Proselyte

Proselyte vs. God-Fearer

Acts 2:10-15 Proselyte

Acts 2:16-21 I will pour out of My Spirit

ACTS 2:10 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

Who are "proselytes" (Acts 2:10)?
The Jews could associate with two types of gentiles: God-fearers and proselytes. God-fearers believed in and feared the God of the Jews, sat and listened in synagogues but could not participate. Proselytes were God-fearers who had been circumcised and bound themselves to keeping the Mosaic law, and therefore could participate, including in Jewish feasts like the Pentecost.

Where are "Phrygia and Pamphylia" (Acts 2:10)?
Both are in what is Turkey today (see Phrygia).

Where is "Cyrene" (Acts 2:10)?
Next to "Libya" (Acts 2:10) in North Africa.

ACTS 2:11-12 11 Cretans and Arabs - we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

Where were "Cretans and Arabs" (Acts 2:11) from?
"Cretans" were from Crete, the southern-most Greek island, and "Arabs" were from what is Saudi Arabia today.

Why might the Holy Spirit have come on the Day of Pentecost?
As the day signaled the start of the grain harvest, He may have wished to signal the start of His harvest of souls.

ACTS 2:13-15 13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

To what did some of them attribute what they were witnessing?
The disciples being drunk: "They are full of new wine" (Acts 2:13).

What is "third hour of the day" (Acts 2:15)?
Three hours from the start of the day, which was deemed to be 6 AM. Peter was saying that it's only 9 AM, which is too early to start to drink alcohol, let alone to be drunk.

Why did the other eleven apostles stand up with Peter in Acts 2:14?
Perhaps so that the crowd can see with their own eyes that they weren't drunk. Peter may have even pointed or gestured to them when he said, "these" (Acts 2:15) are not drunk.