HarperCollins Study Bible

by Harold W. Attridge

  1.5 John baptized. See Lk 3.1–20.

  1.6 Restore the kingdom to Israel, i.e., restore Israel’s political independence.

  1.8 On the witness in Jerusalem, see 2.14–36; 3.12–26; in Judea and Samaria, see 8.1, 4–25. It is unclear whether the ends of the earth refers to the conversion of Gentiles (10.1–11.18), the arrival of Paul in Rome (28.16), or some event beyond the scope of Acts.

  1.9 The cloud signifies the presence and activity of God (see Ex 24.15–18; Lk 9.34; 21.27).

  1.10 Two men in white robes, probably to be understood as angels, indicate the importance of this event (see 5.19; Lk 1.11, 19; 24.4).

  1.12–26 The apostles and other followers of Jesus return to Jerusalem, as they have been instructed to do (v. 4; Lk 24.49), and there a replacement for Judas is selected.

  1.12 The mount called Olivet (the Mount of Olives) is located just east of Jerusalem (cf. Lk 24.50), which places the ascension in Bethany, a village along the eastern side of the mount. A sabbath day’s journey, about a half mile.

  1.13 The list of apostles coincides with the list in Lk 6.14–16 except for the omission of Judas Iscariot.

  1.14 Luke frequently refers to prayer as an activity of the early church (e.g., 2.42; 6.4, 6; 10.9;13.3; 28.8). This is the last reference to Mary in Luke-Acts. James, one of the brothers of Jesus, appears later in Acts (12.17; 15.13; 21.18), although Luke does not identify him as such (cf. Gal 1.19).

  1.16 The scripture had to be fulfilled. For similar emphasis on divine necessity, see, e.g., 3.21; 9.16; Lk 24.44. It is not clear whether Luke refers to a specific passage of scripture or to scripture in a general sense.

  1.18–19 On Judas’s death, cf. Mt 27.3–10. Hakeldama transliterates an Aramaic expression.

  1.20 The first quotation is adapted from Ps 69.25; the second from Ps 109.8.

  1.21–22 In Luke’s view, an apostle had to have been with Jesus beginning from the baptism of John, which means that Paul will not acquire that title (except in 14.14). The apostle’s primary task is to witness with us to his resurrection; see, e.g., 2.32; 3.15; 4.33.

  1.23 Neither Justus nor Matthias appears elsewhere in the NT.

  1.26 On casting lots to determine God’s will, see Prov 16.33.

  Acts 2

  The Coming of the Holy Spirit

  1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

  5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

  Peter Addresses the Crowd

  14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

  17‘In the last days it will be, God declares,

  that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

  and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

  and your young men shall see visions,

  and your old men shall dream dreams.

  18Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

  in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

  and they shall prophesy.

  19And I will show portents in the heaven above

  and signs on the earth below,

  blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

  20The sun shall be turned to darkness

  and the moon to blood,

  before the coming of the Lord’s

  great and glorious day.

  21Then everyone who calls on the name of

  the Lord shall be saved.’

  22“You that are Israelites,a listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth,b a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know—23this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. 24But God raised him up, having freed him from death,c because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. 25For David says concerning him,

  ‘I saw the Lord always before me,

  for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;

  26therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

  moreover my flesh will live in hope.

  27For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

  or let your Holy One experience corruption.

  28You have made known to me the ways of life;

  you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

  29“Fellow Israelites,d I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. 31Foreseeing this, Davide spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah,f saying,

  ‘He was not abandoned to Hades,

  nor did his flesh experience corruption.’

  32This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. 33Being therefore exalted atg the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. 34For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

  ‘The Lord said to my Lord,

  “Sit at my right hand,

  35until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

  36Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah,h this Jesus whom you crucified.”

  The First Converts

  37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers,i what should we do?” 38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

  Life among the Believers

  43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceedsj to all, as any had need. 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at homek and ate their food with glad and generousl hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

  next chapter

  * * *

  a Gk Men, Israelites

  b Gk the Nazorean

  c Gk the pain
s of death

  d Gk Men, brothers

  e Gk he

  f Or the Christ

  g Or by

  h Or Christ

  i Gk Men, brothers

  j Gk them

  k Or from house to house

  l Or sincere

  2.1–13 The coming of the Holy Spirit has been anticipated by promises made in Lk 24.49; Acts 1.4–5.

  2.1 The Jewish festival of Pentecost (lit. “fiftieth”) derives its name from the fifty days that separate it from Passover (Lev 23.15–21). All together in one place may imply the presence of the full 120 mentioned in 1.15; Luke often refers to all believers being together, underscoring the unity of the community (e.g., v. 44; 4.24;5.12).

  2.3 On seeing tongues, as of fire, see Isa 5.24; 1 Enoch 14.8–25; 71.5. Elsewhere in scripture fire accompanies the divine presence (Ex 19.18; Isa 66.15–16) and divine judgment (2 Thess 1.8).

  2.4 Other languages, as the story that follows explains, refers to the gift of speaking in languages other than one’s own and contrasts with the ecstatic speech to which Paul refers in 1 Cor 14.1–25 and which requires inspired interpretation.

  2.5 Devout Jews from every nation, Jews from the Diaspora who either have come for Passover or have long-term business that keeps them in Jerusalem. Since the inclusion of Gentiles within the church comes only with the conversion of Cornelius in 10.1–11.18, those present at Pentecost are carefully identified as Jewish. Nevertheless, every nation hints at the larger reach of the gospel that is on the horizon.

  2.9–11 The list of countries represented probably derives from similar lists found in ancient histories and geographies (e.g., Gen 10.2–31; Sibylline Oracles 3.156–95; 205–9; Philo, Embassy 281–83; Flaccus 45–46); it omits some locales that figure prominently in Acts, such as Macedonia and Achaia.

  2.12–13 As in the Gospels, miraculous events prompt amazement and questioning; see, e.g., Lk 4.36–37; 5.17–26. Wine was sometimes viewed as an enhancement to prophetic speech; see Plutarch, Oracles at Delphi 406b; Obsolescence of Oracles 437d–e.

  2.14–36 Peter’s Pentecost speech signals the beginning of the Christian witness that was promised in 1.8; Lk 24.47–48.

  2.14 Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem are not mutually exclusive groups; the repetition is for rhetorical effect. Similarly, raised his voice, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say are all solemn assertions that underscore the importance of the speech that follows.

  2.15 Several of the speeches of Acts have as their pretext a defense against some charge, in this case drunkenness in mid-morning; see also 4.5–12; 7.1–53; 11.2–18.

  2.17–21 A quotation from the Septuagint of Joel 2.28–32, with small but significant alterations. Most important is the change from “afterward” (Joel 2.28) to in the last days (v. 17), emphasizing the eschatological context of the church. In v. 18, Luke adds the phrase and they shall prophesy, making explicit what the text of Joel implies.

  2.23 Luke consistently affirms both human responsibility for the death of Jesus and the inevitability of that death in God’s plan; see, e.g., 3.14–18; 4.27–28; see also Lk 24.26, 44–48. The existence of a divine plan for all is a prominent theme in Luke-Acts (e.g., Acts 4.28; 20.27).

  2.25a David serves a dual role in the speech: psalms ascribed to him become prophecies of Jesus, and he is the figure with whom Jesus is compared. The resurrection signals Jesus’ superiority to David, whose tomb was thought to be well known (see Josephus, War 1.61; Antiquities 7.393; 13.249).

  2.25b–28 Peter quotes Ps 16.8–11.

  2.29 Since David’s death is certain and even his burial place is known (Neh 3.16), the psalm cannot refer to him.

  2.30 On God’s oath to David, see Ps 132.11.

  2.31 Peter quotes Ps 16.10.

  2.32 Luke views witnessing as a defining characteristic of the apostolic task; see 1.22; 3.15; 4.33; 5.32;10.41; 13.31.

  2.33 Here the Holy Spirit is poured out by the ascending Jesus, but earlier it is identified as God’s promise (1.4–5).

  2.34–35 Peter quotes Ps 110.1; see also 1 Cor 15.25.

  2.36 The speech culminates in the sharp contrast between human action (this Jesus whom you crucified) and that of God (God has made him both Lord and Messiah); see also vv. 23–24; 3.15; 4.10.

  2.37–47 The response to Peter’s speech introduces central Lukan themes regarding the church’s life.

  2.37 Speeches in Acts are frequently interrupted at their climax (see, e.g., 10.44; 17.32; 22.22).

  2.38 The desired response to Christian proclamation includes repentance, baptism, forgiveness of sins, and reception of the Holy Spirit; these elements appear elsewhere in Acts, although not always in the same order (cf. 8.16; 10.44–48; 19.1–6).

  2.39 The promise extends to those distant in time (your children) and in place (all who are far away; see 22.21; Isa 57.19; Sir 24.32). What is promised is, first of all, the gift of the Holy Spirit (v. 38; cf. 1.4–5;2.33), but also more generally the salvation promised to Israel (cf. 26.6) and offered by Jesus (13.23).

  2.40 Corrupt generation. See Deut 32.5; Ps 78.8; Phil 2.15.

  2.42–47 The first of several summaries in which Luke characterizes the life of the earliest Christian community as a fellowship involving worship, study, and shared possessions (see also 4.32–37;5.12–16). Other ancient texts contain similar descriptions as demonstrations of the close friendships formed in philosophical or religious groups (Plato, Republic 449C; Laws 5.739C; Philo, Abraham 235; Seneca, Epistles 90.3; Strabo, Geography 7.3.9).

  2.46 The temple continues as a place in which Christians worship; see also Lk 24.53.

  2.47 Consistently Luke emphasizes the growth and divine guidance of the church; see, e.g., 6.7; 9.15–17, 31; 11.1–21; 12.24;14.1).

  * * *

  The Fulfillment of Acts 1.8 in the Following Narrative

  “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”

  At Pentecost the gift of the Holy Spirit fulfills this promise (2.1–13).

  “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem”

  The preaching of Peter and others in Jerusalem brings about the witness there (2.14–8.3).

  “in all Judea and Samaria”

  Persecution in Jerusalem forces Christians out into Judea; the Samaritan mission follows (8.4–25).

  “and to the ends of the earth”

  The “ends of the earth” may refer to the Ethiopian, who comes from a great distance (8.26–40), or to Cornelius, the first acknowledged gentile convert (10.1–11.18), or to the arrival of Paul in Rome (28.14). It may even refer to some event beyond the scope of the narrative in Acts.

  * * *

  Acts 3

  Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar

  1One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. 2And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. 3When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. 4Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,a stand up and walk.” 7And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

  Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico

  11While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s Portico, utterly astonished. 12When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, “You Israelites,b
why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servantc Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, 15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesusd has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

  17“And now, friends,e I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiahf would suffer. 19Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, 20so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiahg appointed for you, that is, Jesus, 21who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. 22Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own peopleh a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. 23And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out of the people.’ 24And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. 25You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26When God raised up his servant,i he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”