1The descent of the Holy Ghost upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost: they speak various languages to the general amazement, but some deride them. 14Peter sheweth that the inspiration spoken of by Joel was now fulfilled; that Jesus, whom they had crucified, was now risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven, according to David's predictions, and had shed forth the promise of the Holy Spirit in full proof of his being the Messias. 37A great number are converted by Peter's preaching; 41who, being baptized, converse devoutly and charitably together, the apostles working many miracles, and God daily increasing the church.
1AND when the day ofa1Pentecost was 2fully come, 3they were all with one accordb4in one place.
a Lev. 23:15; Deut. 16:9.
1 The word Pentecost is a Greek word signifying the fiftieth day; thus was the second great feast in the year called, on which the first fruits were offered up, Num. 28:26; because it began on the fiftieth day after the second day of the Passover, Lev. 23:15, 16, on which fiftieth day after the first Passover, and the exodus of the children of Israel out of Egypt, the law was also given by God on Mount Sinai; Exod. 19:1, 11. See also of this feast in Acts 20:16 and 1 Cor. 16:8.
2 That is, was come.
3 Namely, the twelve apostles, to whom this promise was especially made. See after in verses 4, 14, 15.
b Acts 1:14.
4 That is, assembled in one place, namely, in an upper room within Jerusalem, Acts 1:13.
2And 5suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a 6rushing mighty 7wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
5 That is, unawares.
6 That is, blowing with a strong noise.
7 Or, blow. This wind signifies the Holy Ghost, Who was given to the apostles and would be given by the ministry of the apostles, and does penetrate against all force. Gr. breath.
3And there appeared 8unto them 9cloven tongues like as 10of fire, and 11it sat upon 12each of them.
8 Or, on them, namely, the apostles.
9 That is, shapes of tongues, which were parted or cloven; whereby was signified the many kinds of languages with which the apostles would speak and publish the Gospel amongst all nations. See verse 4.
10 That is, fiery; whereby was signified that the Holy Ghost would inflame the hearts of the apostles and their hearers with a light of the knowledge of God, with fervent love of God and (their) neighbor, and zeal to God’s glory and men’s salvation.
11 Namely, the fire of the divided tongues.
12 Namely, of the apostles. See verse 1.
4Andc they were all filled 13with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak withd14other 15tongues, as 16the Spirit gave them 17utterance.
c Mat. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13; Acts 11:15; 19:6.
13 That is, with the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost.
d Mark 16:17; Acts 10:46.
14 That is, foreign tongues, before unknown to the apostles. Mark says new, Mark 16:17.
15 Or, languages, as verse 6.
16 That is, the Holy Ghost; 2 Peter 1:21.
17 The Greek word signifies to bring forth some excellent matters or proverbs. See verse 11.
5And there were 18dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, 19out of every nation under heaven.
18 That is, abiding for a time, either to be instructed in the Jews’ religion, Acts 6:9 and 9:29, or to keep the feast of Pentecost, Exod. 23:17.
19 That is, who, by the persecutions of the Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian and Syrian kings, were scattered into all lands, 1 Peter 1:1, and thus was fulfilled what was foretold in Isa. 43:5, 6.
6Now when 20this was noisede abroad, the multitude came together, and were 21confounded, because that every man heard them speak 22in his own language.
20 That is, this sound of this wind, or when this noise was spread abroad.
e widely reported*
21 Or, confused; namely, either in this coming together, or in their mind through admiration of this strange thing.
22 Therefore the apostles did not speak in one language as some think; for, thus would this miracle have been in the hearers and not in the apostles, but in different ones, according to the diversity of the languages, which the hearers spoke and understood. See Acts 10:46 and 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12; 13; 14.
7And they 23were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak 24Galilæans?
23 Namely, as if they were put out of their wits.
24 That is, who were born and have always lived in Galilee, and are ignorant and uneducated persons, having learned no other than their mother’s tongue.
8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9Parthians, and Medes, and 25Elamites, and the dwellers in 26Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and 27Asia,
25 Elam was a part of Persia, also called after Elam, a son of Shem, Gen. 10:22; 1 Chron. 1:17.
26 That is, they who dwell and are born in Mesopotamia, as well as in Judea. Mesopotamia is a part of Syria, thus called in Greek, since it is situated in the middle between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates, Gen. 24:10 and 35:9.
27Asia is called in general the third part of the known world at that time, and especially that part which in former times was called Asia Minor and now Anatolia, whereof Cappadocia, Pontus, Phrygia and Pamphylia were also parts; but here it seems to be taken yet more particularly for that part of Asia Minor which is situated about the Ægean Sea, over against Macedonia and Thracia.
10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about 28Cyrene, and 29strangers of Rome, 30Jews and 31proselytes,
28 This was a city in Libya or Africa, of which the surrounding country was called Libya Cyrenaica. In all these countries the Jews were scattered long before and spoke the languages of those lands, 1 Peter 1:1.
29 That is, who were born or residents at Rome or thereabouts, and were come to Jerusalem about their business, or because of God’s worship.
30 Namely, not only by religion, but also by descent and generation.
31 Gr. proselytoi, that is new-comers, Jews, not by descent but by religion. See Mat. 23:15.
1132Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our 33tongues 34the wonderful works of God.
32 That is, born or living on the island Crete, now called Candia. See Acts 27:7, 12, and Titus 1:5.
33 Or, languages, verse 4.
34 Or, the glorious deeds of God, namely, which He has done by Jesus Christ for the salvation of men, Luke 1:49.
12And they were all amazed, and were in 35doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
35 That is, they doubted what this might be, and what they should believe of it.
1336Others mocking said, These men are full of 37new wine.
36 Some; it may be of the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and their equals.
37 That is, they are drunk. Some translate this: They are full of must, but it was not then the time of must as yet, that is, of new pressed wine.
14¶But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but 38the third hour of the day.
38 Namely, after sunrise, as the Jews reckoned their hours of the day. See Mat. 20:3; John 11:9, and agrees with our nine o’clock. The Jews, as some say, were used on the feast days to continue to fast without eating or drinking until the sixth hour, that is, till noon.
16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17Andf it shall come to pass 39in the last days, saith God, I will pourg out of my Spirit upon 40all flesh: and your sons and yourh daughters shall 41prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
f Isa. 44:3; Ezek. 11:19; 36:27; Joel 2:28; Zech. 12:10; John 7:38.
39 The times of Christ’s kingdom are thus called after His coming, 1 Cor. 10:11; Heb. 1:1, which are so called, because in them there shall occur no change anymore in the worship of God, and after them shall follow the end of the world.
g Acts 10:45.
40 That is, all sorts of people, of what state, age or generation they ever be, Luke 11:42; 1 Tim. 2:1, 4.
h Luke 2:36; Acts 21:9.
41 That is, clearly know God, and inform others of Him. Under the manner of instruction, which was usual to a few in the Old Testament, Num. 12:6, is described the abundant instruction and knowledge, which should be in the New Testament unto the end of the world.
18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19And I will shew 42wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
42 That is, miraculous signs of God’s wrath against the enemies and persecutors of God’s Church. See Mat. 24:29; Luke 21:25.
20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable 43day of the Lord come:
43 That is, the day in which the Lord Jesus Christ shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
21Andi it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall 44call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
i Joel 2:32; Rom. 10:13.
44 That is, to acknowledge Him as the Savior with a true heart, seeking salvation in Him alone, calling upon Him for the same, as also in all troubles and to serve Him aright.
22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man 45approved of God 46among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
45 That is, evidently proved that He was sent from God and was the true Messiah.
46 Gr. in, or unto, or to you.
23Him, being delivered byj the 47determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, yek have taken, and 48by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
j Acts 4:28.
47 That is, not by chance, or by the malevolence of His enemies only, but according to the decree, the disposal and permission of God.
k Acts 5:30.
48 Or, by unrighteous hands, namely, of the pagan and ungodly soldiers of Pilate, Mat. 20:19.
24Whoml God hath raised up, having loosed 49the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
l Acts 10:40.
49 Namely, of the death, which, with and after many pains, was inflicted on Him. Peter seems here to allude to the words which are used in Psalm 18:5, where it states the snares, bands, or cords of death, which suitably agrees with the word loosed.
25For David speaketh concerning him, 50Im foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
50 See the exposition of these words at Psalm 16 on verse 8.
m Psalm 16:8.
26Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall 51rest 52in hope:
51 Or, dwell; namely, in the grave, as in a tabernacle as the Greek word implies.
52 Namely, speedily to rise again out of the grave.
27Because thou wilt not leave 53my soul in 54hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine 55Holy One 56to see corruption.
53 That is, Me, a part being taken for the whole, Gen. 46:26; Psalm 3:2; Acts 27:37, and again the whole being understood for a part, My body. So the word soul is sometimes taken, Lev. 19:28 and 21:1, 11; Num. 5:2, and 9:10; Hag. 2:14. Some understand by these words my soul Christ the Messiah, as if David has said, thou wilt not leave my Soul, that is, Christ liveth in me, Gal. 2:20, and Who is the Resurrection and the Life, John 11:25, in hell. The first opinion is but indeed the most common.
54 The Hebrew word sheol and the Greek hades, which is used here, signifies sometimes the place of the damned, Deut. 32:22; Job 11:8; Mat. 11:23; Luke 16:23, in which signification it cannot be taken here, seeing Christ’s soul, being separated from the body by death, was not in that place but in Paradise, Luke 23:43. Sometimes it signifies hellish pains and distresses, 1 Sam. 2:6; Psalm 18:5 and 116:3, in which signification some think that this word might be taken here, seeing Christ suffered such pains in His soul before His death. But since the same word is also oftentimes taken for the grave, Gen. 37:35; Job 17:13; Psalm 6:5 and 30:3; Prov. 1:12 and 27:20; Isa. 5:14 and 38:18; Rev. 20:13, and here is spoken of the state of Christ after His death, and of His resurrection from the same, therefore it is here indeed most fittingly understood of the grave in which Christ’s soul, that is, Christ, yet according to His body, has lain until the third day.
55 That is, the Messiah, Who was to be holy, innocent, undefiled, and separated from sinners, and Whom the Father has sanctified to that office. So He is everywhere called, Dan. 9:24; Mark 1:24; 1 John 2:20; Rev. 3:7.
56 That is, to be sensible of, or subject unto.
28Thou hast 57made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
57 That is, imparted, given.
29Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of 58the patriarch David, thatn he is both dead and buried, and 59his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
58 That is, one of the most important forefathers of the Old Testament, such as were also Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the twelve heads of the tribes of Israel.
n 1 Kings 2:10; Acts 13:36.
59 From this it appears that he did not speak of his own flesh, which saw corruption in the grave and is not raised up.
30Therefore being a prophet, and knowing thato God had sworn with an oath to him, that 60of the fruit of his loins, according to 61the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his 62throne;
o 2 Sam. 7:12; Psalm 132:11; Luke 1:32; Acts 13:23; Rom. 1:3; 2 Tim. 2:8.
60 That is, out of one of his posterity. See 2 Sam. 7:12 and Psalm 132:11, which was fulfilled in the virgin Mary.
61 That is, the human nature, Rom. 1:3.
62 Namely, his kingly throne. Yet this is not understood of a worldly kingdom, such as was of David, but of a spiritual and eternal Kingdom, whereof David’s kingdom was a type, Luke 1:32, 33; John 18:36.
31He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, thatp his 63soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
p Psalm 16:10; Acts 13:35.
63 See the exposition of these words in verse 27.
32This Jesus hath God 64raised up, whereofq we all are witnesses.
64 Namely, from the dead.
q John 15:27; Acts 1:8.
33Therefore being 65byr the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father thes66promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shedt forth 67this, which ye now see and hear.
65 That is, by God’s almighty power, Psalm 44:3. Other, being exalted unto the right hand of God, namely, when He, being risen and ascended into heaven, sat at the right hand of God, Mark 16:19.
r Acts 5:31; Philip. 2:9.
s Acts 1:4.
66 That is, the promised Holy Ghost.
t Acts 10:45.
67 That is, these extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost.
34For David is 68not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, Theu LORD said unto my Lord, 69Sit thou on my right hand,
68 Namely, according to his body, which has decayed since long in the grave and still rests.
u Psalm 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:25; Eph. 1:20; Heb. 1:13.
69 By sitting at the right hand of God is understood the highest honor, glory and power; as it is usual among men, when they will honor any man in the highest degree, that they set him at their right hand, 1 Kings 2:19; Psalm 45:9. A further exposition of the words, see Psalm 110 on verse 1, etc.
35Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36Therefore let all the 70house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath 71made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both 72Lord and 73Christ.
70 That is, generation, or people.
71 That is, appointed and exalted, Philip. 2:9.
72 Namely, of His Church, or of the people of God.
73 That is, Messiah, the Anointed.
37¶Nowv when they heard this, they were 74pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, whatw shall we 75do?
v Zech. 12:10; Luke 3:10; Acts 9:6.
74 Gr. were pierced, or pricked through; namely, through grief for their sins committed against Him.
w Acts 16:30.
75 Namely, to escape the well-deserved punishment, to obtain remission of sins, and to be saved.
38Then Peter said unto them, 76Repent, and be baptized every one of you 77in the name of Jesus Christ 78for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive 79the gift of the Holy Ghost.
76 Namely, of your unbelief and other sins.
77 See Mat. 28:19; although the Son’s Name is only mentioned here, forasmuch as He is the Mediator of the Covenant, whereof Baptism is a seal, yet thereby are not excluded the Father, Who sent Him, and the Holy Ghost, Who anointed Him. See also the annotation at Acts 8 on verse 16.
78 That is, for the assurance that your sins are forgiven you for Christ’s sake, Acts 22:16; for, not the water of Baptism, but the blood of Christ properly cleanses us from all our sins, 1 John 1:7.
79 Namely, not only the gifts of the Holy Ghost, which are common to all believers and necessary to salvation, but also these extraordinary gifts which we have now received, for, this was then also imparted to other believers for the propagating and confirming of the Gospel, Acts 8:17 and 19:6.
39For 80the promise is unto you, and 81to your children,x and to all thaty are 82afar off, even as many as the Lord our God 83shall call.
80 Namely, which was previously quoted from Joel 2:28, and that also according to the Covenant of God, which He made with Abraham and his seed, Gen. 17:7.
81 That is, your sons and daughters, as is stated in Joel 2:28.
x Joel 2:28.
y Eph. 2:13.
82 That is, which shall yet be born hereafter from generation to generation; or, the Gentiles; for, they are also said to have been afar off; Isa. 57:19; Eph. 2:13.
83 Namely, unto the elect Jews, by the preaching of the Gospel.
40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, 84Save yourselves from this 85untoward generation.
84 That is, withdraw yourselves, or separate yourselves, that you may be saved.
85 Gr. crooked, cunning, generation of the Scribes and Pharisees, and the other unbelieving Jews.
41¶Then they that 86gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand 87souls.
86 Or, with pleasure, willingly; being made willing thereunto by the grace of God.
87 That is, persons, Gen. 46:27.
42And they continued 88stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and 89fellowship, and 90in breaking of bread, and in 91prayers.
88 See Acts 1:14.
89 Namely, of saints in general, or particularly of their goods, as is expounded in verses 44, 45.
90 Whereby is understood, either that they did eat and drink together, or that they received the Holy Supper with one another, Acts 20:7, which sometimes they did both together, as may be seen in 1 Cor. 11:21, 22.
91 Namely, which were made publicly in the assemblies of the entire church.
43And fear came upon every 92soul: and manyz wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
92 See verse 41.
z Mark 16:17; Acts 5:12.
44Andaa all that believed 93were together, and had all things 94common;
aa Deut. 15:4; Acts 4:32.
93 That is, assembled oftentimes with one another in one place.
94 Namely, as concerning the use of goods in time of necessity, but not as concerning the property of the same, before they were delivered over to the apostles, as is to be seen in Acts 5:4.
45And sold their 95possessions and goods, andab parted them to all men, as every man had need.
95 Or, goods.
ab Isa. 58:7; Acts 4:35.
46And they, continuing daily with one accordac in the temple, and 96breaking bread 97from house to house, 98did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
ac Acts 1:14; 20:7.
96 See verse 42.
97 That is, in houses, now in one, then in another.
98 Namely, each one bringing his portion, to rejoice thus themselves moderately with one another and mutually to edify (one another). Gr. they took food together.
47Praising God, and having 99favour with all the people. Andad the Lord 100added to the church daily 101such as should be saved.
99 That is, favor, acceptation.
ad Acts 5:14; 11:21.
100 That is, wrought powerfully by His Holy Spirit in the hearts of people, that they joined themselves unto the Church of the faithful.
101 Namely, through faith in Christ.