1A keď sa už doplňoval päťdesiaty deň po Veľkej noci, totiž deň Letníc, boli všetci jednomyseľne spolu. 2A zrazu povstal z neba zvuk ako zvuk nesúceho sa silného vánku a naplnil celý dom, kde sedeli. 3A ukázaly sa im rozdeľujúce sa jazyky jako čo by jazyky ohňa, a sadol na jedného každého z nich. 4A zrazu boli všetci naplnení Svätým Duchom a začali hovoriť inými jazyky, tak ako im dával Duch vysloviť sa. 5A bývali v Jeruzaleme Židia, nábožní mužovia, zo všetkých národov, ktoré sú pod nebom. 6A keď povstal ten hlas, sišlo sa množstvo, a boli celí zmätení, lebo ich počuli hovoriť jeden každý svojím vlastným jazykom. 7A žasli všetci, divili sa a hovorili jeden druhému: Či hľa, nie sú všetci títo, ktorí to hovoria, Galileania? 8Ako tedy my, jeden každý, počujeme hovoriť svojím vlastným jazykom, v ktorom sme sa zrodili? 9Partovia a Médovia a Elamiti a ktorí bývame v Mezopotámii, v Judsku a v Kapadocii, v Ponte a v Ázii, 10vo Frygii a v Pamfýlii, v Egypte a v krajoch Libye, pri Cyréne a na tento čas tu sa zdržujúci Rimania, Židia a prozelyti, 11Kréťania a Arabi čujeme ich hovoriť našskými jazyky veliké veci Božie. 12A žasli všetci a súc bezradní od údivu hovorili jeden druhému: Čo to chce byť? 13Ale zase iní sa posmievali a hovorili: Naplnení sú sladkým vínom. 14Ale Peter zastanúc si s jedonástimi povýšil svoj hlas a povedal im: Mužovia Židia, aj vy, ktorí bývate v Jeruzaleme, všetci, nech vám je toto známe, a počujte moje slová! 15Lebo títo nie sú spilí, jako sa vy domnievate, lebo veď je ešte len tretia hodina dňa. 16Ale toto je to, čo je povedané skrze proroka Joela: 17A bude v posledných dňoch, hovorí Bôh, že vylejem zo svojho Ducha na každé telo, a vaši synovia budú prorokovať i vaše dcéry, a vaši mládenci budú vídať videnia, a vašim starcom sa budú snívať sny. 18Áno i na svojich sluhov a na svoje dievky vylejem zo svojho Ducha v tých dňoch, a budú prorokovať. 19A dám vidieť zázraky hore na nebi a znamenia dole na zemi, krv a oheň a dymovú paru. 20Slnce sa obráti na tmu a mesiac na krv, prv ako prijde deň JeHoVaHov, veľký a slávny. 21A bude, že každý, ktokoľvek bude vzývať meno JeHoVaHovo, bude spasený. 22Mužovia Izraeliti, počujte tieto slová: Ježiša Nazarejského, muža, od Boha pred vami presláveného mocami a zázraky a znameniami, ktoré skrze neho činil Bôh medzi vami, jako aj sami viete - 23toho určenou radou a predzvedením Božím vydaného ste vzali a rukou bezbožných pripäli na kríž a zavraždili, 24ktorého Bôh vzkriesil oprostiac bolestí smrti, jako aj nebolo možné, aby bol ňou držaný. 25Lebo Dávid hovorí vzťahom na neho: Vždycky som videl pred sebou Pána, lebo mi je po pravici, aby som sa nepohnul. 26Preto sa rozveselilo moje srdce, a môj jazyk splesal, áno i moje telo bude stániť na nádeji, 27lebo nezanecháš mojej duše v ríši smrti ani nedáš svojmu Svätému vidieť porušenie. 28Dal si mi poznať cesty života a naplníš ma veselosťou so svojou tvárou! 29Mužovia bratia! Patrí sa povedať vám prosto a smele o patriarchovi Dávidovi, že i zomrel, i pochovali ho, a jeho hrob je u nás až do dnešného dňa. 30A teda súc prorokom a vediac, že sa mu Bôh zaviazal prísahou, že z plodu jeho bedier, podľa tela, vzbudí Krista a dosadí na jeho trón, 31a vidiac to vopred hovoril o zmŕtvychvstaní Kristovom, že ani nebola zanechaná jeho duša v ríši smrti, ani jeho telo že nevidelo porušenia. 32Toho istého Ježiša vzkriesil Bôh, čoho sme my všetci svedkami. 33Vyvýšený súc tedy pravicou Božou a dostanúc zasľúbenie Svätého Ducha od Otca vylial toto, čo vy teraz vidíte a čujete. 34Lebo Dávid nevstúpil na nebesia, ale on hovorí: Riekol JeHoVaH✦ môjmu Pánovi: Seď po mojej pravici,
35dokiaľ nepoložím tvojich nepriateľov za podnož tvojich nôh. 36Nech teda vie istotne celý dom Izraelov, že i Pánom i Kristom ho učinil Bôh, toho Ježiša, ktorého ste vy ukrižovali! 37A keď to počuli, boli hlboko dojatí, až do srdca, a povedali Petrovi a ostatným apoštolom: Čo máme robiť, mužovia bratia? 38A Peter im povedal: Čiňte pokánie, a nech sa dá ponoriťjeden každý z vás na meno Ježiša Krista na odpustenie svojich hriechov, a dostanete dar Svätého Ducha. 39Lebo vám patrí to zasľúbenie a vašim deťom a všetkým na široko-ďaleko, ktorých- a koľkýchkoľvek si povolá JeHoVaH, náš Bôh. 40A tiež aj inými viacerými slovami dôrazne svedčil a napomínal ich a hovoril: Zachráňte sa od tohoto pokolenia krivoľakého. 41A tak tí, ktorí ochotne prijali jeho slovo, dali sa ponoriť, a pripojilo sa toho dňa okolo troch tisícov duší. 42A zotrvávali v učení apoštolov a v spoločnom bratskom obcovaní a pri lámaní chleba a na modlitbách. 43A prišla bázeň na každú dušu, a dialo sa mnoho zázrakov a divov skrze apoštolov. 44A všetci veriaci boli spolu a mali všetko spoločné. 45Aj statky a majetky predávali a delili ich všetkým, ako komu bolo treba. 46A každodenne zotrvávajúc jednomyseľne v chráme a lámuc chlieb po domoch brali pokrm v plesaní a v prostote srdca, 47chválili Boha a mali milosť u všetkého ľudu. A Pán pridával cirkvi zachránených každý deň.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 DESCENT OF THE SPIRIT--THE DISCIPLES SPEAK WITH TONGUES--AMAZEMENT OF THE MULTITUDE. (
Acts 2:1-
Acts 2:13)
when the day of Pentecost was fully come--The fiftieth from the morrow after the first Passover sabbath (
Lev 23:15-
Lev 23:16).
with one accord--the solemnity of the day, perhaps, unconsciously raising their expectations.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, &c.--"The whole description is so picturesque and striking that it could only come from an eye-witness" [OLSHAUSEN]. The suddenness, strength, and diffusiveness of the sound strike with deepest awe the whole company, and thus complete their preparation for the heavenly gift. Wind was a familiar emblem of the Spirit (
Ezek 37:9;
John 3:8;
John 20:22). But this was not a rush of actual wind. It was only a sound "as of" it.
3 cloven tongues, like as of fire, &c.--"disparted tongues," that is, tongue-shaped, flame-like appearances, rising from a common center or root, and resting upon each of that large company:--beautiful visible symbol of the burning energy of the Spirit now descending in all His plenitude upon the Church, and about to pour itself through every tongue, and over every tribe of men under heaven!
4 they . . . began to speak with . . . tongues, &c.--real, living languages, as is plain from what follows. The thing uttered, probably the same by all, was "the wonderful works of God," perhaps in the inspired words of the Old Testament evangelical hymns; though it is next to certain that the speakers themselves understood nothing of what they uttered (see on 1Co. 14:1-25).
5 there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men out of every nation--not, it would seem, permanently settled there (see
Acts 2:9), though the language seems to imply more than a temporary visit to keep this one feast.
9 Parthians, &c.--Beginning with the farthest east, the Parthians, the enumeration proceeds farther and farther westward till it comes to Judea; next come the western countries, from Cappadocia to Pamphylia; then the southern, from Egypt to Cyrene; finally, apart from all geographical consideration, Cretes and Arabians are placed together. This enumeration is evidently designed to convey an impression of universality [BAUMGARTEN].
14 PETER FOR THE FIRST TIME, PUBLICLY PREACHES CHRIST. (Acts 2:14-36)
Peter, standing up with the eleven--in advance, perhaps, of the rest.
15 these are not drunken--meaning, not the Eleven, but the body of the disciples.
but the third hour--nine A.M. (see
Eccl 10:16;
Isa 5:11;
1Thess 5:17).
17 in the last days--meaning, the days of the Messiah (
Isa 2:2); as closing all preparatory arrangements, and constituting the final dispensation of God's kingdom on earth.
pour out of my Spirit--in contrast with the mere drops of all preceding time.
upon all flesh--hitherto confined to the seed of Abraham.
sons . . . daughters . . . young men . . . old men . . . servants . . . handmaidens--without distinction of sex, age, or rank.
see visions . . . dream dreams--This is a mere accommodation to the ways in which the Spirit operated under the ancient economy, when the prediction was delivered; for in the New Testament, visions and dreams are rather the exception than the rule.
19 I will show wonders, &c.--referring to the signs which were to precede the destruction of Jerusalem (see on
Luke 21:25-
Luke 21:28).
21 whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved--This points to the permanent establishment of the economy of salvation, which followed on the breaking up of the Jewish state.
22 a man approved of God--rather, "authenticated," "proved," or "demonstrated to be from God."
by miracles . . . which God did by him--This is not a low view of our Lord's miracles, as has been alleged, nor inconsistent with
John 2:11, but is in strict accordance with His progress from humiliation to glory, and with His own words in
John 5:19. This view of Christ is here dwelt on to exhibit to the Jews the whole course of Jesus of Nazareth as the ordinance and doing of the God of Israel [ALFORD].
23 determinate counsel and foreknowledge--God's fixed plan and perfect foresight of all the steps involved in it.
ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain--How strikingly is the criminality of Christ's murderers here presented in harmony with the eternal purpose to surrender Him into their hands!
24 was not possible he should be holden of it--Glorious saying! It was indeed impossible that "the Living One" should remain "among the dead" (
Luke 24:5); but here, the impossibility seems to refer to the prophetic assurance that He should not see corruption.
27 wilt not leave my soul in hell--in its disembodied state (see on
Luke 16:23).
neither . . . suffer thine Holy One to see corruption--in the grave.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life--that is, resurrection-life.
thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance--that is, in glory; as is plain from the whole connection and the actual words of the sixteenth Psalm.
29 David . . . is . . . dead and buried, &c.--Peter, full of the Holy Ghost, sees in this sixteenth Psalm, one Holy Man, whose life of high devotedness and lofty spirituality is crowned with the assurance, that though He taste of death, He shall rise again without seeing corruption, and be admitted to the bliss of God's immediate presence. Now as this was palpably untrue of David, it could be meant only of One other, even of Him whom David was taught to expect as the final Occupant of the throne of Israel. (Those, therefore, and they are many, who take David himself to be the subject of this Psalm, and the words quoted to refer to Christ only in a more eminent sense, nullify the whole argument of the apostle). The Psalm is then affirmed to have had its only proper fulfilment in JESUS, of whose resurrection and ascension they were witnesses, while the glorious effusion of the Spirit by the hand of the ascended One, setting an infallible seal upon all, was even then witnessed by the thousands who stood listening to Him. A further illustration of Messiah's ascension and session at God's right hand is drawn from
Ps 110:1, in which David cannot be thought to speak of himself, seeing he is still in his grave.
36 Therefore--that is, to sum up all.
let all the house of Israel--for in this first discourse the appeal is formally made to the whole house of Israel, as the then existing Kingdom of God.
know assuredly--by indisputable facts, fulfilled predictions, and the seal of the Holy Ghost set upon all.
that God hath made--for Peter's object was to show them that, instead of interfering with the arrangements of the God of Israel, these events were His own high movements.
this same Jesus, whom ye have crucified--"The sting is at the close" [BENGEL]. To prove to them merely that Jesus was the Messiah might have left them all unchanged in heart. But to convince them that He whom they had crucified had been by the right hand of God exalted, and constituted the "LORD" whom David in spirit adored, to whom every knee shall bow, and the CHRIST of God, was to bring them to "look on Him whom they had pierced and mourn for Him."
37 pricked in their hearts--the begun fulfilment of
Zech 12:10, whose full accomplishment is reserved for the day when "all Israel shall be saved" (see on
Rom 11:26).
what shall we do?--This is that beautiful spirit of genuine compunction and childlike docility, which, discovering its whole past career to have been one frightful mistake, seeks only to be set right for the future, be the change involved and the sacrifices required what they may. So Saul of Tarsus (
Acts 9:6).
38 Repent--The word denotes change of mind, and here includes the reception of the Gospel as the proper issue of that revolution of mind which they were then undergoing.
baptized . . . for the remission of sins--as the visible seal of that remission.
39 For the promise--of the Holy Ghost, through the risen Saviour, as the grand blessing of the new covenant.
all afar off--the Gentiles, as in
Eph 2:17), but "to the Jew first."
40 with many other words did he testify and exhort--Thus we have here but a summary of Peter's discourse; though from the next words it would seem that only the more practical parts, the home appeals, are omitted.
Save yourselves from this untoward generation--as if Peter already foresaw the hopeless impenitence of the nation at large, and would have his hearers hasten in for themselves and secure their own salvation.
41 BEAUTIFUL BEGINNINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. (
Acts 2:41-
Acts 2:47)
they that gladly received his word were baptized--"It is difficult to say how three thousand could be baptized in one day, according to the old practice of a complete submersion; and the more as in Jerusalem there was no water at hand except Kidron and a few pools. The difficulty can only be removed by supposing that they already employed sprinkling, or baptized in houses in large vessels. Formal submersion in rivers, or larger quantities of water, probably took place only where the locality conveniently allowed it" [OLSHAUSEN].
the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls--fitting inauguration of the new kingdom, as an economy of the Spirit!
42 continued steadfastly in--"attended constantly upon."
the apostles' doctrine--"teaching"; giving themselves up to the instructions which, in their raw state, would be indispensable to the consolidation of the immense multitude suddenly admitted to visible discipleship.
fellowship--in its largest sense.
breaking of bread--not certainly in the Lord's Supper alone, but rather in frugal repasts taken together, with which the Lord's Supper was probably conjoined until abuses and persecution led to the discontinuance of the common meal.
prayers--probably, stated seasons of it.
43 fear came upon every soul--A deep awe rested upon the whole community.
44 all that believed were together, and had all things common--(See on
Acts 4:34-
Acts 4:37).
46 daily . . . in the temple--observing the hours of Jewish worship.
and breaking bread from house to house--rather, "at home" (Margin), that is, in private, as contrasted with their temple-worship, but in some stated place or places of meeting.
eat their meat with gladness--"exultation."
and singleness of heart.
47 Praising God--"Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for God now accepteth thy works" (
Eccl 9:7, also see on
Acts 8:39).
having favour with all the people--commending themselves by their lovely demeanor to the admiration of all who observed them.
And the Lord--that is, JESUS, as the glorified Head and Ruler of the Church.
added--kept adding; that is, to the visible community of believers, though the words "to the Church" are wanting in the most ancient manuscripts.
such as should be saved--rather, "the saved," or "those who were being saved." "The young Church had but few peculiarities in its outward form, or even in its doctrine: the single discriminating principle of its few members was that they all recognized the crucified Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. This confession would have been a thing of no importance, if it had only presented itself as a naked declaration, and would never in such a case have been able to form a community that would spread itself over the whole Roman empire. It acquired its value only through the power of the Holy Ghost, passing from the apostles as they preached to the hearers; for He brought the confession from the very hearts of men (
1Cor 12:3), and like a burning flame made their souls glow with love. By the power of this Spirit, therefore, we behold the first Christians not only in a state of active fellowship, but also internally changed: the narrow views of the natural man are broken through; they have their possessions in common, and they regard themselves as one family" [OLSHAUSEN].
