Acts 2 Commentary

Acts chapter 2 commentary Bible study

ACTS 2 COMMENTARY

Acts 2:10-15 Proselyte
Acts 2:16-21 I will pour out of My Spirit
Acts 2:22-30 Miracles of Jesus
Acts 2:31-32 (A) Resurrection of Jesus
Acts 2:31-32 (B) Who Raised Jesus?
Acts 2:33-37 Right Hand of God
Acts 2:38-43 Repent Meaning
Acts 2:44-47 All Things in Common
Acts 2 Bible Study Questions (Handout)

ACTS 2:1 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Who were "they" (Acts 2:1)?
The "about a hundred and twenty" disciples, including the apostles, among whom "Peter stood up" (Acts 1:15, see Sabbath day's journey).

What is meant by "one place" (Acts 2:1)?
Jesus had "commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem" (Acts 1:4), so they were in the city but also gathered literally in "one place" in it.

What is the "Day of Pentecost" (Acts 2:1)?
Also called the "Feast of Harvest" or the "Day of First Fruits," the Day of Pentecost was a feast celebrated fifty days after the Passover; πεντηκοστης (pentekostes), the original Greek word translated "Pentecost," means fiftieth. During the Pentecost, people brought as offering the first fruits of their grain harvest to thank God, as well as to express their trust that God will bless the rest of their harvest. Taking place in between the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, the Day of Pentecost was the second of three major feasts God commanded to be kept in the Old Testament.

ACTS 2:2-4 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

What "filled the house where they were sitting" (Acts 2:2)?
"Sound... of rushing mighty wind" (Acts 2:2)

Where did the sound come from?
"Heaven" (Acts 2:2)

What was the sound of?
The coming of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus had promised: "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17, see If you love me, keep My commandments)

What did they see and feel?
"Divided tongues, as of fire" that "sat upon each of them" (Acts 2:3).

How did they end up?
"They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4).

ACTS 2:5-9 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

What drew the "multitude" (Acts 2:6)?
The disciples speaking in the multitude's "own language" (Acts 2:6).

From where are "Parthians and Medes and Elamites" (Acts 2:9)?
What is Iran today.

Where is "Mesopotamia" (Acts 2:9)?
It stretched across what are Iraq, Kuwait and eastern Syria today.

Where is "Judea" (Acts 2:9)?
See Judea.

Where are "Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia" (Acts 2:9)?
In what is Turkey today (see Asia).