Hi everyone,
Lol so today, a local pastor hosted this “underground seminary” thing where he gave us a couple tools to be able to go deeper in our Bible readings and really draw out what the text is trying to say.
He said we would go through Acts 2 tomorrow so I’m writing this blog post to put down everything I can possibly figure out about Acts 2 in order to flex my knowledge and help me be proud of myself for finishing Torah just so I could get some of these references.
So I will be doing that instead of studying for my test on Friday. I hope someone will like this post.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place
Acts 2:1
Okay guys, so this is super relevant. You think this is unimportant but what does Pentecost mean? It means the FIFTIETH DAY.
You know what happens on the fiftieth day? THAT’S right.
Shavuot, where the Jews celebrated the giving of the LAW. Guess what happens in this chapter????? Giving of the Holy Spirit.
50 DAYS after what??? THE PASSOVER
GUESS WHAT HAPPENED ON THE PASSOVER?? That’s right. Jesus dies 🤯🤯🤯.
PASSOVER ➡️ JESUS’S DEATH
SHAVUOT ➡️ PENTECOST
And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:2
I HAVE YET TO FIGURE THIS out.
Update: I checked a commentary and it suggested that the Greek ‘wind’ was alluding to the Hebrew ruach which also means ‘wind, breath, spirit’ which came up but I also thought it was too easy and there would be an actual powerful wind somewhere (which I guess shows up in Job) but the ruach idea seems to make more sense due to Holy Spirit and all.
And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
Acts 2:3
THERE IS TONGUE(S) OF FIRE IN ISAIAH 5. But Isaiah 5 is about God’s judgement on the wicked people (who happened to be rich and practice injustice).
But if we keep reading to Isaiah 6, we get to the calling of Isaiah where his unclean lips are mended by a burning coal so maybe it is something related to being purified and sent????
Or maybe I am completely off track and this fire is supposed to remind us of the pillar of fire in Exodus? Burning bush?? Surely, tongues of fire cannot simply be just any other fire.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
Acts 2:5-6
Now, I did not put all of the stuff from verse 5-11 because well it lists a bunch of languages and talks about how the disciples spoke in languages from ‘every nation.’
I’m pretty disappointed in myself that it took me a couple readings to get this one but their ability to speak in every language and for everyone to understand is the complete OPPOSITE of a story that happens in Genesis 11 when people speak in every language and cannot understand each other.
I am not exactly sure the implications but Genesis 12 is where the story of Israel starts (with Abraham) so maybe it is an ‘undoing’ of Babel where all the nations are once again welcomed back in God’s story.
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
Acts 2:17-21
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
RIGHT HERE, OUR FRIEND PETER QUOTES JOEL (which we are told in v. 16).
Here, Joel talks about a day where God will rescue his people and he will do the thing where he says he will “pour out his Spirit on all flesh” and that their “sons and daughters shall prophesy” which is supposedly happening as Peter preaches about it (to ALL flesh aka ALL people).
Interestingly, the “sun turning to darkness,” is something that happens as well during Jesus’ Crucifixion.
It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
Luke 23:44-45
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
Matthew 27:45
And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
Mark 15:33
Oh, and we also know of Jesus doing many ‘signs and wonders.’
I have to admit I’m not sure about the blood, fire, and vapor of smoke though.
God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
Acts 2:24
Okay, I was going to skip past this part but I thought the word PANGS was really funny so I had to look it up.
Other translations unfortunately do not use the word PANGS but some commentaries (and Blue Letter Bible) say that the ‘pain’ used in 2:24 is in relation with ‘birth pains’ and thus suggest a ‘new birth’ when Jesus rose from the grave.
For David says concerning him,
“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
Acts 2:25-28
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
Now this is a passage from Psalm 16,
(I know this because I recognize the last couple lines of Ps 16:11 which is one of my favorite verses)
Here, the author of Acts points out Jesus as being the “holy one” that is mentioned in v. 10.
I’m not 100% confident but I think that the writer is suggesting that this Psalm is actually ‘Jesus speaking.’
That “his soul would not be abandoned to Hades” and that he would face no corruption seems to be reminiscent of Jesus – that he would not be left dead and that he would face no corruption (or sin).
The idea is continued on in v. 31 – “he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.”
For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Acts 2:34-35
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
So this is one of my favorite prophecies because I love the way that Jesus uses this in conjunction with the messiah being of Davidic lineage to school the Pharisees in the gospels: Luke 20:41-44, Mark 12:35-37, Matthew 22:41-46.
This verse shows up in Psalm 110 and as said before, is used in conjunction with the promise made to David in 2 Samuel 7:11-16.
The argument is simple:
If the messiah is David’s descendant (aka someone who is lower than him), how could it be possible that David calls him lord (aka someone who is higher than him)?
Well, Jesus says he is the answer.
- He is of Davidic descent (so he would presumably be lower)
- BUT he is God (so he is actually higher)
Acts 2 makes sure to bring these 2 points up as well. There is v. 34-35 which mention his “Lordship” and v. 30 which mentions that God would bring one of his descendants onto the throne.
For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.
Acts 2:39
I MAY be reaching here but the language here just feels really similar to the “you and your children” vibes in Deuteronomy.
Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—
Deuteronomy 4:9
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Deuteronomy 6:7
And the next generation, your children who rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a far land, will say, when they see the afflictions of that land and the sicknesses with which the Lord has made it sick—
Deuteronomy 29:22
SO maybe there is a connection there, maybe there is not.
EDIT: SOmeone pointed out that if Pentecost and giving of the Spirit is meant to mirror the Shavuot and giving of the Law, then it would make so much sense for this to sound like Deuteronomy because there is that same principle of not only taking this but passing it down to your children and your children’s children 🤯🤯🤯
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
Acts 2:40
THIS appears to be stolen from Deuteronomy 32:5 (or maybe I’m reaching):
They have dealt corruptly with him;
Deuteronomy 32:5
they are no longer his children because they are blemished;
they are a crooked and twisted generation.
This shows up in the song of Moses that is supposed to be used as a witness against Israel because God says that after Moses dies, apparently his people will turn away from him (lol Deuteronomy 31:16-21).
Maybe the idea is that this generation of people are people whom have turned away from God???
OK, there might be more stuff in 42-47 but I am really tired and nothing really comes to mind for them so I’m going to end it here.
Goodbye everyone and stay cool
Jason
Jason Reads the Bible 