Bible Commentaries

Ac 2:1-13.

DESCENT OF THE SPIRIT--THE DISCIPLES SPEAK WITH TONGUES--AMAZEMENT OF THE MULTITUDE.

1-4. when the day of Pentecost was fully come--The fiftieth from the morrow after the first Passover sabbath

(Le 23:15, 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

(Eze 37:9; Joh 3:8; 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).

5-11. there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men out of every nation--not, it would seem, permanently settled there (see

Ac 2:9),

though the language seems to imply more than a temporary visit to keep this one feast.

9-11. 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].

Ac 2:14-36.

PETER FOR THE FIRST TIME, PUBLICLY PREACHES CHRIST.

14-21. 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

Ec 10:16; Isa 5:11; 1Th 5:17).