Acts 2
A few things to note in this passage:
- verse 5: The Greek phrase translated “every nation” in this verse is pas ethnos.
- verses 5-11: God chose to start the church as a community of Jews from “every nation under heaven”. He did so through a supernatural act that enabled people from many different countries to hear Peter’s message in their own language. This is a clear forshadowing of how the Gospel (through the power of the Holy Spirit) will overcome cultural differences and unite people throughout the centuries.
- verse 41: This multicultural group of 3000 people are the beginnings of the Christian church.
- verse 42: The Greek word translated “fellowship” in this verse is koinonia.
- verses 42-47: This is one of the most clear descriptions in the Bible of what biblical, multi-ethnic community can and should look like.
Click here to learn the author, date, theme, etc. of the Book of Acts. Have a thought about this passage? Please add your comment at the bottom. Some sections which are especially significant when discussing biblical, multi-ethnic community have been highlighted in blue.
Acts 2
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.[b]”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17” ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[c]22“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him:
” ‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’[e]29“Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,[f] that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
” ‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.” ‘[g]36“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The Fellowship of the Believers
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Footnotes:
- Acts 2:4 Or languages; also in verse 11
- Acts 2:13 Or sweet wine
- Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32
- Acts 2:23 Or of those not having the law (that is, Gentiles)
- Acts 2:28 Psalm 16:8-11
- Acts 2:31 Or Messiah. “The Christ” (Greek) and “the Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean “the Anointed One”; also in verse 36.
- Acts 2:35 Psalm 110:1
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of International Bible Society.
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It is better to state that Acts 2 presents a mono-ethnic, “multicultural” community. Verse 5 indicates that this crowd is made up of “God-fearing Jews,” therefore, mono-ethnic. In this context, ‘pas ethnos’ is to be understood as multiple cultural locations from which thousands of Jews left to descend upon Jerusalem. In other words, ethnic Jews from ‘every culture under heaven’ came to Jerusalem for Pentecost. As of this mass conversion at Pentecost, the disciples still only considered the gospel to apply to Jews alone (1:6 demonstrates their ethnocentrism, despite Jesus’ teaching)…they thought that the massive response at Pentecost was a fulfillment of 1:8. Any other interpretation renders Acts 10 incomprehensible. God had to specifically teach Peter and the disciples that the gospel was for everyone, not just Jews.
Your point about Luke-Acts teaching the universality of the gospel message, and the development of biblical community is correct, but Acts 2 does not demonstrate it. Acts is a presentation of theological historical development as the disciples progressively understood the full extent of the gospel. At Pentecost they weren’t there yet.
Dr. Ken Baker
You’ve made excellent points Dr. Baker. I have changed the wording from multi-ethnic to multicultural as you suggested. Thank you for catching that mistake!