Acts 2:2, Acts 2:3 KJV

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 2:1-13

The coming of God in power. The ascended Savior was about to come in mighty power to the disciples. They were in Jerusalem, "waiting for the promise of the Father;" doubtless they had no anticipation of the way in which that promise would be fulfilled, and must have been struck with the utmost awe and wonder when they found themselves wrought upon with such Divine energies. Our thought is directed to— I. THE MANIFESTED PRESENCE OF GOD . God revealed his presence through the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 2:1-41

The day of Pentecost, and its immediate gifts. " And when the day of Pentecost … And the same day there were added about three thousand souls." The day of Pentecost is emphatically the complement of the great days of the New Testament. The visible glories of this day are the fitting sequel, the almost natural sequel, of the more veiled glories of certain days that had preceded it. The heavenly luster and music of the day of incarnation, unique as they were, reached the eye and ear of but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 2:2

From heaven a sound for a sound from heaven, A.V.; as of the rushing of a for as of a rushing, A.V. All the house; showing that it was in a private dwelling, not in the temple (as in Acts 3:1 ) that they were assembled (see Acts 2:46 ). Perhaps the word "church" ( ὁ κυριακὸς οἷκος ) derives its use from these early meetings of the disciples in a house, as distinguished from the temple ( τὸ ἱερὸν ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Acts 2:2

And suddenly - It burst upon them at once. Though they were waiting for the descent of the Spirit, yet it is not probable that they expected it in this manner. As this was an important event, and one on which the welfare of the church depended, it was proper that the gift of the Holy Spirit should take place in some striking and sensible manner, so as to convince their own minds that the promise was fulfilled, and so as deeply to impress others with the greatness and importance of the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Acts 2:2-3

Acts 2:2-3. And suddenly That is, unexpectedly and in a moment, not gradually, as winds generally rise; there came a sound from heaven Not, as some have supposed, like a clap of thunder; but as of a rushing mighty wind A wind strong and violent, coming not only with a loud noise, but with great force, as if it would bear down all before it; this was to signify the powerful influences and operations of the Spirit of God upon the minds of men; and it filled all the house where they were... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Acts 2:1-13

The church is born (2:1-13)Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival held on the Sunday fifty days after Passover, when Israelites presented the first portion of their harvest to God (Leviticus 23:15-21). It was therefore a fitting day to mark the birth of the Christian church. Christ, the true Passover had been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7), and now fifty days later God poured out his Spirit on that small group of disciples who were to become the first members of the church of Jesus Christ.In... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Acts 2:2

suddenly. Greek. aphno. Only here; Acts 16:26 ; Acts 28:6 . sound. Greek. echos. Only here; Luke 4:37 . Hebrews 12:19 . from. App-104 . heaven = the heaven (singular) See Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 . rushing, &c. = a mighty wind borne along. rushing. Greek. pass, of phero. Same word as in 2 Peter 1:21 (moved). mighty. Greek. biaios. Only here. The noun, bia (force), is only found in Acts. See Acts 5:26 . wind = blast. Greek. pnoe, from pneo , to breathe, or blow, whence ... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Acts 2:2

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.The spectacular events here are suggestive of the wonders that attended the giving of the Law (Exodus 19:16f), such as the loud trumpet, the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Acts 2:2

Acts 2:2. And suddenly there came a sound— It was about 1500 years before this, and, as many think, on this very day of the year, that the law was given of God from Mount Sinai, in the sight andhearing of all Israel; and attended not only with a visible glory, but with pomp also and terror; and now the new law of grace is given to the apostles upon mount Sion; (see on ch. Acts 1:13.) attended likewise with a glory, but communicated, agreeably to the nature of it, in a much more mild, gentle,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Acts 2:2

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 (Ezekiel 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. read more