Acts 2
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The Beginning of the Church
The Beginning of the Church
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.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
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).
What was the result?
"They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4).
And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
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)?
Israel was divided into three regions back then. Judea was in the south and included Jerusalem; north of Judea was Samaria; and north of Samaria was the region of Galilee, which included the Sea of Galilee. After conquering Israel, the Romans created the Roman province of Judea, which included Samaria, Judea and Idumea, which is a non-Jewish region just south of Judea. So, “Judea” referred to both an Israeli region and a Roman province that was about three times larger than Judea, the region. The “land of Judea” (John 3:22) refers to the region, so Jesus and His disciples had left Jerusalem but hadn't gone far.
Where are "Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia" (Acts 2:9)?
The Asia that is being referred to is neither the continent of Asia as we know it today nor "Asia Minor," which refers to about 2/3 of what is Turkey today, less its southeastern 30% and northwestern tip.
The "Asia" in Acts 20:18 was the Roman province of Asia, which made up the western 1/4 of what is Turkey today and included the coastal regions of Troas, Mysia, Lydia, Caria, the interior region of Phrygia, and the provincial capital of Asia was Ephesus.
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.
Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”
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.
Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
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.
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.
But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
Why does Peter cite what the prophet Joel said as recorded in Joel 2?
To say that what they were witnessing wasn't drunkenness but the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy; now that the "last days" or the final phase of God's plan for mankind - i.e., the soul harvest - had begun with the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, God was pouring out through His Holy Spirit not just on kings and prophets but "on all flesh," including "sons... daughters... young men... old men... menservants and on maidservants" (Acts 2:17,18).
I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’
What are the "wonders" (Acts 2:19)?
The things to happen "before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord" (Acts 2:20) - i.e., the second coming of Jesus.
What does science call the "sun" turning "into darkness" (Acts 2:20)?
A solar eclipse, during which the sun, moon and earth become aligned, with the moon in the middle and blocking people on the earth from seeing the sun.
What does science call the "moon" turning "into blood" (Acts 2:20)?
A lunar eclipse of a full moon, during which the sun, earth and moon become aligned, with the earth in the middle. The light from the sun glances off the outer edge of the earth, where sunrises and sunsets are taking place, disperses and casts a reddish glow (the type you see at sunsets) on the surface of the moon (as science advances, more of the Bible continue to be explained). Solar and lunar eclipses, as well as "signs in the earth," including "fire and vapor of smoke" (Acts 2:19) will precede Jesus' second coming.
Will that be cause for fear?
Not for those who call "on the name" of Jesus, their "Lord" (Acts 2:21)
Miracles
Miracles
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—
This is clear testimony of the miracles of Jesus continuing even after His Ascension.
Who did the miracles of Jesus?
"God": "miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him" (Acts 2:22).
Did God the Father do the miracles of Jesus?
John 14:10
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
Did God the Holy Spirit do the miracles of Jesus?
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Did Jesus do the miracles of Jesus?
The Bible says "Jesus" walked on water (see John 6:19),
So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.
"Jesus" raised the dead (see Lazarus, come forth!),
Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
"Jesus" turned water into wine (see John 2)
And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it.
When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.
granted miraculous catches of fish (see Jesus)
Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
fed thousands with a kid's lunch (see Jesus feeds 5000)
One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,
“There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.”
opened the eyes of the blind (see John 9)
When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
healed the sick (see Capernaum)
So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.
Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”
The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”
Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.
And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”
Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”
So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.
This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.
and the lame (see John 5),
Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”
And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
cast out demons,
calmed the storm, etc., so yes.
So who did the miracles of Jesus?
God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, and God the Son.
How can that be made easier to understand?
Deuteronomy 6:4
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!
Given this "one"ness of our triune God (see the diagram in this page), miracles of Jesus = miracles of the Father = miracles of the Holy Spirit.
Why does Peter say Jesus was attested by "miracles, wonders, and signs" (Acts 2:22) instead of just "miracles"?
Jesus' miracles are signs that point to His deity.
Which miracle of Jesus is the biggest sign that proves His deity?
His resurrection.
Who resurrected Jesus?
See Who raised Jesus from the dead?
Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
What does Peter accuse his audience of?
Committing murder by illegally - "by lawless hands" (Acts 2:23) - having "crucified and put" Jesus "to death" (Acts 2:23).
Was God surprised by that?
No, the sacrificial death of Jesus was according to "the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23) the Father and Jesus,
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
What is Peter citing?
I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
What are "Hades" (Acts 2:27) and "Sheol" (Psalm 16:10)?
Hades (Greek) and Sheol (Hebrew) both refer to the realm of the dead.
For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
To what does "corruption" (Acts 2:27, Psalm 16:10) refer?
The decomposition of a dead body.
What is Peter telling the crowd?
That God the Father did not leave the soul of Jesus in the realm of the dead or allow His body to decompose, and that this was prophesied by none other than King David, whom all Jews, including those in the crowd, revere.
“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Therefore, 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,
Why does Peter mention that David is "both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day" (Acts 2:29)?
He is drawing a contrast with the resurrection of Jesus by reminding the people that while David died and stayed dead, Jesus stayed neither dead nor buried, and His tomb is empty (see stone rolled away).