 14; 1 Cor. 15:5–­7 ​ 1 unmistakable  ​ 1:4 a Luke 24:49 ​ b [John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26]; Acts 2:33  ​ 1:5 a Matt. 3:11;
Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 11:16 ​ b [Joel 2:28]  ​ 1:7 a 1 Thess. 5:1 ​ b Matt. 24:36; Mark 13:32  ​ 1:8 a [Acts 2:1, 4] ​ b Luke 24:49 ​
c
 Luke 24:48; John 15:27 ​ d Acts 8:1, 5, 14 ​ e Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Rom. 10:18; Col. 1:23; [Rev. 14:6] ​ 1 NU My witnesses  ​
1:9 a Luke 24:50, 51 ​ b Ps. 68:18; 110:1; Mark 16:19; Luke 23:43; John 20:17; Acts 1:2; [Heb. 4:14; 9:24; 1 Pet. 3:22]  ​
1:10 a Matt. 28:3; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; John 20:12; Acts 10:3, 30  ​ 1:11 a Dan. 7:13;
Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27; [John 14:3]; 2 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 1:7  ​

1:1 Luke addressed his Gospel to the “most 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33); one is to chronology or the duration of time—
excellent Theophilus” (see Luke 1:3), us- historical (11:15, 16), referring to the Day of “how long.” Seasons refers to the epochs
ing a title that indicates Theophilus was Pentecost; and one is doctrinal (see 1 Cor. or “events” that occur within time. The dis-
a person of high rank. The formal title is 12:13), explaining the meaning of baptism ciples were not to know how long it would
dropped here. in the Spirit. be before Christ set up His kingdom, nor
1:2, 3 Taken up refers to Christ’s as- 1:5 shall be baptized with the Holy Spir- were they to know what events would tran-
cension, the end of His earthly minis- it: The passive tense of the verb indicates spire before the establishment of it. Peter
try. These verses look back to Luke 24:51 that baptism does not depend upon our points out that even the OT prophets did
and ahead to vv. 9, 22. the apostles . . . to efforts to obtain the promise, but upon not know the timing between the suffer-
whom He also presented Himself alive: the Lord’s will. The simple future tense ings of Christ and the glories that would
The resurrected Jesus presented Him- demonstrates that there is no uncertain- follow (1 Pet. 1:11).
self “not to all the people, but to witness- ty or doubt in the promise. The Greek 1:8 Instead of being concerned about the
es chosen before by God” (10:41). In the word for baptized means “to immerse” date of Christ’s return, the disciples’ job
forty days between Jesus’ resurrection or “to dip.” It also connotes being iden- was to carry His message throughout the
and ascension, there are recorded some tified with someone or something. Spir- world. you shall receive power: This does
10 or 11 appearances of Jesus to believ- it baptism means we have been placed in not refer to personal power for godly liv-
ers confirming His resurrection from the spiritual union with one another in the ing, as demonstrated in the lives of OT
dead. On the last of these appearances, body of Jesus Christ, the church (see 1 Cor. saints (see Abraham in Gen. 22; Joseph
­Jesus gathered His apostles together and 12:12, 13). in Gen. 39; Moses in Ex. 14; Daniel in Dan.
commanded them not to leave Jerusa- 1:6 Therefore: Christ’s statement that 6). This was power for a new task—name-
lem (v. 4). Many infallible proofs serve as the Spirit was about to be given evident- ly, to take the gospel to the ends of the
the basis for the believer’s confidence in ly triggered concern among the disciples earth. Be witnesses is Christ’s command
the resurrection of our Lord. The Greek about the establishment of the kingdom. to His disciples to tell others about Him
word translated infallible proofs speaks Connecting the coming of the Spirit and regardless of the consequences. Church
of “convincing, decisive proof.” Chris- the coming of the kingdom was consis- tradition tells us that all but one of the 11
tian belief is not built on speculation or tent with OT thought (see 3:21; Is. 32:15– apostles who heard this promise became
myth but on the sovereign acts and words 20; 44:3–5; Ezek. 39:28, 29; Joel 2:28—3:1; martyrs. (John died in exile.) God empow-
of God incarnate in the time-space uni- Zech. 12:8–10). At this time expresses the ered His disciples to be faithful witnesses
verse. The kingdom of God was the cen- anxiety of the apostles as they anticipat- even when they faced the most vehement
tral topic of discussion between Christ ed the kingdom rule that Christ had spo- opposition.
and His apostles during the 40 days be- ken of in the preceding days and weeks (v. 1:9–11 Jesus promised that He would not
tween Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. 3). The popular expectation and hope was leave nor forsake us, but would be with
The goal of history is not the Cross, but that Christ would establish His kingdom us always, even to the end of the age (see
the crown—the time when King Jesus re- immediately. Matt. 28:20; John 14:18). He fulfilled this
veals Himself in all His majesty and reigns 1:7 It is not for you to know: Jesus did not promise in the form of the Holy Spirit, who
in glory (see Is. 11; Dan. 7:13, 14; 1 Cor. 15:24– correct His disciples’ views concerning dwells within believers (see John 16:4–7).
28; Rev. 20:4–6). the restoration of the kingdom to Isra- taken up . . . cloud received Him . . . He
1:4 As predicted by John the Baptist (see el (v. 6). Instead He corrected their views went up: These three statements portray
Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33) concerning the timing of the event. This the gradual, majestic departure of Jesus
and reiterated by Jesus Himself, the Prom- was the same erroneous thinking that He from the earth. will so come: The Second
ise of the Father was the promise of bap- had sought to correct with His parable in Coming of Christ and the establishment of
tism in the Holy Spirit. There are seven Luke 19:11–27, the parable of the minas. His kingdom (vv. 6, 7) will occur the same
references in Scripture to baptism in the times or seasons: These words speak to way Jesus ascended: physically, visibly,
Spirit. Five are prophetic (see v. 5; Matt. the issue of timing differently. Times refers and in the clouds.

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 1620  |  Acts 1:12
The Upper Room Prayer Meeting open in the middle and all his 2 entrails gushed out.
12 a Then they returned to Jerusalem from the 19And it became known to all those dwelling in Jeru-
mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sab- salem; so that field is called in their own language,
bath day’s journey. 13And when they had entered, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.)
they went up a into the upper room where they were 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
staying: b Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip
a
and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James  ‘Let his dwelling place be 1 desolate,
the son of Alphaeus and c Simon the Zealot; and d Ju- And let no one live in it’;
das the son of James. 14 a These all continued with
one 1 accord in prayer 2 and supplication, with b the and,
women and Mary the mother of ­Jesus, and with c His
b
brothers.  ‘Let another take his 2 office.’

Matthias Chosen cf. Ps. 109:8; Matt. 27:7, 8 21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompa-
15And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of nied us all the time that the Lord ­Jesus went in and
the 1 disciples (altogether the number a of names was out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of
about a hundred and twenty), and said, 16“Men and John to that day when a He was taken up from us,
brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, a which one of these must b become a witness with us of His
the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David resurrection.”
concerning Judas, b who became a guide to those 23And they proposed two: Joseph called a Barsa-
who arrested ­Jesus; 17for a he was numbered with us bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24And
and obtained a part in b this ministry.” they prayed and said, “You, O ­Lord, a who know the
18a (Now this man purchased a field with b the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen
1
 wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst 25a to take part in this ministry and apostleship from

1:12 a Luke 24:52  ​ 1:13 a Mark 14:15; Luke 22:12; Acts 9:37, 39; 20:8 ​ b Matt. 10:2–­4 ​ c Luke 6:15 ​ d Jude 1  ​ 1:14 a Acts 2:1, 46 ​ b Luke 23:49, 55 ​ c Matt. 13:55 ​
1
 purpose or mind ​ 2 NU omits and supplication  ​ 1:15 a Luke 22:32; Rev. 3:4 ​ 1 NU brethren  ​ 1:16 a Ps. 41:9  ​ b Matt. 26:47; Mark 14:43; Luke 22:47;
John 18:3  ​ 1:17 a Matt. 10:4 ​ b Acts 1:25  ​ 1:18 a Matt. 27:3–­10 ​ b Matt. 18:7; 26:14, 15, 24; Mark 14:21; Luke 22:22; John 17:12 ​ 1 reward of
unrighteousness ​ 2 intestines  ​ 1:20 a Ps. 69:25 ​ b Ps. 109:8  ​ 1 deserted ​ 2 Gr. episkopen, position of overseer  ​
1:22 a Acts 1:9 ​ b Acts 1:8; 2:32  ​ 1:23 a Acts 15:22  ​ 1:24 a 1 Sam. 16:7; Jer. 17:10; Acts 1:2  ​ 1:25 a Acts 1:17  ​

1:12 A Sabbath day’s journey was the dis- Lord Jesus Christ (see Rom. 15:5, 6). Jesus 1:18, 19 purchased a field: The field that
tance permitted by Jewish custom for said the world would know that He was sent was obtained with the money Judas re-
travel on a Sabbath day (see Ex. 16:29; from the heavenly Father when people saw ceived for betraying Jesus was actual-
Num. 35:5; Josh. 3:4), about a half mile. the love between believers (see John 17:21): ly purchased by the priests after Judas
Anyone who traveled farther than this The unity among the believers described in hanged himself (see Matt. 27:6–8). Since
would be regarded as breaking the fourth Acts was a demonstration of this love. Mary the money legally belonged to Judas, the
commandment. the mother of Jesus receives special rec- priests purchased the field in his name.
1:13 The upper room could have been the ognition in the group. While on the Cross, burst open . . . entrails gushed out: Appar-
room where Jesus spent the last Passover Jesus had requested that John care for His ently the noose Judas used to hang him-
with His disciples, or the room in which mother (see John 19:25–27). self broke and his body fell, rupturing in
He appeared to them after His resurrec- 1:15, 16 From the earliest days of the apos- the middle. This is why the place was called
tion (recorded in Luke 24). It is possible tles’ calling, Peter assumed a position of the Field of Blood.
that the same room was the site of both leadership. Though he often made mis- 1:20–22 Peter applied Psalms 69 and 109 to
events. This room may have belonged to takes, he was never bashful about dealing the apostles’ situation. Psalm 69:25 speaks
Mary, the mother of John Mark. Her house with problems. It was inevitable that the of the removal of the psalmist’s enemy.
is mentioned in 12:12 as a meeting place of matter of Judas Iscariot be dealt with. In the Psalm 109:8 mentions the replacement of
disciples. Jesus’ followers were staying in upper room a hundred and twenty people an enemy by someone else. Peter, enlight-
this upper room, waiting in Jerusalem as gathered. No doubt the majority of them ened by the teaching of Jesus (see 1:3; Luke
the Lord had directed, until they received were among those who saw the risen Christ 24:44–46), regarded these scriptural refer-
the power Jesus had promised (v. 5). (see 1 Cor. 15:6). Though Christ spent most of ences as ultimately speaking of Judas the
1:14 with one accord: This phrase, which is His time with the Twelve, there were many traitor. It was the defection of Judas, not
found 11 times in the Book of Acts, is made other disciples who traveled with Jesus (see his death, that caused Peter to ask the dis-
up of two words that mean “same” and John 6:66). Holy Spirit spoke . . . mouth of ciples to choose another to replace him.
“mind.” The phrase speaks of people shar- David: Peter equated the speech of David When James was later killed (12:2), no re-
ing the same mind or thinking like-minded- with the voice of the Holy Spirit. This is an placement was chosen for him. Peter spec-
ly. It does not refer to people who all think example of the biblical doctrine of inspira- ified two qualifications for the appointed
and feel the same way about everything, tion, which asserts that the words of Scrip- apostle. First, he had to have accompanied
but to people who set aside personal feel- ture are equally the words of God and the the disciples from the beginning of Jesus’
ings and commit themselves to one task— words of men, with no error (see 2 Tim. 3:16; ministry, His baptism. The replacement
in this case witnessing to others about the 1 Pet. 1:11; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21). had to be someone who had seen what the
apostles had seen and heard what they had
together  ► (Gk. epi to auto) (1:15; 2:1, 44; 1 Cor. 11:20; 14:23) heard, an eyewitness to the miracles and
Strong’s #1909; 847 teachings of Jesus. Second, he had to be an
eyewitness of Jesus’ resurrection.
This Greek idiom means “toward the same thing” or “in the same place”; it con- 1:24–26 cast their lots: It was custom-
veys the idea of united purpose or collective unity. In the early church it acquired ary for the Jews to determine the will of
a special meaning, indicating the union of the Christian body. All the members of God on certain questions by this method.
the church not only gathered together regularly, they shared all things in common The names of Matthias and Justus, prob-
and were committed to each other and Christ with united fervor. ably written on stones, were put in a jar
that was shaken until one of the names

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 Acts 2:14  | 1621

which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go

to his own place.” 26And they cast their lots, and the Bible Times & Culture Notes
lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the Sabbath Day’s Journey
eleven apostles.
“A Sabbath day’s journey” (1:12) referred to the distance
a Jew could travel on the Sabbath without breaking the
Coming of the Holy Spirit law. This distance was usually reckoned to be about “two

2 ‌When a the Day of Pentecost had fully come,

b
 they were all 1 with one accord in one place.
2And suddenly there came a sound from heav-
thousand cubits” (about a thousand yards) because of the
distance between the ark of the cov­enant and the rest of
the Israelite camp in the wilderness (Josh. 3:4). The idea
was that every person within the camp or city would be
en, as of a rushing mighty wind, and a it filled the
close enough to the center of worship to take part in the
whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there services without having to travel such a great distance
appeared to them 1 divided tongues, as of fire, and that the Sabbath became a harried and busy day. This
one sat upon each of them. 4And a they were all filled law, although noble in intent, was soon abused by a strict
with the Holy Spirit and began b to speak with other legalism. In the NT, Jesus often clashed with the Pharisees
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. because of their blind legalism over observance of the
Sabbath (Matt. 12:1–9).
The Crowd’s Response
5And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, a de-
vout men, from every nation under heaven. 6And Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and prose-
when this sound occurred, the a multitude came to- lytes, 11 Cretans and 1 Arabs—­we hear them speaking
gether, and were confused, because everyone heard in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”
them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were 12So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to
all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
“Look, are not all these who speak a Galileans? 8And 13Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
how is it that we hear, each in our own 1 language
in which we were born? 9Parthians and Medes and Peter’s Sermon Joel 2:28–­32
Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea 14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised
and a Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all
Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you,
2:1 a Lev. 23:15; Deut. 16:9; Acts 20:16; 1 Cor. 16:8 ​ b Acts 1:14 ​ 1 NU together  ​ 2:2 a Acts 4:31  ​ 2:3 1 Or tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each ​
2:4 a Matt. 3:11; 5:6; 10:20; Luke 3:16; John 14:16; 16:7–­15; Acts 1:5 ​ b Mark 16:17; Acts 10:46; 19:6; [1 Cor. 12:10, 28, 30; 13:1]  ​ 2:5 a Luke 2:25;
Acts 8:2  ​ 2:6 a Acts 4:32  ​ 2:7 a Matt. 26:73; Acts 1:11  ​ 2:8 1 dialect  ​ 2:9 a 1 Pet. 1:1  ​ 2:11 1 Arabians  ​

fell out. The name that fell out of the ves- 2:3 there appeared to them divid- world were in Jerusalem. Most of them
sel would be the one that God had chosen ed tongues, as of fire: After the great probably knew Greek, but they also spoke
to take the place of Judas. The fall of the crowd-gathering sound of v. 2 came the the various languages of the Mediterra-
lot was determined not by chance but by visual manifestation of God. Fire often in- nean world. everyone heard them speak
God’s sovereignty. dicated the presence of God. God initially in his own language: The visitors to Je-
2:1 Pentecost was one of the three ma- appeared to Moses in a burning bush that rusalem probably expected the apos-
jor Jewish festivals; the other two are the was not consumed (see Ex. 3). God guided tles to use Aramaic or Greek, but instead
Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. the children of Israel with a pillar of fire by they heard their own dialect. The visi-
From the Greek word for “fifty,” Pentecost night (see Ex. 13:21, 22), and He descend- tors were astonished because they knew
was so named because it fell on the fifti- ed before them in fire on Mt. Sinai (see Ex. this was most unlikely unless the speak-
eth day after the Sabbath of the Passover. 19:18). God sent fire to consume Elijah’s of- ers had come from their land. This was a
Pentecost was also known as “the Feast of fering on Mt. Carmel (see 1 Kin. 18:38, 39), sign from heaven, a supernatural event.
Weeks,” “the Firstfruits of the Wheat Har- and He used a vision of fire to warn Ezekiel the wonderful works of God: It appears
vest,” and “the Day of Firstfruits.” During of His coming judgment (see Ezek. 1:26, 27). that the “speaking in tongues” did not con-
this harvest celebration, the Jews brought 2:4 The word translated tongues here is sist of proclaiming the gospel. Rather, the
to God the firstfruits of their harvest in the normal Greek word for known lan- apostles were praising God’s mighty works
thanksgiving, expecting that God would guages. Speaking in “tongues” or diverse (see 10:46; 1 Cor. 14:16).
give the rest of the harvest as His blessing. languages underscored the universal out- 2:12, 13 A contrast is made between two
This particular Day of Pentecost was the reach of the church. These witnesses were groups of people, the Hellenists and the He-
day of firstfruits of Christ’s church, the be- speaking foreign dialects to the people braists (6:1). Both groups heard the apostles
ginning of the great harvest of souls who who had gathered for Pentecost from oth- speaking in tongues. Verse 12 speaks of the
would come to know Christ and be joined er nations. The Day of Pentecost, as one of reaction of the Hellenists, who were from
together through the work of the Holy the three major Jewish celebrations, was various parts of the world: they understood
Spirit. they were all . . . in one place: The a pilgrimage event. People who lived out- the dialects in which the apostles spoke and
place may have been part of the temple. It side Israel traveled to Jerusalem to cele- consequently viewed the event as miracu-
is difficult to imagine how the large crowd brate the festival. They came from Arabia, lous. On the other hand, those mentioned
mentioned in v. 5 could have observed the Crete, Asia, and even as far away as Rome. in v. 13 were Judeans and did not under-
activities in the upper room or congregat- Many of these people stayed in Jerusalem stand the foreign languages the apostles
ed in the narrow streets outside the house for the entire 50-day celebration. Spirit were speaking. They concluded the apos-
where the disciples were meeting. gave them utterance: Note that the text tles were drunk and speaking gibberish.
2:2 A sound like a rushing mighty wind does not say that the Spirit spoke through 2:14 Peter, the first disciple to recognize
was needed to attract the multitudes to the apostles, but that the Spirit gave them the truth about Jesus (see Matt. 16:13–19),
the small gathering of apostles who were the ability to speak in languages that they was also the first to bear witness of Him.
sitting, the normal position for listening had not previously known. Peter preached his sermon to men of Judea
to someone speak, rather than standing 2:5–11 men, from every nation under who had judged the whole episode as be-
for prayer. heaven: People from all over the known ing the effect of too much wine (vv. 13, 15).

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