Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary

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Acts 2

1Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.

4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.

5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.

6When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.

7They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?

8How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?

9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,

10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

11Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”

12They were all amazed and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

13Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

15For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.

16But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

17‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams.

18Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

19I will show wonders in the sky above, and signs on the earth beneath: blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

20The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.

21It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

22“Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know,

23him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;

24whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.

25For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

26Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope,

27because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.

28You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29“Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

30Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,

31he foreseeing this, spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, and his flesh didn’t see decay.

32This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.

33Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you now see and hear.

34For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand

35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

36“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”

40With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.

42They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

43Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

44All who believed were together, and had all things in common.

45They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

46Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,

47praising God and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

Early Christian texts and source notes

c. 182–188 (historical edition's dating) | Irenaeus of Lyons

2. For Peter said, "Ye men of Israel, hear my words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God among you by powers, and wonders, and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, by the hands of wicked men ye have slain, affixing [to the cross]: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that he should be holden of them. For David speaketh concerning Him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face; for He is on my right hand, lest I should be moved: therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also, my flesh shall rest in hope: because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou give Thy Holy One to see corruption." Then he proceeds to speak confidently to them concerning the patriarch David, that he was dead and buried, and that his sepulchre is with them to this day. He said, "But since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his body one should sit in his throne; foreseeing this, he spake of the resurrection of Christ, that He was not left in hell, neither did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus," he said, "hath God raised up, of which, we all are witnesses: who, being exalted by the right hand of God, receiving from the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, hath shed forth this gift which ye now see and hear. For David has not ascended into the heavens; but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on my right hand, until I make Thy foes Thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." And when the multitudes exclaimed, "What shall we do then?" Peter says to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Thus the apostles did not preach another God, or another Fulness; nor, that the Christ who suffered and rose again was one, while he who flew off on high was another, and remained impassible; but that there was one and the same God the Father, and Christ Jesus who rose from the dead; and they preached faith in Him, to those who did not believe on the Son of God, and exhorted them out of the prophets, that the Christ whom God promised to send, He sent in Jesus, whom they crucified and God raised up.

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Against Heresies, Book 3, Preface or unspecified section · Original source

1867 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Acts ii. 41.

Editorial footnote · The Stromata (Miscellanies), THE WRITINGS OF CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. / THE MISCELLANIES. / BOOK I. / CHAPTER XVIII. HE ILLUSTRATES THE APOSTLE’S SAYING, “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE.” · Original source

1868 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Acts ii. 41, iv. 4.

Editorial footnote · Against Heresies, Book 4, Preface or unspecified section · Original source

1868 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Acts ii. 22–27.

Editorial footnote · Against Heresies, Book 3, Preface or unspecified section · Original source

1868 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Acts ii. 30–37.

Editorial footnote · Against Heresies, Book 3, Preface or unspecified section · Original source

1868 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Acts ii. 37, 38.

Editorial footnote · Against Heresies, Book 3, Preface or unspecified section · Original source

1869 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Ps. xvi. 9–11; Acts ii. 26–28.

Editorial footnote · The Stromata (Miscellanies), THE WRITINGS OF CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. / BOOK VI. / CHAPTER VI. THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TO JEWS AND GENTILES IN HADES. · Original source

1870 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Acts ii. 24. Literally, “having loosed the pains of Hades.”

Editorial footnote · Epistle to the Philippians, The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers / THE EPISTLE OF POLYCARP. / THE EPISTLE OF POLYCARP TO THE PHILIPPIANS. / Chap. i.—Praise of the Philippians. · Original source

1871 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Ps. xvi. 10; Acts ii. 27, 31.

Editorial footnote · The City of God, THE CITY OF GOD. / BOOK SEVENTEENTH. / ARGUMENT. / 2. At what time the promise of God was fulfilled concerning the land of Canaan, which even carnal Israel got in possession. · Original source

1871 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Acts ii. 3.

Editorial footnote · The City of God, THE CITY OF GOD. / BOOK TWENTIETH. / ARGUMENT. / 20. What the same apostle taught in the first Epistle to the Thessalonians regarding the resurrection of the dead. · Original source

1872 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Acts ii. 2-4.

Editorial footnote · Answer to the Letters of Petilianus, WRITINGS IN CONNECTION WITH THE DONATIST CONTROVERSY. / BOOK SECOND. / Chapter xxxii · Original source

Date uncertain | Clement of Alexandria

Again, David expressly (or rather the Lord in the person of the saint, and the same from the foundation of the world is each one who at different periods is saved, and shall be saved by faith) says, “My heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced, and my flesh shall still rest in hope. For Thou shalt not leave my soul in hell, nor wilt Thou give Thine holy one to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the paths of life, Thou wilt make me full of joy in Thy presence.” As, then, the people was precious to the Lord, so also is the entire holy people; he also who is converted from the Gentiles, who was prophesied under the name of proselyte, along with the Jew. For rightly the Scripture says, that “the ox and the bear shall come together.” For the Jew is designated by the ox, from the animal under the yoke being reckoned clean, according to the law; for the ox both parts the hoof and chews the cud. And the Gentile is designated by the bear, which is an unclean and wild beast. And this animal brings forth a shapeless lump of flesh, which it shapes into the likeness of a beast solely by its tongue. For he who is converted from among the Gentiles is formed from a beastlike life to gentleness by the word; and, when once tamed, is made clean, just as the ox. For example, the prophet says, “The sirens, and the daughters of the sparrows, and all the beasts of the field, shall bless me.” Of the number of unclean animals, the wild beasts of the field are known to be, that is, of the world; since those who are wild in respect of faith, and polluted in life, and not purified by the righteousness which is according to the law, are called wild beasts. But changed from wild beasts by the faith of the Lord, they become men of God, advancing from the wish to change to the fact. For some the Lord exhorts, and to those who have already made the attempt he stretches forth His hand, and draws them up. “For the Lord dreads not the face of any one, nor will He regard greatness; for He hath made small and great, and cares alike for all.” And David says, “For the heathen are fixed in the destruction they have caused; their foot is taken in the snare which they hid.” “But the Lord was a refuge to the poor, a help in season also in affliction.” Those, then, that were in affliction had the gospel seasonably proclaimed. And therefore it said, “Declare among the heathen his pursuits,” that they may not be judged unjustly.

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · The Stromata (Miscellanies), THE WRITINGS OF CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. / BOOK VI. / CHAPTER VI. THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TO JEWS AND GENTILES IN HADES. · Original source

Date uncertain | Polycarp of Smyrna

I have greatly rejoiced with you in our Lord Jesus Christ, because ye have followed the example of true love [as displayed by God], and have accompanied, as became you, those who were bound in chains, the fitting ornaments of saints, and which are indeed the diadems of the true elect of God and our Lord; and because the strong root of your faith, spoken of in days long gone by, endureth even until now, and bringeth forth fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sins suffered even unto death, [but] “whom God raised from the dead, having loosed the bands of the grave.” “In whom, though now ye see Him not, ye believe, and believing, rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory;” into which joy many desire to enter, knowing that “by grace ye are saved, not of works,” but by the will of God through Jesus Christ.

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Epistle to the Philippians, The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers / THE EPISTLE OF POLYCARP. / THE EPISTLE OF POLYCARP TO THE PHILIPPIANS. / Chap. i.—Praise of the Philippians. · Original source