Acts 2

Personal thoughts and notes compiled from my Bible study group:


Acts 2:1–13

On the day of Pentecost, 3 external signs revealed the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:

- The external sound was “like the blowing of a violent wind” (Acts 2:2).

- The external sight was “what seemed to be tongues of fire” (Acts 2:3).

- The external speech was to "speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them" (Acts 2:4) and to "declare the wonders of God" (Acts 2:11)
- These events illustrate that as Jesus had promised them before He ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:5), the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and it is the Holy Spirit that enabled them to speak in tongues (Acts 2:4). (When a person speaks in tongues, he/she is speaking in a language foreign to and unlearned by him/her--A feat that is impossible without the filling of the Holy Spirit.) 
- In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit allowed the apostles to speak in tongues that was understood by everyone in his/her own mother tongue. In Genesis 11, the Holy Spirit confused the people by making them unable to understand each other. In other words, in Acts 2:1-13, the Holy Spirit allow people speaking DIFFERENT languages to UNDERSTAND one another. In Genesis 11:1-9, the Holy Spirit caused people speaking the SAME language to NOT understand one another.
- When we are guided by the Holy Spirit, we can accomplish amazing feats. When the Holy Spirit is working against us, we have no chance of succeeding.

Acts 2:4-13

I think separate, clearly understood languages were necessary on this occasion because the people needed to feel and visualize the miracles of the Holy Spirit. I think this was an important event for the following reasons:

1) Jesus told His disciples to wait to start their mission until they receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4).

2) The miracles that accompanied this permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit within the disciples could comfort the disciples who now need to move forward without the physical presence of Jesus. We say "seeing is believing", and by witnessing the coming of the Holy Spirit, that may have further solidified their confidence in moving forward with their mission.

3) To make obvious that this miraculous event is beyond man's capabilities and is made possible by a powerful being, which is God.

Acts 2:14–21

Joel 2:28–32

- When Peter stood up with the eleven disciples and addressed the crowd on their behalf, the unity of the twelve disciples is evidently strong.

- The Resurrection of Jesus marked the beginning of “the last days”. According to Revelation, we’re nearing the end of the last days.

Acts 2:17–20

- In the last days, God will pour out the Holy Spirit on all people (not just His people), and many of them will prophesy, see visions, and dream dreams. At the end of the last days, those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:19, Joel 2:30).

I think God has a plan for everyone, and He certainly has a plan for humanity as a whole, as the Bible clearly illustrates. And by this, we can see that everything God does, He does for a reason.

As Christians, we already have the Holy Spirit residing within us. As long as we maintain a personal relationship with Jesus, we will always be guided and protected by the Holy Spirit. And when necessary, we will receive the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish what is asked of us. I believe this is no different, whether we are evangelists, pastors, missionaries, or any other Christians. It may seem like evangelists, pastors, missionaries, and the likes are more “gifted”, but we need to remember that every member plays an important part in the body of Christ and that members receive different gifts (1 Corinthians 12). That is, evangelists, pastors, and missionaries excel at the jobs they do because that is their gift given to them by the Holy Spirit. They don’t excel because God outpours the Holy Spirit only onto them; they excel because that is their God-inspired mission. For those of us who are not doing missionary work, we still have the Holy Spirit residing within us, guiding us to accomplish our own missions in this life. We may not be led to preach in a church or evangelize in exotic parts of the world. Instead, we may be led to bring Christ to those around us—family member, colleagues at work, etc.

As I’ve commented in Acts 1, we need to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and do what is asked of us. We all have the tendency to do what we want to do, and when we don’t get what we want, we blame anybody else but ourselves, including God.

Well, as we’ve learned from the beginning of Acts 2, when we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us, we will see nothing but success. So, I would encourage that when we’re down, pray for guidance and place our trust in God, our Lord. Listen, listen, listen! For God protects His children and will always guide us toward His kingdom.

Zondervan NIV footnote:

*Acts 2:19-20 See notes on Joel 2:30-31; Mk 13:24-25

*Joel 2:30-31 These cosmic events are often associated with the day of the Lord (see Isa 13:9-10, 13; 34:4, Mt 24:29; Rev 6:12-13; 8:8-9; 9:1-19; 14:14-20; 16:4, 8-9).

*Mk 13:24-25 Imagery depicting the undoing of creation was commonly used by the OT prophets to describe God's awful judgment on a fallen world (see Isa 13:10; 24:21-23; 34:4; Eze 32:7; Joel 2:10, 30-31; Am 8:9 and notes).

13:24 in those days. A common OT expression having to do with the Messianic age, the time of Israel's final redemption (see Jer 3:16, 18; 31:29; 33:15-16; Joel 3:1; Zec 8:23; Heb 9:26 and note). distress. See v. 19 and note on Mt 24:21.

Acts 2:20

The future period described as “the day of the Lord” is the Thousand Year Reign under our King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:22–32

- Jesus was a man accredited by God via miracles, wonders, and signs (Acts 2:22).

- Jesus was a man handed over to the men of Israel by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge and put to death by being nailed to the cross (Acts 2:23).

- Jesus was a man who was raised from the dead by God (Acts 2:24); a man about whom David prophesied would take his throne, be resurrected and not see His body decay (Acts 2:27).

- I think the statement "handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge" is referring to the fact that Jesus predicted His own death and explained to His disciples that it is part of His fulfillment of all prophecies pertaining to the Christ (Gospels, e.g., Luke 22).

- Peter places full responsibility of Jesus' death on the men of Israel: "This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross" (Acts 2:23).
- I think Peter held them responsible because the men of Israel rejected Jesus, betrayed Him, and ensured His death on the cross. Furthermore, Pontius Pilate found no grounds for Jesus to deserve the death penalty, yet they insisted that Jesus be crucified (Luke 23:20-25). I think Peter also did that also because he felt guilty for disowning Jesus, as Jesus had predicted (Luke 22:54-62). He witnessed the entire string of events, from Jesus' arrest to Jesus' crucifixion, and wasn't able to stand for Jesus at that moment in time. Although the text doesn't say, I can only guess that as Peter wept when he found out he just disowned Jesus three times within a day, he remembered what Jesus had encouraged him earlier: "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31-32). Hence, with Jesus encouragement and having lived through that ordeal, Peter probably gained new-found courage to stand up for Jesus and be a pillar of strength for his brothers and sisters in Christ.


Acts 2:33–47

- Peter quoted Psalm 16:8-11 as the prophecy regarding Christ's ascension and exaltation to power.

- Christ is alive and in heaven (Acts 2:24, 31-32).

- We should realize that Christ fulfills ALL prophecies regarding the Christ. This should be our best evidence that God keeps His promises, and God is perfect. We should thus place our trust in our Lord and not ourselves.

- In response to "What shall we do," Peter said,"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:38-39).
- The believers lived as Christians by doing the following things: "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42). Specifically, they practiced the following:
1) They were together and had everything in common (Acts 2:44).
2) They sold their possessions and good and gave to anyone as they needed (Acts 2:45).
3) They met together in the temple courts everyday (Acts 2:46).
4) They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people (Acts 2:46-47).