Acts 2:3-4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 2:1-4

We have here an account of the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the disciples of Christ. Observe, I. When, and where, this was done, which are particularly noted, for the greater certainty of the thing. 1. It was when the day of pentecost was fully come, in which there seems to be a reference to the manner of the expression in the institution of this feast, where it is said (Lev. 23:15), You shall count unto you seven sabbaths complete, from the day of the offering of the first-fruits, which was... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 2:1-13

We may never know precisely what happened on the Day of Pentecost but we do know that it was one of the supremely great days of the Christian Church. for on that day the Holy Spirit came to the Christian Church in a very special way. Acts has been called the Gospel of the Holy Spirit; so before we turn to detailed consideration of its second chapter let us take a general view of what Acts has to say about the Holy Spirit. The Coming Of The Spirit It is perhaps unfortunate that we so... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 2:1-13

2:1-13 So when the day of Pentecost came round, they were all together in one place; and all of a sudden there came from heaven a sound like that of a violent, rushing wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues, like tongues of fire, appeared to them, which distributed themselves among them and settled on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them the power of utterance. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 2:3

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire ,.... An emblem of the various tongues and languages, in which they were to preach the Gospel; these appearances were like flames of fire parted, and these parted flames looked like tongues; so, a flame of fire is with, the Jews called, לשון אש , "a tongue of fire", Isaiah 5:24 hence the Apostle James compares a tongue to fire, James 3:6 this was the baptism with fire, John the Baptist speaks of; see Gill on Matthew 3:11 ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost ,.... With the gifts of the Holy Spirit; they had received the Spirit before, as a Spirit of grace, and were endowed with great gifts; but now they had great plenty of them, a large abundance; they were like vessels filled to the brim; they were as it were covered with them; there was an overflow of them upon them; and now it was, that they were baptized with him; See Gill on Acts 1:5 . Not only the twelve apostles, but the seventy disciples;... 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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 2:1-4

The epoch of the spiritual dispensation. I. THE DAY . The fiftieth after the Passover; the beginning of the great festival of harvest. What associations of joy! It was a focus of national life. It was a convenient season for the designs of Providence. Jerusalem was thronged, and the multitude was alive with thought. A sound now heard from the depths of the world of spirit must vibrate through the conscience of mankind for ages. II. THE SOUND . As of a mighty blast from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 2:1-4

The day of Pentecost: the manifestation of the Spirit. I. THE TIME AND PLACE . Correspondence with the facts of the natural world and of the Jewish Church. Harvest festival. Connection with the Passover, from which it was reckoned—seven weeks. The gifts of God poured out at Jerusalem, where yet he was about to pour out his judgments. The new must be grafted on the old, according to the promises in the prophets, that there should still be a remnant according to the election of... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Acts 2:1-4

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 2:1-13

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Acts 2:1-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 2:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Acts 2:4

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 2:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 2:1-4

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