Acts Chapter 2 — The Coming of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples at Pentecost, empowering them to speak in different languages and leading to Peter's first public sermon.
1Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.
6When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
7They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
8How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
12They were all amazed and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14But 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.
15For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.*about 9:00 a.m.
16But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17‘It will be in the last days, says God,
18Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
19I will show wonders in the sky above,
20The sun will be turned into darkness,
21It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’✡Joel 2:28-32
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 among you, even as you yourselves know,
23him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
24whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.
25For David says concerning him,
26Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced.
27because you will not leave my soul in Hades,†or, Hell
28You made known to me the ways of life.
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.
30Therefore, 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‡“Christ” means “Anointed One”. to sit on his throne,
31he foreseeing this, spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades,§or, Hell and his flesh didn’t see decay.
32This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
33Being 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.
34For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,
35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’✡Psalms 110:1
36“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
37Now 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?”
38Peter 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.
39For 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.”
40With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.
43Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
44All who believed were together, and had all things in common.
45They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.
46Day 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,
47praising God and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Acts 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.”
This verse marks the miraculous empowerment of the disciples and the official arrival of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 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.””
This provides the specific instructions Peter gave to the crowd in response to their conviction.
Acts 2:42
“They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.”
This verse defines the foundational practices and pillars of the first Christian community.
Chapter Summary
Acts Chapter 2 records the pivotal event of Pentecost, where the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin speaking in foreign languages known to the international crowd in Jerusalem. This phenomenon leads to Peter addressing the multitude, interpreting the event through the prophecy of Joel and testifying to the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus. He identifies Jesus as the Messiah whom God has made both Lord and Christ. Cut to the heart, the listeners ask for guidance, and Peter instructs them to repent and be baptized. About three thousand people are added to their number that day. The chapter concludes with a description of the early believers' communal life, characterized by the apostles' teaching, fellowship, shared meals, and prayer, as the community grows daily through God's favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
The disciples were gathered when a sound like a rushing wind filled the house and tongues of fire appeared on them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in different languages to a diverse crowd in Jerusalem.
Peter explained that the events were a fulfillment of Joel's prophecy regarding the Spirit. He testified that Jesus, who was crucified, was raised by God and exalted as both Lord and Christ.
After hearing Peter's message and being 'cut to the heart,' approximately three thousand people received his word, were baptized, and were added to the community of believers that day.
The early believers lived with a shared sense of community, holding their possessions in common and distributing them to those in need. They met daily in the temple and in homes for teaching, prayer, and meals.
Study Note
The list of nations in verses 9-11 represents the breadth of the Jewish diaspora, highlighting the Spirit's role in reversing the confusion of languages seen at the Tower of Babel.
Related Chapters
Joel Chapter 2
Peter quotes this chapter directly to explain the outpouring of the Holy Spirit during his sermon.
Psalm 16
Peter references David's words from this Psalm to support the reality of the resurrection of Christ.
Psalm 110
Peter cites this Psalm to illustrate the exaltation of Jesus to the right hand of God.
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