Acts 2:37
New International Version
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

New Living Translation
Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

English Standard Version
Now 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?”

Berean Standard Bible
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Berean Literal Bible
And having heard, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Men, brothers, what shall we do?"

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

New American Standard Bible
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?”

NASB 1995
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

NASB 1977
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men, brothers, what should we do?”

Amplified Bible
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?”

Christian Standard Bible
When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?"”

American Standard Version
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?

Contemporary English Version
When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Friends, what should we do?"

English Revised Version
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the people heard this, they were deeply upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"

Good News Translation
When the people heard this, they were deeply troubled and said to Peter and the other apostles, "What shall we do, brothers?"

International Standard Version
When the crowd that had gathered heard this, they were pierced to the heart. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"

Majority Standard Bible
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, ?Brothers, what shall we do??

NET Bible
Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "What should we do, brothers?"

New Heart English Bible
Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men, brethren, what shall we do?

Weymouth New Testament
Stung to the heart by these words, they said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, "Brethren, what are we to do?"

World English Bible
Now 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?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And having heard, they were pricked to the heart; they also say to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, “What will we do, men, brothers?”

Berean Literal Bible
And having heard, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Men, brothers, what shall we do?"

Young's Literal Translation
And having heard, they were pricked to the heart; they say also to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, 'What shall we do, men, brethren?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And having heard, they were pricked in heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the sent, What shall we do, men, brethren?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now when they had heard these things, they had compunction in their heart, and said to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles: What shall we do, men and brethren?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now when they had heard these things, they were contrite in heart, and they said to Peter and to the other Apostles: “What should we do, noble brothers?”

New American Bible
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?”

New Revised Standard Version
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When they heard these things, their hearts were touched and they said to Simon and the rest of the apostles, Our brethren, what shall we do?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when they heard these things. They were stricken in their hearts, and they said to Shimeon and to the rest of the Apostles, “What should we do, brothers?”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the other apostles: Brethren, what shall we do?

Godbey New Testament
And hearing, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the other apostles, Men, brethren, what must we do?

Haweis New Testament
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Mace New Testament
Now when they heard this, their hearts were struck with remorse, and they said to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?

Weymouth New Testament
Stung to the heart by these words, they said to Peter and the rest of the Apostles, "Brethren, what are we to do?"

Worrell New Testament
And, hearing this, they were pricked in the heart, and said to Peter, and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren! what shall we do?"

Worsley New Testament
Now when they heard this, they were pricked to the heart, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Three Thousand Believe
36Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!” 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked 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.…

Cross References
Joel 2:28-32
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. / Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. / I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. ...

Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

John 16:8
And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:

Luke 3:10-14
The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” / John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” / Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” ...

Matthew 3:2
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Romans 10:9-10
that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. / For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Isaiah 53:5-6
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. / We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Jeremiah 31:33-34
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. / No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Psalm 51:10-12
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. / Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me. / Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.

2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

John 3:5
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


Treasury of Scripture

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brothers, what shall we do?

they.

Acts 5:33
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

Acts 7:54
When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

Ezekiel 7:16
But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.

Men.

Acts 1:16
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.

what.

Acts 9:5,6
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks…

Acts 16:29-31
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, …

Acts 22:10
And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

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Acts 2
1. The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, and speaking various languages,
12. are admired by some, and derided by others;
14. whom Peter disproves;
37. he baptizes a great number who were converted;
41. who afterwards devoutly and charitably converse together;
43. the apostles working many miracles,
46. and God daily increasing his church.














When the people heard this
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Acts. The "people" refers to the diverse crowd gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost, who had just listened to Peter's powerful sermon. The Greek word for "heard" is "ἀκούσαντες" (akousantes), which implies not just hearing with the ears but understanding and comprehending the message. This indicates that the Holy Spirit was at work, enabling the listeners to grasp the significance of Peter's words about Jesus Christ.

they were cut to the heart
The phrase "cut to the heart" is translated from the Greek "κατενύγησαν τὴν καρδίαν" (katēnygēsan tēn kardian). This expression conveys a deep, emotional conviction and remorse. The imagery suggests a piercing or stabbing sensation, indicating that the message of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection profoundly impacted the listeners. This conviction is a work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).

and asked Peter and the other apostles
Here, the crowd turns to Peter and the apostles, recognizing them as authoritative figures who can provide guidance. The Greek word "ἀδελφοί" (adelphoi), translated as "brothers," reflects a sense of community and shared faith. This moment underscores the role of the apostles as leaders in the early church, entrusted with the message of salvation and the responsibility to shepherd the new believers.

Brothers, what shall we do?
This question is a direct response to the conviction they felt. It signifies a desire for repentance and a willingness to change. The Greek word "ποιήσωμεν" (poiēsōmen), translated as "shall we do," implies action and obedience. This inquiry reflects the transformative power of the Gospel, which moves individuals from conviction to action. It is a question that echoes throughout the ages, as every believer must respond to the Gospel with a decision to follow Christ.

(37) They were pricked in their heart.--The verb occurs here only in the New Testament, and expresses the sharp, painful emotion which is indicated in "compunction," a word of kindred meaning. A noun derived from it, or possibly from another root, is used in Romans 11:8 in the sense of "slumber," apparently as indicating either the unconsciousness that follows upon extreme pain, or simple drowsiness. In "attrition" and "contrition" we have analogous instances of words primarily physical used for spiritual emotions.

Verse 37. - The rest for to the rest, A.V.; brethren for men and brethren, A.V. Pricked in their heart (κατενύγησαν). The LXX. rendering of Psalm 109:16 (15, Prayer-book), "broken," or "vexed at the heart." Genesis 34:7 it is rendered "grieved." Unto Peter and the rest of the apostles. It is important to note from the beginning the relative position of Peter and the other apostles; a certain primacy and precedence, both in place and in action, he has undoubtedly. He is always named first, and he acts first, in preaching both to Jews and Gentiles. The keys are in his hands, and the door is first opened as he turns the lock. But it is equally clear that he is but one of the apostles; he is not set over them, but acts with them; he is not their superior, but their fellow; they are not eclipsed by his presence, but only animated by his example; inquirers after salvation do not ask at his mouth only, but of the whole college of the apostles. Brethren (see ver. 29). The Jews and Israelites now hold out the right hand of brotherhood to those whom before they reviled (ver. 13). What shall we do? It is a sign of the working of God's Spirit in the heart, renewing it to repentance, when men feel the need of changing their old course of thought and action, and inquire anxiously what they must do to inherit eternal life (comp. Mark 10:17; Acts 9:6; Acts 16:30).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[When]
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[the people] heard [this],
Ἀκούσαντες (Akousantes)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

they were cut
κατενύγησαν (katenygēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2660: Met: I am pierced, stung, smitten. From kata and nusso; to pierce thoroughly, i.e. to agitate violently.

to the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

heart
καρδίαν (kardian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.

and
τε (te)
Conjunction
Strong's 5037: And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also.

asked
εἶπόν (eipon)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

Peter
Πέτρον (Petron)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4074: Peter, a Greek name meaning rock. Apparently a primary word; a rock; as a name, Petrus, an apostle.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τοὺς (tous)
Article - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

other
λοιποὺς (loipous)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3062: Left, left behind, the remainder, the rest, the others. Masculine plural of a derivative of leipo; remaining ones.

apostles,
ἀποστόλους (apostolous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 652: From apostello; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.

“Brothers,
ἀδελφοί (adelphoi)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

what
Τί (Ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

shall we do?”
ποιήσωμεν (poiēsōmen)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.


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NT Apostles: Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this they were (Acts of the Apostles Ac)
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