Acts 2:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

NIV: Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

NASB: AND EVEN ON MY MALE AND FEMALE SERVANTS I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT IN THOSE DAYS, And they will prophesy.

CSB: I will even pour out my Spiriton my servants in those days, both men and womenand they will prophesy.

NLT: In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants — men and women alike — and they will prophesy.

KJV: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

NKJV: And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

Earlier this morning, about 120 Christ-followers met in a house in Jerusalem and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). A crowd of Jews from all over the Roman Empire and the Middle East are stopped in their tracks when they realize these Galileans are speaking their languages—not just the universal languages of Greek and Aramaic, but the individual dialects from the visitors' homelands. Some dismiss the speech as gibberish and insist the Jesus-followers are drunk (Acts 2:13). Others have one question: "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:12).

Peter is explaining this phenomenon in the context of the prophecy found in Joel 2:28–32. In the book of Joel, God explains that if the people of Judah do not repent of their sins, He will destroy them as the locusts destroyed their crops. If they do repent, He will send certain signs, including the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and visions and dreams for the people. This verse quotes Joel 2:29 and would seem to be an add-on to Joel 2:28, except that the identification of the prophets changes. In Acts 2:17, God talks about "your sons and your daughters…your young men…your old men." Here, He says, "my male servants and female servants." He identifies the Galileans as belonging to Him.

"Servant" is a common way Jesus-followers identify themselves in the beginning years of the church. The young congregation prays God will grant His servants boldness to preach in the face of persecution (Acts 4:29). Paul readily identifies himself as God's servant in his letters (Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 3:5), as does Peter (2 Peter 1:1). Jesus' half-brothers James (James 1:1) and Jude (Jude 1:1) do as well.

"Servants" is from the Greek root word doulos and can mean a servant or a slave. To be a slave of Jesus is not a term of reproach. He bought us with His blood (1 Corinthians 6:19–20) and we are His for eternity (John 10:28). When Jesus rescued us from being slaves to sin, God adopted us as sons and daughters (Romans 8:15). We are naturally a slave to something, but we have the right to choose who we serve. If we serve ourselves, we are slaves to sin; if we serve God, we are slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:16).

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.