Acts 2:1-6 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:1

When the day of pentecost was fully come - The feast of pentecost was celebrated fifty days after the passover, and has its name πεντηκοστη from πεντηκοντα , fifty, which is compounded of πεντε , five, and ηκοντα , the decimal termination. It commenced on the fiftieth day reckoned from the first day of unleavened bread, i.e. on the morrow after the paschal lamb was offered. The law relative to this feast is found in Leviticus 23:15 , Leviticus 23:16 , in these words: And ye shall... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:2

A sound from heaven - Probably thunder is meant, which is the harbinger of the Divine presence. Rushing mighty wind - The passage of a large portion of electrical fluid over that place would not only occasion the sound, or thunder, but also the rushing mighty wind; as the air would rush suddenly and strongly into the vacuum occasioned by the rarefaction of the atmosphere in that place, through the sudden passage of the electrical fluid; and the wind would follow the direction of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:3

Cloven tongues like as of fire - The tongues were the emblem of the languages they were to speak. The cloven tongues pointed out the diversity of those languages; and the fire seemed to intimate that the whole would be a spiritual gift, and be the means of bringing light and life to the souls who should hear them preach the everlasting Gospel in those languages. Sat upon each of them - Scintillations, coruscations, or flashes of fire, were probably at first frequent through every part of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:4

To speak with other tongues - At the building of Babel the language of the people was confounded; and, in consequence of this, they became scattered over the face of the earth: at this foundation of the Christian Church, the gift of various languages was given to the apostles, that the scattered nations might be gathered; and united under one shepherd and superintendent ( επισκοπος ) of all souls. As the Spirit gave them utterance - The word αποφθεγγεσθαι seems to imply such... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:5

Devout men, out of every nation - Either by these we are simply to understand Jews who were born in different countries, and had now come up to Jerusalem to be present at the passover, and for purposes of traffic, or proselytes to Judaism, who had come up for the same purpose: for I cannot suppose that the term ανδρες ευλαβεις , devout men, can be applied to any other. At this time there was scarcely a commercial nation under heaven where the Jews had not been scattered for the purpose of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:6

When this was noised abroad - If we suppose that there was a considerable peal of thunder, which followed the escape of a vast quantity of electric fluid, and produced the mighty rushing wind already noticed on Acts 2:2 , then the whole city must have been alarmed; and, as various circumstances might direct their attention to the temple, having flocked thither they were farther astonished and confounded to hear the disciples of Christ addressing the mixed multitude in the languages of the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:1

Verse 1 1.And when. To be fulfilled is taken in this place for to come. For Luke beareth record again of their perseverance, when he saith that they stood all in one place until the time which was set them. Hereunto serveth the adverb, with one accord Furthermore, we have before declared why the Lord did defer the sending of his Spirit a whole month and a half. But the question is, why he sent him upon that day chiefly. I will not refute that high and subtle interpretation of Augustine, that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:2

Verse 2 2.And there was made It was requisite that the gift should be visible, that the bodily sense might the more stir up the disciples. For such is our slothfulness to consider the gifts of God, that unless he awake all our senses, his power shall pass away unknown. This was, therefore, a preparation that they might the better know that the Spirit was now come which Christ had promised. Although it was not so much for their sake as for ours, even as in that the cloven and fiery tongues... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:4

Verse 4 4.They began to speak He showeth that the effect did appear presently, and also to what use their tongues were to be framed and applied, But because Luke setteth down shortly after, that strangers out of divers countries did marvel, because that every one of them did hear the apostles speaking in their own tongue, some think that they spoke not in divers tongues, but that they did all understand that which was spoken in one tongue, as well as if they should hear their natural tongue.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:5

Verse 5 5.And there were at Jerusalem. When he calleth them godly or religious men, he seemeth to give us to understand that they came to Jerusalem that they might worship God; like as God, in all ages, after the scattering abroad, did gather together into that city some seed which remained, having, as it were, set up his banner, because as yet the temple did serve to some use. Yet, nevertheless, he showeth, by the way, who those be which profit by those miracles, whereby God doth declare his... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Acts 2:5

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