1A když přišel den padesátý, byli všickni jednomyslně spolu. 2I stal se rychle zvuk s nebe, jako valícího se větru prudkého, a naplnil všecken dům, kdež seděli. 3I ukázali se jim rozdělení jazykové jako oheň, kterýž posadil se na každém z nich. 4I naplněni jsou všickni Duchem svatým, a počali mluviti jinými jazyky, jakž ten Duch dával jim vymlouvati. 5Byli pak v Jeruzalémě přebývající Židé, muži nábožní, ze všelikého národu, kterýž pod nebem jest. 6A když se stal ten hlas, sešlo se množství, a užasli se, že je slyšel jeden každý, ani mluví přirozeným jazykem jeho. 7I děsili se všickni, a divili, řkouce jedni k druhým: Aj, zdaliž nejsou tito všickni, kteříž mluví, Galilejští? 8A kterak my slyšíme jeden každý jazyk náš, v kterémž jsme se zrodili? 9Partští, a Médští, a Elamitští, a kteříž přebýváme v Mezopotamii, v Židovstvu a v Kappadocii, v Pontu a v Azii, 10V Frygii a v Pamfylii, v Egyptě a v krajinách Libye, kteráž jest vedlé Cyrénu, a příchozí Římané, Židé, i v nově na víru obrácení, 11Kretští i Arabští, slyšíme je, ani mluví jazyky našimi veliké věci Boží. 12I děsili se všickni a divili, jeden k druhému řkouce: I což toto bude? 13Jiní pak posmívajíce se, pravili: Mstem se zpili tito, 14A stoje Petr s jedenácti, pozdvihl hlasu svého, a promluvil k nim: Muži Židé, a všickni, kteříž bydlíte v Jeruzalémě, toto vám známo buď, a ušima pozorujte slov mých. 15Jistě nejsou tito, jakž vy se domníváte, zpilí, poněvadž jest teprv třetí hodina na den. 16Ale totoť jest, což jest předpovědíno skrze proroka Joele: 17A budeť v posledních dnech, (dí Bůh), vyleji z Ducha svého na všeliké tělo, a prorokovati budou synové vaši, i dcery vaše, a mládenci vaši vidění vídati budou, a starci vaši sny míti budou. 18A zajisté na služebníky a na služebnice své v těch dnech vyleji z Ducha svého, a budou prorokovati. 19A ukáži zázraky na nebi svrchu, a znamení na zemi dole, krev a oheň a páru dymovou. 20Slunce obrátí se v temnost, a měsíc v krev, prvé než přijde ten den Páně veliký a zjevný. 21A staneť se, že každý, kdožkoli vzýval by jméno Páně, spasen bude. 22Muži Izraelští, slyšte slova tato: Ježíše toho Nazaretského, muže od Boha zveličeného mezi vámi mocmi a zázraky a znameními, kteréž činil skrze něho Bůh u prostřed vás, jakož i vy sami víte, 23Toho vydaného z uložené rady a předzvědění Božího vzavše, a skrze ruce nešlechetných ukřižovavše, zamordovali jste. 24Jehož Bůh vzkřísil, zprostiv bolestí smrti, jakož nebylo možné jemu držánu býti od ní. 25Nebo David praví o něm: Spatřoval jsem Pána před sebou vždycky; nebo jest mi po pravici, abych se nepohnul. 26Protož rozveselilo se srdce mé, a zplésal jazyk můj, nýbrž i tělo mé odpočine v naději. 27Nebo nenecháš duše mé v pekle, aniž dáš viděti svatému svému porušení. 28Známé jsi mi učinil cesty života, a naplníš mne utěšením před oblíčejem svým. 29Muži bratří, sluší směle mluviti k vám o patriarchovi Davidovi, že i umřel, i pochován jest, i hrob jeho jest u nás až do dnešního dne. 30Prorok tedy byv, a věděv, že přísahou zavázal se jemu Bůh, že z plodu ledví jeho podlé těla vzbudí Krista, a posadí na stolici jeho, 31To předzvěděv, mluvil o vzkříšení Kristovu, že není opuštěna duše jeho v pekle, ani tělo jeho vidělo porušení. 32Toho Ježíše vzkřísil Bůh, jehož my všickni svědkové jsme. 33Protož pravicí Boží jsa zvýšen, a vzav zaslíbení Ducha svatého od Otce, vylil to, což vy nyní vidíte a slyšíte. 34Neboť David nevstoupil v nebe, ale on praví: Řekl Pán Pánu mému: Seď na pravici mé. 35Dokudž nepoložím nepřátel tvých za podnože noh tvých. 36Věziž tedy jistotně všecken dům Izraelský, žeť Bůh i Pánem ho učinil i Kristem, toho Ježíše, kteréhož jste vy ukřižovali. 37To slyševše, zkormouceni jsou v srdci, a řekli Petrovi a jiným apoštolům: Což máme činiti, muži bratří? 38Tedy Petr řekl jim: Pokání čiňte, a pokřti se jeden každý z vás ve jménu Ježíše Krista na odpuštění hříchů, a přijmete dar Ducha svatého. 39Vámť zajisté zaslíbení to svědčí a synům vašim, i všechněm, kteříž daleko jsou, kterýchžkoli povolal by Pán Bůh náš. 40A jinými slovy mnohými osvědčoval a napomínal, řka: Oddělte se od pokolení toho zlého. 41Tedy ti, kteříž ochotně přijali slova jeho, pokřtěni jsou, a připojilo se v ten den duší okolo tří tisíců. 42I zůstávali v učení apoštolském, a v společnosti, a v lámání chleba, a na modlitbách. 43I přišla na všelikou duši bázeň, a mnozí divové a zázrakové dáli se skrze apoštoly. 44Všickni pak věřící byli pospolu, a měli všecky věci obecné. 45A prodávali vládařství a statky, a dělili mezi všecky, jakž komu potřebí bylo. 46A na každý den trvajíce jednomyslně v chrámě, a lámajíce po domích chléb, přijímali pokrm s potěšením a sprostností srdce, 47Chválíce Boha, a milost majíce u všeho lidu. Pán pak přidával církvi na každý den těch, kteříž by spaseni byli.
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].