Acts 2:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

NIV: No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

NASB: but this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

CSB: On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

NLT: No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

KJV: But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

NKJV: But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

There are about 900,000 visiting Jews in Jerusalem from as far away as Rome, Alexandria, and Mesopotamia (Acts 2:9–11). A crowd of them have just heard a group of Galileans speaking in their native dialects (Acts 2:8). The question floating around the crowd is "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:12). Peter is more than happy to explain.

We don't know much about Joel except that he was a prophet in Judah around 835 to 800 BC. The prophecies in his book cover events immediate to his time, including the devastation wrought by a horde of locusts, but also the beginning years of the church and the end times.

In the time of Joel, a huge swarm of locusts destroyed the crops, leaving Judah in famine (Joel 1:1–12). Joel likened the locusts to God's wrath that would fall on His people if they didn't repent (Joel 1:13–20). If they did repent, God would have pity on them (Joel 2:18–27). As a sign of His reconciliation with His people, He would send the Holy Spirit so that the people would prophesy and see visions (Joel 2:28–29). But not everyone would return to God; those who refused God would still see His judgment (Joel 2:30–31).

Peter applies this section of Joel's prophecy (Acts 2:17–21) to the experience of the audience and then immediately goes into why his listeners need to repent: they killed their own Messiah (Acts 2:22–36). His message is effective; three thousand repent and are baptized (Acts 2:41).

Acts 2:14–36 transcribes the first sermon ever given by a Christian. The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised (John 14:16–17) has come upon 120 of His followers in Jerusalem (Acts 1:15; 2:1–4). They immediately start speaking in different languages, shocking a crowd of Jews and proselytes who are in town to celebrate Pentecost (Acts 2:5–11). Some of the crowd dismiss the speech as nonsense; others are very interested (Acts 2:12–13). Peter, combining his natural enthusiasm as spokesman for the group with wisdom from the Spirit, responds by obeying Jesus and being His witness (Acts 1:8).

Acts 2 describes the beginning of the church in three episodes. First, the Holy Spirit comes upon the Jesus-followers in Jerusalem, equipping them with the ability to teach the gospel in different languages (Acts 2:1–13). Second, Peter gives a public declaration using Old Testament prophecy to show Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah (Acts 2:14–36). Third, people believe. They repent, trust Jesus will forgive their sins, and agree to be baptized as a public sign that they are now Jesus-followers (Acts 2:37–47). That quickly, the church is born.

Acts 2 describes the creation of Jesus' church. Forty days after Jesus' resurrection He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9). One hundred and twenty disciples obeyed His command to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, 2–15). In Acts 2, they receive the Holy Spirit and share the gospel with a crowd of people who have come to celebrate Pentecost. Three thousand believe, and the church comes to life. In the following chapters, Jesus-followers fulfill Jesus' promise that they will be His witnesses ''in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth'' (Acts 1:8).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.