Acts 2
Scofield Reference Notes
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Margin cloven tongues

tongues, as of fire, parting and sitting upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
[1] Holy Ghost

The Holy Spirit, N.T. Summary (see Mal 2.15, note): See Scofield Note: "Mal 2:15".

(1) The Holy Spirit is revealed as a divine Person. This is expressly declared (e.g.) Jn 14:16,17,26 15:26 16:7-15 Mt 28:19 and everywhere implied.

(2) The revelation concerning Him is progressive

(a) In the O.T. See Scofield Note: "Mal 2:15". He comes upon whom He will, apparently without reference to conditions in them

(b) During His earth-life, Christ taught His disciples Lk 11:13 that they might receive the Spirit through prayer to the Father.

(c) At the close of His ministry He promised that He would Himself pray the Father, and that in answer to prayer the Comforter would come to abide Jn 14:16,17.

(d) On the evening of His resurrection He came to the disciples in the upper room, and breathed on them saying, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" Jn 20:22 but instructed them to wait before beginning their ministry till the Spirit should come upon them Lk 24:49 Acts 1:8.

(e) On the day of Pentecost the Spirit came upon the whole body of believers Acts 2:1-4

(f) After Pentecost, Song long as the Gospel was preached to Jews only, the Spirit was imparted to such as believed by the laying on of hands Acts 8:17 9:17.

(g) When Peter opened the door of the kingdom to the Gentiles (Ac 10.), the Holy Spirit, without delay, or other condition than faith, was given to those who believed. Acts 10:44 11:15-18. This is the permanent fact for the entire church age. Every believer is born of the Spirit Jn 3:3,6 1Jn 5:1 indwelt by the Spirit, whose presence makes the believer's body a temple 1Cor 6:19 Rom 8:9-15 1Jn 2:27 Gal 4:6 and baptized by the Spirit 1Cor 12:12,13 1Jn 2:20,27 thus sealing him for God Eph 1:13 4:30.

(3) The N.T. distinguishes between having the Spirit, which is true of all believers, and being filled with the Spirit, which is the believer's privilege and duty (cf) Acts 2:4 with Acts 4:29-31 Eph 1:13,14 with Eph 5:18. --"One baptism, many fillings."

(4) The Holy Spirit is related to Christ in His Conception Mt 1:18-20 Lk 1:35 baptism Mt 3:16 Mk 1:10 Lk 3:22 Jn 1:32,33 walk and service Lk 4:1,14 resurrection Rom 8:11, and as His witness throughout this age Jn 15:26 16:8-11,13,14.

(5) The Spirit forms the church Mt 16:18 See Scofield Note: "Heb 12:23" by baptizing all believers into the body of Christ 1Cor 12:12,13, imparts gifts for service to every member of that body 1Cor 12:7-11,27,30, guide the members in their service Lk 2:27 4:1 Acts 16:6,7 and is Himself the power of that service Acts 1:8 2:4 1Cor 2:4.

(6) The Spirit abides in the company of believers who constitute a local church, making of them, corporately, a temple 1Cor 3:16,17.

(7) Christ indicates a threefold personal relationship of the Spirit to the believer: "With", "In", "upon" Jn 14:17 Lk 24:49 Acts 1:8. "With" indicates the approach of God to the soul, convicting of sin Jn 16:9 presenting Christ as the object of faith Jn 16:14 imparting faith Eph 2:8 and regenerating Jn 3:3-16. "In" describes the abiding presence of the Spirit in the believer's body 1Cor 6:19 to give victory over the flesh Rom 8:2-4 Gal 5:16,17 to create the Christian character Gal 5:22,23 to help infirmities Rom 8:26 to inspire prayer Eph 6:18 to give conscious access to God Eph 2:18 to actualize to the believer his sonship Gal 4:6 to apply the Scripture in cleansing and sanctification Eph 5:26 2Th 2:13 1Pet 1:2 to comfort and intercede Acts 9:31 Rom 8:26 and to reveal Christ Jn 16:14.

(8) Sins against the Spirit committed by unbelievers are: To blaspheme Mt 12:31, resist Acts 7:51, insult Heb 10:29, "despite," lit. insult). Believers' sins against the Spirit are: To grieve Him by allowing evil in heart or life Eph 4:30,31 and to quench Him by disobedience 1Th 5:19.

The right attitude toward the Spirit is yieldedness to His sway in walk and service, and in constant willingness that He shall "put away" whatever grieves Him or hinders His power Eph 4:31.

(9) The symbols of the Spirit are: (a) oil Jn 3:34 Heb 1:9 (b) water, Jn 7:38,39, (c) wind Acts 2:2 Jn 3:8, (d) fire Acts 2:3, (e) a dove Mt 3:16, (f) a seal Eph 1:13 4:30, (g) an earnest or pledge Eph 1:14.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Margin tongue

language.

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Margin tongues

languages.

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
[1] said unto them

The theme of Peter's sermon at Pentecost is stated in Acts 2:36. It is, that Jesus is the Messiah. No message could have been more unwelcome to the Jews who had rejected His Messianic claims, and crucified Him. Peter, therefore, does not announce his theme until he has covered every possible Jewish objection. The point of difficulty with the Jews was the apparent failure of the clear and repeated prophetic promise of a regathered Israel established in their own land under their covenanted King (e.g). Isa 11:10-12 Jer 23:5-8 Ezek 37:21-18. Instead of explaining, as Rome first taught, followed by some Protestant commentators, that the covenant and promises were to be fulfilled in the church in a so-called "spiritual" sense, Peter shows Acts 2:25-32 from Ps 16. that David himself understood that the dead and risen Christ would fulfil the covenant and sit on his throne Lk 1:32,33. In precisely the same way James Acts 15:14-17 met the same difficulty. See "Kingdom (O.T.)," Zech 12:8 (N.T.), Lk 1:33 1Cor 15:24.

For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of 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:
[1] last days

A distinction must be observed between "the last days" when the prediction relates to Israel, and the "last days" when the prediction relates to the church 1Tim 4:1-3 2Tim 3:1-8 Heb 1:1,2 1Pet 1:4,5 2Pet 3:1-9 1Jn 2:18,19 Jude 1:17-19. Also distinguish the expression the "last days" (plural) from "the last day" (singular); the latter expression referring to the resurrections and last judgment Jn 6:39,40,44,54 11:24 12:48. The "last days" as related to the church began with the advent of Christ Heb 1:2 but have especial reference to the time of declension and apostasy at the end of this age 2Tim 3:1 4:4. The "last days" as related to Israel are the days of Israel's exaltation and blessing, and are synonymous with the kingdom-age Isa 2:2-4 Mic 4:1-7. They are "last" not with reference to this dispensation, but with reference to the whole of Israel's history.

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Margin saved

See Scofield Note: "Rom 1:16".

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not 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 suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Margin hell

Hades. See Scofield Note: "Lk 16:23".

Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Margin hell

Hades. See Scofield Note: "Lk 16:23".

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
For David is 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.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Margin remission

See Scofield Note: "Mt 26:28".

Margin sins

Sin. See Scofield Note: "Rom 3:23".

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Margin saved

See Scofield Note: "Rom 1:16".

Scofield Reference Notes by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield [1917]

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