Acts 2 Commentary

The Holy Spirit arrives as promised. With the sound of wind and the appearance of flaming tongues, the disciples are filled by the Spirit and speak languages they did not know beforehand.

Jewish pilgrims and immigrants from all over the Roman Empire have come to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. They hear the disciples speaking about God’s deeds in the native languages of the foreign places where they were from. Some believe the disciples are drunk, others want to understand what is happening.

Peter begins a sermon to explain to the Jewish pilgrims why they are speaking in foreign languages. The Spirit of God has been poured out on His people, as predicted by the prophet Joel.

Peter quotes more from Joel’s prophecies. Prior to the day of the Lord’s judgment, there will be signs and wonders and darkness on the earth. But whoever calls on God will be saved.

Peter preaches that Jesus’s death was part of God’s plan, and that He has been resurrected from death by God. King David had prophesied this resurrection in his psalms.

Peter tells the crowd that he and the other disciples are witnesses to Jesus’s resurrection. They have seen Him alive again. And now He has ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. The Jewish people are called to realize that they crucified God’s messiah.

Some of the Jews are ashamed that they put God’s messiah to death. They ask Peter what to do, and he calls them to repent and be baptized in Jesus’s name. Then the Holy Spirit will dwell in them too. 3000 people repent and are baptized.

The disciples of Jesus devote themselves to learning from the apostles and taking care of one another. They sell property to provide for their fellow believers. Everyone continues to feel the fear of God in them as the apostles perform wonders and signs. New believers join their community every day.