The Acts of the Apostles
Acts 2
Chapter II · Vol. IV, pp. 255–256
1 The apostles, filled with the Holy Ghost, and speaking divers languages, are admired by some, and derided by others. 14 Whom Peter disproving, and showing that the apostles spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, that Jesus was risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, had poured down the same Holy Ghost, and was the Messias, a man known to them to be approved of God by his miracles, wonders, and signs, and not crucified without his determinate counsel and foreknowledge: 37 he baptizeth a great number that were converted. 41 Who afterwards devoutly and charitably converse together: the apostles working many miracles, and God daily increasing his church.
2 Andc suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them dcloven tongues, like as of efire, and it sat upon each of them:1
d ver.4,6,8; ch.10.46;15.8.
1 The Greek and Hebrew words for spirit are derived from roots which signify to breathe. When Christ conferred the Spirit upon the apostles he breathed upon them. So here the chosen vehicle by which the divine Spirit, when descending on the disciples, was manifested to their sense of hearing, was 'a sound as of a rushing mighty wind.' But as if to afford additional testimony of the reality of the Spirit's advent, there was a visible manifestation also in the 'cloven tongues, like as of fire.'—P.
4 Andg they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.2
g Joel 2.28. Is.44.3-5. ch.1.5;11.15. Jn.14.16,26;15.26;16.7;20.22. Mar.16.17. Ps.8.2. 2 Pe.1.21. ch.10.45,46;19.6. 1 Co.xii.xiv.
2 The gift of tongues was not permanent. The power of speaking strange languages was not conferred to enable them without study to preach the gospel to the different nations of the world. It was a miraculous power, temporary in its duration, intended to serve as a convincing proof to all who were then assembled at Jerusalem, of the divine commission of the apostles.—P.
5 Andh there were dwelling3 at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
h Ex.23.16,17;34.23. Le.23.15-21. 1 Pe.1.1.
3 Jews by birth (comp. ver. 10), who were not merely occasional visitants, but, as the original implies, having a fixed residence, that they might be near the temple service.—C.
6 Now when this was noised abroad,4 the multitude came together, and were 5confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
4 Gr. when this voice was made.
5 Or, troubled in mind, ver.7. Mat.2.3.
7 And they were all iamazed, and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak jGalileans?
i ver.12; ch.3.10;4.13;1.10,11.
j Mat.4.18-22. Mar.2.13,14. Jn.1.43-46;7.52. Lu.13.1,2. ch.1.11.
9 Parthians, and lMedes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in nMesopotamia, and in Judea, and oCappadocia, in Pontus, and pAsia,6
10 Phrygia,q and Pamphylia, in rEgypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of sRome, tJews and proselytes,
12 Andz they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, aWhat meaneth this?
z ver.6,7. Lu.5.9,26.
a ch.17.20.
14 But cPeter, standing up with the eleven, liftedd up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeinge it is but the third hour of the day.7
e 1 Th.5.7.
7 Nine o'clock forenoon.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 Andg it shall come to pass in the last days,8 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:Cited in HC 32
g Is.44.3-5. Joel 2.28-32. Ps.72.6. Eze.11.19; 36.27. Zec.12.10. Jn.7.38. ch.10.45; 21.4,9,10; 11.28; 16.9. 1 Co.12.10. 1 Ti.4.1. 2 Ti.3.1-6. 2 Pe.3.3. 2 Co.12.1.
8 The last days—the days of Messiah.—All flesh—persons of all ranks and of all nations. The passage is quoted from Joel 2. 28-32, with some slight differences, partly by inversion of clauses, partly by supplying from the context an expository portion, and partly by exchanging one phrase for another; but, in all, the sense of the original is never changed, but merely rendered more obvious.—C.
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 Andh I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 Thei sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:9
i Mar.13.24. 2 Pe.3.7,10.
9 See note on Mat.24.30, and the expository passages of Isaiah.—C.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesusk 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:
k Mat.11.4,5. Lu.7.16; 24.19-21. Jn.3.2; 5.19,26,36. He.2.4. Jn.10.25,38; 14.10,11; 15.22-24. ch.10.38.
23 Him,l being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:Cited in WSC 7 · WCF 3.1, 5.2, 5.4, 8.4
24 Whomn God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not opossible2 that he should be holden of it.Cited in WLC 38, 46, 50, 52 · WCF 8.4
n ver.32; ch.3.15; 4.10; 10.40; 13.30,34; 17.31. Lu.24.1. Ro.4.24,25; 8.11. 1 Co.6.14; 15.15. He.13.20. 2 Co.4.14. Ep.1.20. Col.2.12. 1 Pe.1.21. 1 Th.1.10.
o Jn.10.18.
2 It was not 'possible' that death could hold captive eternal life. It was not 'possible,' because there was in him no sin whereby the violated law could detain him as a culprit.—C.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, pI foresaw the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:Cited in WLC 38, 50
p Ps.16.8-11; 109.31; 121.5.
26 Thereforeq did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:Cited in WLC 50
q Ps.16.9,10. Ro.8.31.
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer rthine Holy One to see corruption.Cited in WLC 50, 52 · WCF 8.4
28 Thous hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.Cited in WLC 54
29 Men and brethren, let me3 freely speak unto you tof the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
3 Or, I may.
t ch.13.36. 1 Ki.2.10.
30 Thereforeu 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;
u 2 Sa.7.12,13; 23.2. 1 Ch.22.10. Ps.132.11. Is.9.7. Lu.1.32,33. Jn.18.36,37. Ro.1.3,4; 9.5. 1 Ti.1.17. He.6.17. Re.17.14; 19.16.
31 He,v seeing this before, spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.Cited in WLC 50
A.M. cir. 4037. A.D. cir. 33.
v Ps.16.10. ch.13.35; ver.27. 1 Pe.1.11,12.
32 Thisx Jesus hath God raised up, whereof ywe all are witnesses.
x See ver.24,27; ch.3.15,26. Mat.xxviii. Mar.xvi. Lu.xxiv. Jn.xx.xxi.
y See ch.1.8,22; 3.15; 5.32; 10.39,41.
33 Therefore, zbeing 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.Cited in WSC 23, 28 · HC 49, 51
34 For David is not ascended4 into the heavens: but he saith himself, aThe LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,Cited in WSC 28
4 David is not ascended. This does not say that the spirit of David was not then, or is not now, in heaven (see 2 Co.5.6,8); but that his body was still in the grave (ver.29), resting in hope of that blessed resurrection of which Jesus had now become the first-fruits and head.—C.
a Ps.110.1; 8.1. Mat.22.44. He.1.3,13. 1 Co.15.25. Re.3.21. Ep.1.20.
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the bhouse of Israel cknow assuredly, that dGod hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.Cited in WCF 8.3
37 Now when they heard this, ethey were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?5Cited in WSC 87 · WLC 72, 155, 172
* The sense of their tremendous guilt as a nation, and as individuals, in having rejected and crucified the Messiah, now comes in full force upon their minds. They are overwhelmed with fear and remorse. They know not what to do. They can scarcely hope for pardon. Their bitter—almost hopeless cry was, 'Men, brethren, what shall we do!'—P.
e Eze.7.16. Zec.12.10. Lu.3.10. Je.6.16. ch.9.6; 16.30. Jn.16.8-11. Ro.7.9.
5 See note * in first column.
38 Then Peter said unto them, gRepent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission6 of sins, and hye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.7Cited in WSC 85, 94, 95 · WLC 162, 166, 167, 177 · WCF 10.3, 28.4, 28.6 · HC 66, 69, 73, 74
g Mat.3.6,8. Mar.1.4,15. ch.3.19; 22.16. 1 Jn.1.7. Tit.3.5. Is.1.18; 55.7. Lu.24.47.
6 For the remission. Rather, 'unto the remission of sins'—which remission is not in baptism, but in that blood of Jesus to which baptism, the sign and seal of faith, conducts, Ep.1.7. 1 Jn.1.7.—C.
h ver.16-18; ch.8.15-17; 10.44,45; 19.6.
7 The result of the baptism which Peter here enjoins, and which he represents as preceded by repentance, and accompanied by faith, is 1st, remission of sin; and 2d, the gift of the Holy Ghost.—P.
39 For ithe promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,8 even as many as the Lord our God shall call.Cited in WSC 94, 95 · WLC 62, 63, 166, 177 · WCF 10.3, 25.2, 28.4 · HC 74
i Gal.3.16. Ro.9.8. Ge.17.7. Joel 2.28. Je.31.34. Zec.13.1. ch.3.25,26; 9.15; 10.34,44; 11.1,18; 13.31,46-48; xiv.-xix.; 22.21; 28.28. Ep.3.3-8; 2.13,17.
8 The Jews scattered abroad, and the Gentiles who were 'aliens to the commonwealth, and strangers to the covenants of promise,' ch.10.45; 11.15-18; 14.27; 15.3. Ep.2.12.—C.
40 And with many other words did he jtestify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.Cited in WSC 94
41 Thenk they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.Cited in WSC 88, 94, 95 · WLC 155 · WCF 28.3, 28.6
k Ps.110.3. Mat.13.23. ch.1.15; 4.4; 5.14. Ps.72.16,17. Mat.16.18.
42 Andl they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread,9 and in prayers.Cited in WSC 54, 88, 94 · WLC 63, 108, 154, 175 · WCF 21.5, 21.6, 26.2 · HC 54, 103, 123
44 Andp all that believed were together, and had all things common;Cited in WCF 26.2
p Phi.2.2,4. ch.4.32,34; 5.4. ver.45.
45 Andq sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.Cited in WCF 26.2
46 Andr they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread1 from house to house,2 did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,Cited in WLC 154, 171, 175 · WCF 26.2
r Lu.24.53. ch.1.14; 3.1; 6.4; 5.42; 20.7.
1 Bread, from what follows, seems here to signify ordinary food.—C.
2 Or, at home.
47 Praisings God, and having favour with all the people.3 Andt the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.4Cited in WLC 154, 171 · WCF 25.2
† 'Such as should be saved' is an unfortunate rendering. It would seem to point to the final purpose of God regarding them. This is not the meaning of the Greek, which ought to be translated 'those who were being saved:' i.e. those who, attending upon and hearing the word, engaging in the exercise of prayer looking to the one glorified Saviour, were thus in the use of the means of grace, and therefore in the way of salvation.—P.
s Lu.2.52. ch.4.21,33. Ro.14.8.
t ch.5.14; 11.24; 13.48. Ro.8.30. Is.43.6; 49.12; 56.8.
3 Favour with all the people. Perhaps better,—'having charity towards all the people.'—C.
4 See note † in first column.
Notes
Ver. 1. Pentecost. One of the three great festivals in which all the males were required to appear at Jerusalem. It was called Pentecost (the fiftieth) because celebrated on the fiftieth, counting from the second day of the passover; that is, seven weeks after the 16th Nisan. Comp. Le. 23. 15, &c.; De. 16. 9, &c.; and see Josephus' Antiq. iii. x. 6. It was also called the feast of weeks, De. 16. 10, and was considered a thanksgiving for the harvest, De. 16. 9, &c. C.
Ver. 5. Can this assertion be true, seeing the continent of America and Pacific Islands had not been discovered? Observe, the narrative does not say 'out of every country,' but 'out of every nation under heaven;' that is, men who were acquainted with every generic language—a statement which requires no figure for its defence, but which was simply and literally true. C.
Ver. 13. Others. Not other foreign Jews, for they would have recognized the speech of their several countries, but Jews of Jerusalem, to whom the foreign tongues would appear as the ravings of drunken men; or who, out of malice against the followers of Jesus, would willingly invent and propagate any plausible accusation that might discredit them with the people. C.
Ver. 23. By wicked hands. If Jesus was delivered by 'the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God,' 'why doth he yet find fault? for who hath resisted his will?' God hath said it, and 'who art thou, O man, that repliest against God,' Ro. 9. 19. But, still it is questioned, if God 'determined' that the event should come to pass, how could those who fulfilled his will be 'wicked?' or, if God 'determined' the act, is he not thereby represented as the author of sin? This, if really a question, is fair and reasonable; but if a cavil, most worthless and foolish. God cannot be the author of sin; for God is love, Ja. 1. 13; 1 Jn. 4. 8. God therefore does not, cannot, 'determine' that men should sin; that is, should become 'wicked.' But God 'foreknows' that men, of their own rebellious hearts, will sin, will be 'wicked;' and God, as a judge, can only give them up to their own hearts' lusts, and to walk in their own 'counsels,' Ps. 81. 12; Ro. 1. 24, 28. So that while men act freely, the event is 'determined,' because the judgment 'allowing freedom' is fixed and certain. C.
Reflections.—It was impossible that Jesus, who by obedience unto death had honored his Father's law and justice, should be held a prisoner in the grave. And glorious are the fruits of his resurrection and exaltation to his Father's right hand. Yea, astonishing is the effusion of the Holy Ghost thereby to qualify his preachers and to awaken hearers.—Quickly he comes to them who, with united hearts, wait and cry for his presence. And he can suddenly effect a great spreading and understanding of the gospel, and fulfilment of ancient predictions. What bold resolution he gives his lately so timorous disciples! How open their avowal of Jesus' messiahship, divinity, and resurrection from the dead, where he had been lately crucified as a notorious malefactor! Great is the wisdom and power of God in thus overruling the wickedness of men for his own glory, for the honour of Christ, and the salvation of men. But his purpose, or overruling providence, in no respect excuses or extenuates our guilt. Alas! how perversely men will continue opposing and reviling the most evident manifestations of divine power and goodness till the Holy Ghost begins his work in their heart! But then the most wonderful effects will follow—the deepest impressions of divine things; a thorough conviction and self-debasement; earnest inquiries after salvation; the most unfeigned faith and sincere repentance, and their children to the Lord Jesus Christ and to his gospel; fellowship with his people; delightful ordinances; grateful praise for his kindness, and zeal for his glory; heavenly-mindedness, contempt of this world, and compassionate love to poor fellow-saints; and a daily addition of members to the church.