14 But G1161 Peter, G4074 standing up G2476 with G4862 the eleven, G1733 lifted up G1869 his G846 voice, G5456 and G2532 said G669 unto them, G846 Ye men G435 of Judaea, G2453 and G2532 all G537 ye that dwell G2730 at Jerusalem, G2419 be G2077 this G5124 known G1110 unto you, G5213 and G2532 hearken G1801 to my G3450 words: G4487
Wherefore do ye spend H8254 money H3701 for that which is not bread? H3899 and your labour H3018 for that which satisfieth H7654 not? H3808 hearken H8085 diligently H8085 unto me, and eat H398 ye that which is good, H2896 and let your soul H5315 delight H6026 itself in fatness. H1880
Crying out, G2896 Men G435 of Israel, G2475 help: G997 This G3778 is G2076 the man, G444 that teacheth G1321 all G3956 men every where G3837 against G2596 the people, G2992 and G2532 the law, G3551 and G2532 this G5126 place: G5117 and G5037 further G2089 brought G1521 Greeks G1672 also G2532 into G1519 the temple, G2411 and G2532 hath polluted G2840 this G5127 holy G40 place. G5117
And G1161 he said, G5346 Men, G435 brethren, G80 and G2532 fathers, G3962 hearken; G191 The God G2316 of glory G1391 appeared G3700 unto our G2257 father G3962 Abraham, G11 when he was G5607 in G1722 Mesopotamia, G3318 before G4250 G2228 he G846 dwelt G2730 in G1722 Charran, G5488
And G5037 said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Ye men G435 of Israel, G2475 take heed G4337 to yourselves G1438 what G5101 ye intend G3195 to do G4238 as touching G1909 these G5125 men. G444
Ye men G435 of Israel, G2475 hear G191 these G5128 words; G3056 Jesus G2424 of Nazareth, G3480 a man G435 approved G584 of G575 God G2316 among G1519 you G5209 by miracles G1411 and G2532 wonders G5059 and G2532 signs, G4592 which G3739 God G2316 did G4160 by G1223 him G846 in G1722 the midst G3319 of you, G5216 as G2531 ye yourselves G846 also G2532 know: G1492
And G2532 they gave forth G1325 their G846 lots; G2819 and G2532 the lot G2819 fell G4098 upon G1909 Matthias; G3159 and G2532 he was numbered G4785 with G3326 the eleven G1733 apostles. G652
Thy watchmen H6822 shall lift up H5375 the voice; H6963 with the voice H6963 together H3162 shall they sing: H7442 for they shall see H7200 eye H5869 to eye, H5869 when the LORD H3068 shall bring again H7725 Zion. H6726
And Moses H4872 and the priests H3548 the Levites H3881 spake H1696 unto all Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Take heed, H5535 and hearken, H8085 O Israel; H3478 this day H3117 thou art become H1961 the people H5971 of the LORD H3068 thy God. H430
O Zion, H6726 that bringest good tidings, H1319 get thee up H5927 into the high H1364 mountain; H2022 O Jerusalem, H3389 that bringest good tidings, H1319 lift up H7311 thy voice H6963 with strength; H3581 lift it up, H7311 be not afraid; H3372 say H559 unto the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 Behold your God! H430
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 2
Commentary on Acts 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
Between the promise of the Messiah (even the latest of those promises) and his coming many ages intervened; but between the promise of the Spirit and his coming there were but a few days; and during those days the apostles, though they had received orders to preach the gospel to every creature, and to begin at Jerusalem, yet lay perfectly wind-bound, incognito-concealed, and not offering to preach. But in this chapter the north wind and the south wind awake, and then they awake, and we have them in the pulpit presently. Here is,
Act 2:1-4
We have here an account of the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the disciples of Christ. Observe,
Act 2:5-13
We have here an account of the public notice that was taken of this extraordinary gift with which the disciples were all on a sudden endued. Observe,
Act 2:14-36
We have here the first-fruits of the Spirit in the sermon which Peter preached immediately, directed, not to those of other nations in a strange language (we are not told what answer he gave to those that were amazed, and said, What meaneth this?) but to the Jews in the vulgar language, even to those that mocked; for he begins with the notice of that (v. 15), and addresses his discourse (v. 14) to the men of Judea and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; but we have reason enough to think that the other disciples continued to speak to those who understood them (and therefore flocked about them), in the languages of their respective countries, the wonderful works of God. And it was not by Peter's preaching only, but that of all, or most, of the rest of the hundred and twenty, that three thousand souls were that day converted, and added to the church; but Peter's sermon only is recorded, to be an evidence for him that he was thoroughly recovered from his fall, and thoroughly restored to the divine favour. He that had sneakingly denied Christ now as courageously confesses him. Observe,
Act 2:37-41
We have seen the wonderful effect of the pouring out of the Spirit, in its influence upon the preachers of the gospel. Peter, in all his life, never spoke at the rate that he had done now, with such fulness, perspicuity, and power. We are now to see another blessed fruit of the pouring out of the Spirit in its influence upon the hearers of the gospel. From the first delivery of that divine message, it appeared that there was a divine power going along with it, and it was mighty, through God, to do wonders: thousands were immediately brought by it to the obedience of faith; it was the rod of God's strength sent out of Zion, Ps. 110:2, 3. We have here the first-fruits of that vast harvest of souls which by it were gathered in to Jesus Christ. Come and see, in these verses, the exalted Redeemer riding forth, in these chariots of salvation, conquering and to conquer, Rev. 6:2.
In these verses we find the word of God the means of beginning and carrying on a good work of grace in the hearts of many, the Spirit of the Lord working by it. Let us see the method of it.
Act 2:42-47
We often speak of the primitive church, and appeal to it, and to the history of it; in these verses we have the history of the truly primitive church, of the first days of it, its state of infancy indeed, but, like that, the state of its greatest innocence.
But the Lord's giving them power to work miracles was not all he did for them; he added to the church daily. The word in their mouths did wonders, and God blessed their endeavours for the increase of the number of believers. Note, It is God's work to add souls to the church; and it is a great comfort both to ministers and Christians to see it.