Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Acts 2
when, &c. Literally in the day. being completed. The Syriac and Vulgate read "days". This refers to the completion of the seven weeks (fifty days inclusive) from the waving of the sheaf of firstfruits (Leviticus 23:15, Leviticus 23:16).
Pentecost = fiftieth (day). Greek. Pentekostos. Only here; Acts 20:16. 1 Corinthians 16:8.
fully come = being fulfilled. Greek. siimpleroo. Only here and Luke 8:23; Luke 9:51.
with one accord. See note on Acts 1:14.
in one place = together. See note on Acts 1:15.
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 pneuma. Only here and Acts 17:25. In the Septuagint twenty-one times, of which fifteen are the rendering of the Hebrew neshamah. App-16.
appeared unto = were seen by. Greek. horao. App-133.
cloven tongues = tongues distributing, or parting themselves.
upon. Greek. epi. App-104.
each = each one.
the Holy Ghost = Holy Spirit. App-101.
speak. Greek. laleo. App-121.
other. Greek. heteros. App-124.
as = even as.
the Spirit. App-101.
gave = was giving.
utterance = to utter or speak forth. Greek. apophthengomai, here, Acts 2:14, and Acts 26:25.
dwelling. Greek. katoikeo. As in Acts 1:19. Not sojourners for the Feast, but Jews of the dispersion who had taken up their abode at Jerusalem, perhaps because of the expectation of the Messiah. Compare Luke 2:25, Luke 2:38.
at = in. App-104.
devout = pious. Greek. eulabes. Only here, Acts 8:2, and Luke 2:25.
men. App-123.
out of. Greek. apo. App-104.
nation. Greek. ethnos. In Acts translated twelve times, "nation"; thirty times, "Gentiles"; once, "people" (Acts 8:9); and once, "heathen" (Acts 4:25).
under = of those under. App-104.
when, &c. Literally this voice (Greek. phone) having come.
multitude. Greek. plethos. Occurs seventeen times in Acts, translated multitude, save Acts 28:3, "bundle".
confounded. Greek. sunchuno. Only here, Acts 9:22; Acts 19:32; Acts 21:27, Acts 21:31.
every man, &c. = they heard them speaking, each one.
language. Greek. dialektos. See note on Acts 1:19.
amazed = dumbfounded. Compare Mark 3:21.
one to another = to (App-104.) one another. The texts omit, but not the Syriac.
Behold. App-133. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
Parthiars, &c. These were Jews of the dispersion. The first four were within the limits of the Persian Empire. Elam is mentioned in Genesis 14:1. Jeremiah 49:34 (note). Daniel 8:2, &c. Mesopotamia is the same as Padan-Aram (Genesis 24:10; Genesis 28:2).
Cappadocia, &c. Provinces of Asia Minor. Asia here means the district comprising Mysia, Lydia, &c. on the Western coast, governed by a Roman pro-consul. Compare Revelation 1:4.
Egypt, &c. These were from Africa.
strangers, &c. = sojourners from Rome. Greek. epidemeo. Only here and Acts 17:21.
proselytes. See note on Matthew 23:15.
Crates = Cretans. See Titus 1:12.
wonderful works = great things. Greek. megaleios. Only here and Luke 1:49.
God. App-98.
were in doubt = were perplexed. Occurs here; Acts 5:24; Acts 10:17. Luke 9:7; Luke 24:4.
What meaneth this? = What does this imply? Greek. thelo. (App-102.)
mocking. Greek. chleuazo. Only here and Acts 17:32. The texts read diachleuazo.
These men = They.
are full = have been filled. Greek. mestoo. Only here.
new wine. Greek. gleukos. Only here. This word and mestoo are frequent in medical works.
voice. Greek. phone. See Acts 2:6.
said = spoke out. Greek. apophthengomai, as in Acts 2:4. This was an utterance in the power of the Holy Spirit.
unto = to.
Ye men, &c. Literally men, Jews, and dwellers at Jerusalem. See note on Acts 1:11. The ministry of Peter was to the Circumcision. Compare Matthew 15:24.
known. See note on Acts 1:19.
hearken = attend closely. Greek. enotizomai. Only here. Literally take into the ears.
words = sayings. Greek. rhema. Mark 9:32.
suppose. Greek. hupolambano. See note on Acts 1:9.
seeing = for.
the third hour: i.e. 9am. App-165. Compare 1 Thessalonians 5:7.
this is that, &. c. Quoted from Joel 2:28-31. See App-183.
by = through. App-104. Acts 2:1.
in. App-104.
the last days. See note on Genesis 49:1.
pour out. Greek. ekcheo. Translated "shed forth" in Acts 2:33.
Spirit. App-101.
all flesh. A Hebraism. Compare Isaiah 40:5; Isaiah 66:24. Luke 3:6. John 17:2.
sons. Greek. huios. App-108.
young men. App-108.
see. App-133.
visions. Greek. horasis. Revelation 4:3; Revelation 9:17.
dream. Only here and Jude 1:8.
dreams. Only here.
shew = give.
wonders. App-176.
signs. App-176.
earth. App-129. Wonders in the heavens, signs upon earth.
vapour. Only here and James 4:14.
smoke. Only here, and twelve times in Revelation.
turned = changed. Only here; Galatians 1:1, Galatians 1:7. James 4:9.
into. App-104.
notable. Greek. epiphanes. Only here. Same word as in the Septuagint. Compare App-106. The kindred noun, epiphaneia, is used of the Lord's coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8. 1 Timothy 6:14, &c. In Joel, the word is "terrible".
day of the Lord. First occurance of this expression is in Isaiah 2:12. See note there.
call, &c. Greek. epikaleo. Compare Acts 7:59; Acts 9:14; Acts 22:16. Romans 10:12-14. 1 Corinthians 1:2.
Ye men, &c. Compare Acts 2:14.
words. App-121.
Jesus. App-98.
of Nazareth = the Nazarene. This title occurs seven times in Acts.
Man. App-123.
approved = set forth, or commended. Greek. apodeiknumi. Only here, Acts 25:7. 1 Corinthians 4:9. 2 Thessalonians 2:4.
among = unto. App-104.
miracles = powers. App-176.
also. Omit.
know. App-132.
being delivered. Only here.
determinate = determined. Greek. horizo. Here; Acts 10:42; Acts 11:29; Acts 17:26, Acts 17:31. Luke 22:22. Romans 1:4. Hebrews 4:7.
counsel. App-102.
foreknowledge. Greek. prognosis. Compare App-132. Only here and 1 Peter 1:2.
have taken, and. The texts omit.
wicked. Greek. anomos. App-128.
have crucified = nailed up to (the cross). Greek. prospegnumi. Only here. In the other forty-five places "crucify" is stauroo.
slain. = slew. Greek. anaireo, take off, or away. Occurs twenty-three times. All in Luke and Acts, save Matthew 2:26. Hebrews 10:9.
raised up. App-178. Compare Acts 13:32, Acts 13:33.
pains = birth-pangs. Greek. odin. Only here; Matthew 24:8. Mark 13:8. 1 Thessalonians 5:3. Used in the Septuagint in Psalms 116:3, where the Authorized Version reads "sorrows".
holden. Same word as "retain", in John 20:23.
of = by. App-104.
David., Psalms 18:8.
concerning = with reference to. App-104.
foresaw = saw before (me). Only here and Acts 21:29. Greek. proorao.
always = through (App-104. Acts 2:1) every (event).
before my face. Literally in the eyes of (Greek. enopion) me.
on. App-104.
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
not. App-105.
moved. shaken.
Therefore = On account of (App-104. Acts 2:2) this.
was glad = rejoiced exceedingly. See Matthew 5:12. 1 Peter 1:8; 1 Peter 4:13.
also my flesh = my flesh also.
rest. Literally tabernacle. Greek. kataskenoo. Here; Matthew 13:32. Mark 4:32. Luke 13:19.
leave = forsake, or abandon. Greek. enkataleipo. Occurs nine times. Always translated "forsake", except here and Romans 9:29.
my soul = me. App-110.
in = into. App-104.
hell. App-131.
neither. Greek. oude.
suffer = give.
Holy One. Greek. hosios. Here; Acts 13:34, Acts 13:35; 1 Timothy 2:8. Titus 1:8. Hebrews 7:26. Revelation 15:4; Revelation 16:5. Over thirty times in Septuagint, of which twenty-five are in Psalms. Mostly as rendering of Hebrew. ha id = grace, or favour. See Deuteronomy 33:8. Psalms 16:10; Psalms 52:9.
see. App-133.
corruption. Greek. diaphthora. Only here; Acts 2:31; Acts 13:34-37.
hast made known = madest known. App-132.
life. App-170.
joy. Greek. euphrosune. Only here and Acts 14:17.
Men, &c. See note on Acts 1:11.
let me = I may.
freely = with (App-104.) frankness.
unto. App-104.
patriarch. Occurs here, Acts 7:8, Acts 7:9, and Hebrews 7:4. Applied to Abraham and the sons of Jacob, as founders of" the nation, and to David, as founder of the monarchy.
sepulchre = tomb, as in Mark 5:5. Greek. mnema. Compare Acts 7:16. Luke 23:53. The more usual word is mnemeion, as in Acts 13:29.
with = among Greek. en. App-104.
unto = until Greek. achri.
being. Greek. huparcho. See note on Luke 9:48.
had sworn = swore. See 2Sa 7.
with = by.
according . . . Christ to sit. The texts read, "He would set (one)".
on = Greek. epi. App-104.
His throne. i.e. God's throne. Compare 1 Chronicles 29:23, and see Psalms 2:6.
seeing this before = fore-seeing(it). Greek. proeidon. Here and Galatians 1:3, Galatians 1:8.
resurrection. Greek. anastasis. App-178.
Christ = the Christ. App-98.
His soul. Texts read "He".
left. Greek. kataleipo, but the texts read enkataleipo, as in Acts 2:27.
did see = saw.
being . . . exalted. Greek. hupsoo. See note on John 12:32.
of = from beside. Greek. para. App-104.
promise. See note on Acts 1:4.
the Holy Ghost = the Holy Spirit. App-101.
shed forth. Same as "pour out" in verses: Acts 17:18.
now. Omit.
see. Greek. blepo. App-133.
is not ascended = went not up. Therefore still sleeping. Compare Acts 13:36.
the heavens. See note on Matthew 6:9, Matthew 6:10.
Thy footstool = the footstool of Thy feet. Quoted from Psalms 110:1. See note on Matthew 22:44.
all the house, &c. Compare Acts 2:14.
know. Greek. ginosko. App-132.
assuredly. Greek. asphalos. See note on "safely", Mark 14:44.
have crucified = crucified. Greek. stauroo, not same word as in Acts 2:23.
pricked = pierced through. Only here in NT. In Septuagint Genesis 34:7. Psalms 109:16, &c.
apostles. See App-189.
Repent. App-111.
be baptized . . . in. App-115. For the formula of baptism, see App-185.
name. Note the frequent use of "the name" in the Acts. Compare Acts 3:6, Acts 3:16; Acts 4:10, Acts 4:12, Acts 4:17, Acts 4:18, Acts 4:30, &c. See also Genesis 12:8. Exodus 3:13-15; Exodus 23:21.
Jesus Christ. i.e. Jesus as Messiah. App-98.
for. Greek. eis. App-104.
remission = forgiveness. Greek. aphesis. Compare App-174.
sins. App-128.
gift = free gift. Greek. dorea. See note on John 4:10. Always used of divine gifts. The word doron is always used of man's gifts, except in Ephesians 2:8.
children. App-108.
afar off. Literally unto (Greek. eis) far, i.e. the Dispersion and then the Gentiles. Compare Acts 22:21. Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 2:17. Figure of speech Euphemismos. App-6.
call = call to (Himself).
with = by.
testify = earnestly testify. Greek. diamarturomai. Occurs fifteen times. Once in Luke 16:28, nine times in Acts, and five times in Paul's Epistles.
exhort. App-134.
from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104. untoward = crooked.
gladly. Texts omit.
received = received fully. Greek. apodechomai. Only here; Acts 15:4; Acts 18:27; Acts 24:3; Acts 28:30. Luke 8:40.
baptized. App-115.
souls. App-110. See Psalms 110:3.
And. This and the "ands" in following verses give the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6.
continued stedfastly. Greek. proskartereo. See note on Acts 1:14.
doctrine = teaching.
fellowship = the fellowship. Compare Acts 2:44.
breaking of bread. This was the common meal. Compare verses:##Acts 44:46 and Matthew 14:19. Isaiah 58:7.
breaking. Only here and Luke 24:35.
prayers = the prayers. App-134. Compare Acts 3:1.
temple = temple courts. Greek. hieron. See note on Matthew 23:16.
from house to house = at home.
did eat = were partaking of
meat = food. Greek. trophe. nourishment.
gladness. Occurs here; Luke 1:14, Luke 1:44. Hebrews 1:9. Jude 1:24.
singleness. Greek. aphelotes. Only here.
Praising. Greek. aieno. Always used of praising God. Here; Acts 3:8, Acts 3:9. Luke 2:13, Luke 2:20; Luke 19:37; Luke 24:53. Romans 15:11. Revelation 19:5.
favour. Greek. charts. App-186.
with = in regard to. Greek. pros.
people. Greek. laos.
to the church. The texts omit.
such, &c. = the saved.
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