Acts 2

Acts 2
Greek text of Acts 2:11-22 in Uncial 076, written in 5th/6th century.
Book Acts of the Apostles
Bible part New Testament
Order in the Bible part 5
Category Church history

Acts 2 is the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It records the events on the day of Pentecost, about 10 days after the ascension of Jesus Christ.[1] The book containing this chapter is anonymous but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that Luke composed this book as well as the Gospel of Luke.[2]

Text

The original text is written in Koine Greek and is divided into 47 verses. Some most ancient manuscripts containing this chapter are:

Structure

This chapter can be grouped:

Cross reference

Coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost

The biblical narrative of Pentecost is given in the second chapter of the Book of Acts. Present were about one hundred and twenty followers of Christ (Acts 1:15), including the Twelve Apostles (i.e. the eleven faithful disciples and Matthias who had replaced Judas Iscariot),[3] his mother Mary, various other women disciples and his brothers (Acts 1:14). Their reception of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room and their empowerment to speak in tongues are recounted in Acts 2:1–6:[4]

While those on whom the Spirit had descended were speaking in many languages, the Apostle Peter stood up with the eleven and proclaimed to the crowd that this event was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel: " . . . I will pour out my Spirit . . .".[6] In Acts 2:17, it reads: "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, / that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, / and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, / and your young men shall see visions, / and your old men shall dream dreams"[7] Peter also mentions (2:15) that it was the third hour of the day (about 9:00 AM). Acts 2:41 then reports: "So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls."[8]

The fact that many understood in their native language, what the Spirit was saying demonstrates that the first miracle the Holy Spirit carried out was the translation of the Gospel. This message is one that is communicating "Gods's deeds of power."[9] Such miracle carries the undertone that the gospel, would be for a diverse group that for a long time had been divided. "Whereas in Babel humanity was divided by different tongues, in Pentecost that division was overcome."[10]

Location of the First Pentecost

The Cenacle on Mount Zion, claimed to be the location of the Last Supper and Pentecost. Bargil Pixner[11] claims the original Church of the Apostles is located under the current structure.

Traditional interpretation holds that the Descent of the Holy Spirit took place in the Upper Room, or Cenacle, on the day of Pentecost (Shavuot). The Upper Room was first mentioned in Luke 22:12-13.[12] This Upper Room was to be the location of the Last Supper and the institution of Holy Communion. The next mention of an "upper room" is in Acts 1:13-14, the continuation of the Luke narrative, authored by the same biblical writer.[13]

Here the disciples and women waited and they gave themselves up to constant prayer,[13] until the arrival of the "wind" mentioned above.

A Description of the First Church

Acts 2:44-47 contains a description of the earliest church, giving a practical view of how the church members acted. The verse covers several aspects of life:

  • The believers had everything in common
  • They sold property and possessions so as to give to anyone who was in need
  • They met together in the temple courts each day
  • They ate together in each other's homes

While not all commentators see this as a command to share property and possessions,[14] throughout the ages various groups of Christians have attempted to model this way of life. This can be seen in most monastic orders, some Anabaptist churches such as the Hutterites, and more recently in intentional communities such as the Bruderhof[15] and the Simple Way.[16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Halley, Henry H. Halley's Bible Handbook: an abbreviated Bible commentary. 23rd edition. Zondervan Publishing House. 1962.
  2. ↑ Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. 2012.
  3. ↑ Acts 1:26
  4. ↑ Acts 2:1–4
  5. ↑ Acts 2:1-6, New Revised Standard Version
  6. ↑ "Joel 2:28–29". Biblegateway.com. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  7. ↑ English Standard Version
  8. ↑ "English Standard Version,' 'Acts 2:41". Biblegateway.com. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  9. ↑ Gonzalez, Justo L. (2001). Acts The Gospel of the Spirit. Mary Knoll, New York: Orbis Books. p. 36. ISBN 1-57075-398-9.
  10. ↑ Gonzalez, Justo L. (2001). Acts The Gospel of the Spirit. Mary Knolls, New York: Orbis Books. p. 35. ISBN 1-57075-398-9.
  11. ↑ Bargil Pixner, The Church of the Apostles found on Mount Zion, Biblical Archaeology Review 16.3 May/June 1990
  12. ↑ "Luke 22:12–13, English Standard Version". Biblegateway.com. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  13. 1 2 "Acts 1:13–14". Biblegateway.com. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  14. ↑ Coalition, TGC - The Gospel. "Does the Book of Acts Command Socialism?". TGC - The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
  15. ↑ "Learning from the Bruderhof: An Intentional Christian Community". ChristLife. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
  16. ↑ "About". the simple way. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
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