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Acts 2

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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. 16But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel: 17‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. 18Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy. 19I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and billows of smoke. 20The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. 21It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 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, ‘I saw the Lord always before my face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. 26Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope; 27because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay. 28You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 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 to sit on his throne, 31he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, 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, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand, 35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ 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.

World English Bible (public domain)

"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Acts 2:4

Summary

Acts 2 describes the events of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descends on the Apostles, filling them with power and enabling them to speak in various languages. The day marks the birth of the Christian Church as Peter delivers a powerful sermon to the gathered crowd, explaining the significance of what has happened and quoting Old Testament prophecy. He calls them to repentance and baptism, resulting in about three thousand people being added to their number that day. Central themes include the fulfillment of Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit, signaling the beginning of the apostles' public ministry and emphasizing the universality of the Gospel as the Apostles preach to people from diverse nations. Peter's sermon asserts the lordship of Jesus, attests to His resurrection, and calls for repentance and forgiveness of sins through baptism in Jesus’ name. The new believers then devote themselves to communal life centered around teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer, demonstrating the transformative impact of the Holy Spirit. The chapter emphasizes the work of the Spirit as a catalyst for both personal and communal transformation, illustrating the inclusive nature of God’s Kingdom. The establishment of the early church as a community marked by radical sharing and unity demonstrates the power of the Gospel to transcend cultural and social barriers, manifesting God’s purpose for humanity through Jesus Christ.

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Chapter outline

How Acts 2 unfolds

  1. Acts 2:1–4 The Coming of the Holy Spirit

    On Pentecost, the Apostles gather and are suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit, enabling them to speak in various languages.

  2. Acts 2:5–13 The Reaction of the Multitude

    Devout Jews from many nations hear the Apostles speaking in their own languages, leading to amazement and mockery.

  3. Acts 2:14–21 Peter’s Sermon Begins

    Peter addresses the crowd, explaining that the Apostles are not drunk but fulfilling Joel's prophecy about the outpouring of the Spirit.

  4. Acts 2:22–36 Jesus: Approved by God

    Peter preaches about Jesus, emphasizing His miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection, asserting that God made Him both Lord and Christ.

  5. Acts 2:37–41 Call to Repentance and Baptism

    Hearing Peter's words, the crowd is convicted and asks how to respond; Peter urges repentance and baptism for forgiveness.

  6. Acts 2:42–47 Life in the Early Church

    The new believers commit to teaching, fellowship, and sharing, establishing a community marked by unity and daily growth.

Key verses

  • Acts 2:4Acts 2:4 encapsulates the chapter's focus on the Holy Spirit empowering the Apostles for their mission.

Main themes in Acts 2

Holy Spirit

The theme of the Holy Spirit is central in Acts 2, as seen in verse 4 where the Apostles are filled with the Spirit. This event marks a significant empowerment for ministry and signifies a new era in God's interaction with humanity. The chapter illustrates how the Spirit acts as a catalyst for the growth and mission of the early church.

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Birth of the Church

Acts 2 captures the birth of the Church, highlighted in verse 41 when about three thousand souls are added after Peter's sermon. The communal practices that follow demonstrate the foundational aspects of Christian community, such as teaching and sharing. This formation establishes the Church's mission to spread the Gospel to all nations.

Repentance

Repentance is a key theme in Acts 2, particularly in Peter's call to action in verse 38 where he urges the crowd to repent and be baptized. This necessity for repentance underscores the response required to the Gospel message of Jesus' resurrection. Within the chapter, it signifies a turning point for individuals, leading to the establishment of a new community.

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Unity and Community

Unity and community are exemplified in Acts 2, especially in verses 44-46, where believers share possessions and participate in fellowship. The communal life demonstrates a radical redefinition of relationships among believers, emphasizing shared purpose and care. This theme illustrates the transformative impact of the Holy Spirit, creating a diverse yet unified body of Christ.

Cross-references

Passages that echo Acts 2

Study questions

Questions for studying Acts 2

  1. What unusual phenomenon occurs when the Holy Spirit comes upon the Apostles?
  2. How do the gathered crowd react to the Apostles' speaking in languages?
  3. What does Peter say to explain the events of Pentecost?
  4. How does Peter connect Jesus' resurrection to Old Testament prophecies?
  5. What instructions does Peter give to the crowd after his sermon?
  6. What practices characterize the communal life of the early church?
  7. What significant outcomes follow Peter's sermon on that day?

Acts 2: frequently asked questions

What is Acts 2 about?+
Acts 2 describes the events of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descends on the Apostles, filling them with power and enabling them to speak in various languages. The day marks the birth of the Christian Church as Peter delivers a powerful sermon to the gathered crowd, explaining the significance of what has happened and quoting Old Testament prophecy. He calls them to repentance and baptism, resulting in about three thousand people being added to their number that day. Central themes include the fulfillment of Jesus' promise of the Holy Spirit, signaling the beginning of the apostles' public ministry and emphasizing the universality of the Gospel as the Apostles preach to people from diverse nations. Peter's sermon asserts the lordship of Jesus, attests to His resurrection, and calls for repentance and forgiveness of sins through baptism in Jesus’ name. The new believers then devote themselves to communal life centered around teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer, demonstrating the transformative impact of the Holy Spirit. The chapter emphasizes the work of the Spirit as a catalyst for both personal and communal transformation, illustrating the inclusive nature of God’s Kingdom. The establishment of the early church as a community marked by radical sharing and unity demonstrates the power of the Gospel to transcend cultural and social barriers, manifesting God’s purpose for humanity through Jesus Christ.
What is the key verse in Acts 2?+
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."
What are the main themes of Acts 2?+
The main themes of Acts 2 are Holy Spirit, Birth of the Church, Repentance, Unity and Community.

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