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THE PRESENCE OF GOD
OBSERVATIONS
THE OLD TESTAMENT(Acts 2:1 NKJV) '''When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
(Acts 2:2 NKJV) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
(Acts 2:3 NKJV) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
(Acts 2:4 NKJV) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
(Acts 2:5 NKJV) And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
(Acts 2:6 NASB) And when this sound occurred, the [multitude] came together, and were confused because each one was hearing them [the disciples] [speaking] in his own language.
(Acts 2:7 NKJV) Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
(Acts 2:8 NKJV) And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
(Acts 2:9 NKJV) Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
(Acts 2:10 NKJV) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
(Acts 2:11 NKJV) Cretans and Arabs - we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
(Acts 2:12 NKJV) So they [all continued to be] amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"
(Acts 2:13 NKJV) Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
(Acts 2:14 NKJV) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and [spoke out] to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.
(Acts 2:15 NKJV) For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
(Acts 2:16 NASB) But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
(Acts 2:17 NKJV) 'And it shall come to pass in the last days,' says God, 'That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
(Acts 2:18 NKJV) And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
(Acts 2:19 YLT) and I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs upon the earth beneath - blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke,
(Acts 2:20 NASB) The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the LORD shall [come].
(Acts 2:21 NASB) And it shall be that everyone who [called] on the name of the LORD will be saved.' [in the sense of saved from temporal death such that only the survivors will enter into the Eternal Kingdom of God which will have arrived - which implies that all the survivors will be believers, and hence have eternal life]" '''
(Acts 2:1 NKJV) '''When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (Acts 2:2 NKJV) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:3 NKJV) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (Acts 2:4 NKJV) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:5 NKJV) And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.''' =
The phrase rendered "When the Day of Pentecost, had fully come" refers to the festival known in late Judaism as Pentecost from the Greek words "hE pentEkostE," (lit., 'the fiftieth'). According to Lev 23:15-22, it was to be celebrated on the 'day after the seventh Sabbath' and hence on the fiftieth day after Passover. It was originally the festival of the firstfruits of the grain harvest, called the Feast of Weeks - a period of seven weeks of harvesting which began with the offering of the first barley sheaf during the Passover celebration and ended with the wheat harvest. But by the time of the first century, Pentecost was also considered the anniversary of the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai - a time for the annual renewal of the Mosaic Covenant; hence one of the three great pilgrim festivals of Judaism along with Passover preceding it and Tabernacles about four months later. But this particular Pentecost would now be also known as the time of pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon all those who believed in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins unto eternal life in the Eternal Kingdom of God - Jew and Gentile alike.
Although Mt 16:18 provides our LORD's statement of building the Church upon the foundation of Himself - Who He was, i.e., "The Christ, the Son of the living God;" and although the Day of Pentecost was the key day of the festival of firstfruits when the Jews brought to God the firstfruits of their harvest in thanksgiving, so that one might consider this particular Pentecost in Acts chapter two to be the day of the firstfruits of Christ's church, the beginning of the great harvest of individuals who would come to be known as Christ's church, the body of Christ; and although Scripture will later declare that the baptism of the Holy Spirit will permanently indwell the Spirit of God into every member of the church, the body of Christ; the passage in Acts chapter 1 neither stipulates nor implies that this was the beginning of the church.
Many of those who were believers in Christ unto eternal life in the eternal Kingdom of God had become disciples, i.e., followers of Jesus Christ - about 120 in number, including the Twelve Apostles. They were all with one accord in the sense of being united in purpose and in one place - most likely in the upper room in Jerusalem, (Acts 1:13-14). They were to remain in Jerusalem and await their baptism with the Holy Spirit - as the LORD had promised, (Acts 1:4). Whereupon they would commence their mission, as commissioned by the LORD to bring to the world, the message of the Kingdom of God and entrance into it; repentance unto faith in Christ unto eternal life in the restoration of the Kingdom of God to Israel being the key point of that message, (Acts 1:6-8; 2:38) (Acts 2:1).
So on the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were gathered together "in one place." Due to the lack of words specifically stipulating that an area within the Temple was in view and to the phrases in verses 1 & 2 rendered "in one place" and "the whole house," respectively; and to the implication of a location that afforded some privacy while the disciples were awaiting the baptism of the Holy Spirit - the location in view in verses 1-3 must be the upper room "where they were [customarily] abiding," (Acts 1:13); and not the Temple in Jerusalem, as some contend.
(Acts 1:13 YLT) "And when they came in [to the city],.they went up to the upper room, where they were abiding both Peter and James; and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [son] of Alphaeus, and Simon the [Zealot], and Judas [son] of James.
(Acts 1:14 YLT) These all were [steadfastly] continuing with one accord in prayer and supplication, with women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His [brothers]."
"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they [the disciples] were sitting." There is no indication in the text that this was an actual wind. For a wind which had the magnitude of the sound which verse 2 conveyed would have caused devastating damage - which damage was not addressed by author Luke. Nevertheless, the implication of the phrase, "a sound of heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house" was that the sound was so loud that it could be heard by the multitudes gathered for Pentecost in the city who came together to investigate it, (cf. Acts 2:6). The Greek word "pneuma" can mean wind and / or spirit, conveying both meanings in this passage. Hence the sound of the rushing mighty wind filling the whole house was a powerful sign which indicated the presence of God the Holy Spirit throughout the house, indwelling all the believers present. And thereafter, there was a sudden appearance of a mass of flames which then broke up, such that a single tongue of fire settled upon the head of every disciple in the room. The appearance of the tongues of fire was also a symbol of the presence of God, which corroborated the occurrence within the believers of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, [cf. the presence of God: (1) in the burning bush, (Exod 3:2-5); (2) in the pillar of fire that guided Israel by night through the wilderness, (Exod 13:21-22); (3) in the consuming fire on Mt Sinai, (Exod 19:18; 24:17); (4) and in the fire that hovered over the wilderness tabernacle, (Exod 40:38)]. Note that John the Baptist earlier stipulated that the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire, (Lk 3:16), (Acts 2:2-3).
The signs of the sound of the rushing mighty wind and the appearance of the tongues of fire which accompanied the believers' baptism of the Holy Spirit were unique, and evidently marked this event as unique. It did not occur at any other time. Hence it cannot be asserted that these signs must occur whenever there is a baptism / filling of the Spirit upon a believer, as some contend.
Upon the sound of the rushing mighty wind, and the appearance of the tongues of fire, all of the disciples became filled with, in the sense of controlled by, the Holy Spirit. Hence all of them began to speak "with other tongues," i.e., speak in many foreign languages heretofore unknown to them - as the Spirit gave them utterance, in the sense of giving them the capacity to choose to speak out each word as the Spirit provided it for them to speak. The three signs of the sound of a rushing mighty wind, the tongues of fire and the speaking with other tongues which the latter evidenced the filling of the Holy Spirit, clearly indicated that the baptism of the Holy Spirit had occurred, (Acts 1:4-5; cf. Acts 10:43-46).
The Greek
word "glOssais" rendered "tongues" is the normal Greek word for known
languages. The word does not refer to ecstatic utterances in this
passage, as some contend; for verses 9-11 indicate that the many
foreign languages of fifteen regions throughout the world were an
example of the many languages the disciples were speaking to people in
the Pentecost crowd - people whose native languages were being spoken.
So all 120 disciples, not just the twelve - largely local men from
Galilee, spoke, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Note that throughout
this period of transition from Christ's Ascension to the establishment
of the church, there were many more disciples who were given the gift
of speaking in tongues by the Holy Spirit in order to declare "the
wonderful works of God," until the books of the New Testament were
written and circulated 
.
They spoke in the many foreign languages of those who were descendant from Jews who were taken into captivity to foreign lands, or in the languages of the lands in which they were born - who were now dwelling permanently or for the holy days in Jerusalem, (v. 2:8). Many of the Jews who were dwelling in Jerusalem had been born in foreign lands and had returned from captivity. And there were many Jews and proselytes from foreign lands who were on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost and the other holy days. So many Jews in Jerusalem on that day were multi-lingual - familiar with a number of foreign languages, especially the universal koine / common Greek language in which the Apostle Peter was to address them.
The phrase rendered "As the Spirit gave them utterance," implies that each disciple was given the capacity to choose to speak out each word in a foreign language which they did not heretofore know as the Holy Spirit provided it for them to speak - evidently as a message of "the wonderful works of God," (Acts 2:11). The key message was most likely God's most wonderful work of the gospel of faith alone in the risen and ascended Messiah / Savior Jesus Christ alone unto eternal life in the Kingdom of God - Whom the disciples had just seen in His Resurrection Body - and about Whom Peter's message was given to the crowd shortly after the outbreak of the disciples' speaking supernaturally in the languages of the world. Peter's message focused on Who Jesus was. Peter declared that He was both LORD and Christ, that He was crucified, resurrected and ascended to the Father in heaven - destined to sit forever on the throne of David to rule the world, (Acts 2:22-36). Since the upper room was already occupied with more than 120 disciples; it stands to reason that the multitude's encounter with the disciples was outside of the upper room.
Note that the Greek manuscript titled "Aleph," omits the word rendered "Jews" in verse 5. But there is overwhelming manuscript and contextual evidence for the the phrase rendered "Jews, devout men" as opposed to devout Gentiles, (Acts 2:4-5).
(Acts 2:6 NASB) '''And when this sound occurred, the [multitude] came together, and were confused because each one was hearing them [the disciples] [speaking] in his own language. (Acts 2:7 NKJV) Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? (Acts 2:8 NKJV) And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? (Acts 2:9 NKJV) Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (Acts 2:10 NKJV) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, (Acts 2:11 NKJV) Cretans and Arabs - we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." (Acts 2:12 NKJV) So they [all continued to be] amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" (Acts 2:13 NKJV) Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." ''' =
And when the crowd heard the sound - referring back to the Greek phrase in verse 2 rendered "a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind [which] filled the whole house where they [the disciples] were sitting;" many in the crowd came together in search of the source of that sound. And they came upon the disciples who began speaking to them in their individual native languages. The Greek phrase rendered "was hearing them [the disciples] [speaking] in his own language," is in the imperfect tense implying a continual hearing over a period of time. For there was much to speak of, and many to speak to. The Greek phrase "tE idia dialektO" rendered "in his own language" in verse 6 is emphatic and hence emphasizes that this is the language that each had learned as a child in the land he was born in. And many of the multitude "came together" because of their concern and confusion about the actions of the disciples - largely men from Galilee - who were speaking to them in the native languages of the Jews in the crowd who were from foreign countries. Their declaration that the disciples were from Galilee - perhaps discerning this from their local mannerisms and clothing, implied that Galileans wouldn't normally know such languages. This implied that the languages they were speaking were not speaking merely a variety of Galilean or Aramaic dialects, as some contend; but wholly different languages from other nations. Although most individuals in that day could speak Greek in that part of the world, and even other local languages and dialects; it was astonishing and incomprehensible to hear the local men of Galilee speak the languages of foreign countries from afar. Their actions were viewed as miraculous - a sign from God, (Acts 2:6-8).
Author Luke provided examples of peoples from nations from all points of the compass that were there in Jerusalem, corroborating his phrase in verse 5, "And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven." Each region which author Luke named had a considerable Jewish population within its borders: Parthia was east of the Roman Empire, between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf, in the southern part of Persia. Media and Elam and Mesopotamia, contained a large Jewish population from the days of the Babylonian Captivity to the east, mostly outside of the Roman Empire. Author Luke's inclusion of Judea, being near to Jerusalem, is not out of place here as some contend; for it had a large Jewish population which spoke Hebrew and a number of foreign languages different from those spoken in Jerusalem. And there were many there in Jerusalem visiting to celebrate Pentecost. Cappadicia was a large Roman province in northern Asia Minor on the Black Sea. Pontus was located in the region on the southern coast of the Black Sea. Asia was the Roman province comprising the western third of Asia Minor. Phrygia was an ethnic district of part of the province of Asia and part of Galatia. Pamphylia was a Roman province on the south coast of Asia Minor, Egypt to the south had a large Jewish population of about a million. The phrase rendered, "The parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene" comprised a district west of Egypt on the Mediterranean coast. And Luke was sure to indicate that there were present visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes (Gentile converts to Judaism). Finally, author Luke mentioned others from the island of Crete and from Arabia, the districts east and southeast of Palestine. So all of the people from around the civilized world kept hearing and exclaiming, "We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God," (Acts 2:9-11).
They evidently concluded that this was indeed a supernatural sign from God. The message must have especially included the grandest and most wonderful work of the LORD: His Son's atoning sacrifice for the remission of the sins of the whole world through faith in Him, as testified to by His resurrection appearances and His ascension - the last and lasting impression which the disciples were given by the LORD. And this was what the LORD commanded His disciples to convey to Jerusalem and to the world, (cf. Acts 1:8). For Peter's message to the crowd just shortly after the outbreak of the disciples' speaking supernaturally in the languages of the world focused on Jesus, Whom he declared was both LORD - referring to His Diety as the Son of God; and Christ in the sense of having fulfilled the requirement in His Humanity of being an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world which declaration was evidenced by God's having raised Him from the dead and ascended Him into glory at His right hand in heaven. So Peter indicated that Jesus Christ had been crucified, resurrected and ascended to the Father in heaven, Who Peter declared was destined to sit forever on the throne of David to rule the world, (cf. Acts 2:22-36).
Many in the crowd in Jerusalem continued to be amazed and perplexed as the disciples were speaking to them of the wonderful works of God in their own native languages. They repeatedly said to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" They evidently had gained some understanding of the disciples' message; but could not fathom the purpose behind that message. Since they were unwilling to take seriously and trust in what the disciples were saying, they too became skeptical. Others in the crowd, mocked the disciples, saying "They are full of new wine [Greek "gleukous" lit., wine from sweet grapes]," implying that they were drunk and were speaking drunken gibberish. A number of these objectors might not have understood any of the languages that were being spoken; and others were just skeptical - unwilling to accept the evidence of their Messiah having come. So to them the message had no discernible meaning. Hence they mocked the disciples as if they were drunk on new wine, which characteristically had a higher alcoholic content, (Acts 2:12-13).
(Acts 2:14 NKJV) '''But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and [spoke out] to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. (Acts 2:15 NKJV) For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. (Acts 2:16 NASB) But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: (Acts 2:17 NKJV) 'And it shall come to pass in the last days,' says God, 'That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. (Acts 2:18 NKJV) And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:19 YLT) and I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs upon the earth beneath - blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke, (Acts 2:20 NASB) The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the LORD shall [come]. (Acts 2:21 NASB) And it shall be that everyone who [called] on the name of the LORD will be saved.' [in the sense of saved from temporal death such that only the survivors will enter into the Eternal Kingdom of God which will have arrived - which implies that all the survivors will be believers, and hence have eternal life]''' =
At this time, Peter stood up with the eleven Apostles (including Matthias), raised his voice and spoke out to the multitude, once again taking the role of leader. Note that this does not exclude the other Apostles from having their turn to preach to the crowd. Peter began by addressing Jews and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It is implied here that all of the disciples including the eleven stopped speaking in tongues to individuals in the crowd to allow Peter to take the lead and deliver his message - that Jesus is the Messiah and LORD (v. 36) - beginning with: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words." Later he addressed his audience as, "Men of Israel, (v. 22) and "Brethren," (v. 29). Note that Peter expected to communicate effectively despite the fact that the people in the crowd had many different, native languages. For in view of his baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit, he evidently understood that it would be the Holy Spirit Who would make his message understandable and effective to so many people of different linguistic backgrounds. On the other hand, since most people in that part of the world were multi-lingual, Peter most likely spoke to them in the universal koine / common Greek language, which Author Luke reports it in his writing without giving further specifics. So Peter continued his message with, '''For these [referring to all 120+ disciples' speaking in other tongues] are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day, [9 A.M.]." Note that Peter immediately addressed those in the crowd who mocked the disciples' actions as evidencing drunken behavior, implying that the crowd had largely turned to this point of view. Despite the fact that many previously had some kind of understanding of what the disciples were saying, even to the point of stating that the disciples were conveying information about the wonderful works of God, (v. 11); nevertheless, skepticism prevailed. The accusation that the disciples were drunk on new wine was unfounded and absurd because one would have to drink huge amounts of even new (sweet) wine. And there was neither evidence produced to affirm that any alcoholic beverages had been consummed, nor evidence that the behavior of the disciples was consistent with being drunk, (Acts 2:14-15).
Peter went on to say, '''But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: " 'And it shall come to pass in the last days,' says God,
[The phrase "the last days" referring to the last days just before God ends the age and establishes His Eternal Kingdom of God on the earth.]
'That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
[Heretofore, the pouring out of the Spirit was limited a selected number of Jews. Now it was to occur upon all mankind!]
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
[Heretofore, such supernatural revelations were infrequent. Now they will be the norm!]
And I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs upon the earth beneath - blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the LORD shall come. And it shall be that everyone who called on the name of the LORD will be saved,' " in the sense of saved from temporal death such that only the survivors will enter into the Eternal Kingdom of God which will have arrived. This implies that all the survivors will be believers, and hence have eternal life. So temporal and eternal salvation was to be received by calling on the name of the LORD in the sense of trusting in His capacity and willingness to provide forgiveness of sins unto temporal deliverance from harm from the wrath of God and unto eternal salvation in the Eternal Kingdom of God, which at the time of Joel's address to the people of Israel in his time, and Peter's address to the Jews in his time was imminent had all of Israel believed, (cf. Acts 3:19-23).
Note that the phrase in Old Testament Hebrew rendered, "The name," with the definite article, always referred to the name of God. And as Peter continued his address to the crowd in Jerusalem, he further described Who the LORD was: Jesus Whom Peter declared was both LORD, meaning God; and Christ - the anointed One, meaning the One Who in His Perfect Humanity had come to provide forgiveness of sins for the whole world through His atoning sacrifice - as proved by His Resurrection from the dead and His Ascension to heaven to sit at the right hand of God, the Father, (Acts 2:22-37).
Note that Acts 2:17 substitutes it shall come to pass in the last days for it will come to pass afterward in the Masoretic text in Joel 2:28. This is because author Luke used the Greek translation of the OT, the Septuagint, which has this phrase. There is no significant difference in meaning, as some contend. Both phrases point to the next event after Joel's statement in the previous context of the temporal and eternal salvation of the people of the LORD and how they will be blessed. Peter's reference to Joel chapter 2, "But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel," indicated that the pouring out of the Spirit upon the disciples as evidenced by them speaking in heretofore unknown foreign languages to the crowd was the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy of the restoration of the Eternal Kingdom of God to Israel, which would continue as detailed in Joel chapter 2, Peter indicated as he spoke to them, if all Israel accepted her Messiah / Savior Jesus Christ:
(Acts 2:33 NKJV) ''' "[Peter said that Jesus was, (v. 32)] Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise [to the apostles] of the Holy Spirit, [cf. Acts 1:4-8] He poured out this which you now see and hear."
(Acts 2:33 NKJV) "[Peter speaking about Jesus, (v. 32)]: Therefore [having been] exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise [to the apostles and disciples] of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear [in the sense of the pouring out into each individual disciple the power to speak in known languages to communicate the words of the LORD to them in their native languages - the marvelous works of God, especially of Jesus Christ and Him crucified - the work of the Holy Spirit]
(Acts 2:34 NKJV) For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The LORD said to my LORD, 'Sit at My right hand,
(Acts 2:35 NASB) Until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'
(Acts 2:36 NKJV) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, Whom you crucified, both LORD and Christ [in the sense of Messiah]."
(Acts 2:37 YLT) 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?"
(Acts 2:38 HOLMAN) And Peter said to them, "Repent (and [let each one of you] be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" '''
And had all Israel repented and believed in their Messiah / Savior Jesus Christ for salvation unto eternal life in the eternal Kingdom of God, the events of Joel chapter two would begin as detailed in Joel unto the restoration of the Eternal Kingdom of God upon the earth with Israel as ruling nation, (Acts 2:16-21).
(Acts 2:14 NKJV) '''But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and [spoke out] to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. (Acts 2:15 NKJV) For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. (Acts 2:16 NASB) But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: (Acts 2:17 NKJV) " 'And it shall come to pass in the last days,' says God, 'That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. (Acts 2:18 NKJV) And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:19 YLT) and I will give wonders in the heaven above, and signs upon the earth beneath - blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke, (Acts 2:20 NASB) The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the LORD shall [come]. (Acts 2:21 NASB) And it shall be that everyone who [called] on the name of the LORD will be saved.' [in the sense of saved from temporal death such that only the survivors will enter into the Eternal Kingdom of God which will have arrived - which implies that all the survivors will be believers, and hence have eternal life]" ''' =
Note that Joel 2:28-32, which Peter quoted to the crowd in Jerusalem, (Acts 2:17-21), described the horrors of God's judgment upon the world for its wickedness when the judgment part of the Day of the LORD commences - which was imminent had all of a generation of Israel repented and believed in the Messiah / Savior Jesus Christ in Peter's time for forgiveness of sins. Thereafter, the passage in Joel chapter two indicated some of the blessings which the LORD would bestow upon His chosen people, Israel and upon the whole world - upon those who believed in His name. Peter then ended his quotation of the passage in Joel in Acts 2:21 with what the prophet Joel told the people of Israel in his day, (and Peter in his day): "And it shall be that everyone who [called] on the name of the LORD will be saved." And that salvation was to be received by calling on the name of the LORD in the sense of trusting in His capacity and willingness to provide forgiveness of sins unto temporal deliverance from harm from the wrath of God and unto eternal salvation in the Eternal Kingdom of God, which at the time of Joel's address to the people of Israel in his time, and at the time of Peter's address to the Jews in his time was imminent had all of Israel believed. Note that the phrase in Old Testament Hebrew rendered, "The name," with the definite article, always referred to the name of God. In Peter's address to the crowd in Jerusalem, he declared that Jesus Whom they crucified was both LORD, meaning God; and Christ - the anointed One, meaning the One Who in His Perfect Humanity had come to provide forgiveness of sins for the whole world through His atoning sacrifice - as proved by His Resurrection from the dead and His Ascension to heaven to sit at the right hand of God, the Father, (Acts 2:22-37).
Contrary to the contention of some, the events described in Joel chapter two have not yet occurred, (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21):
****** EXCERPT FROM JOEL CHAPTER 2 ******
........................Or skip to the next
section in Acts chapter 2: 
(Joel 2:12 NKJV) ''' "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." (Joel 2:13 NKJV) So rend [tear] your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. (Joel 2:14 NKJV) Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him - A grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God? (Joel 2:15 NKJV) Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; (Joel 2:16 NKJV) Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room. (Joel 2:17 NKJV) Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, "Spare [Have pity upon] Your people, O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach [disgrace], That the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?' " (Joel 2:18 NKJV) Then the LORD will be zealous for His land, And pity [i.e, have compassion for] His people. (Joel 2:19 NKJV) The LORD will answer and say to His people, "Behold, I will send you grain and new wine [lit., grape juice] and [fresh olive] oil, And you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach [disgrace] among the nations. (Joel 2:20 NKJV) But I will remove far from you the northern army, And will drive [it] away into a barren and desolate land, With [its] face toward the eastern sea And [its] back toward the western sea; His stench will come up, And his foul odor will rise, Because he has done monstrous things." (Joel 2:21 NKJV) Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! (Joel 2:22 NASB) Do not fear, beasts of the field, For the pastures of the wilderness have turned green, For the tree has borne its fruit, The fig tree and the vine have yielded in full. (Joel 2:23 NKJV) Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully [lit. "for righteousness" in the sense of 'because He is righteous and faithful'], And He will cause the rain to come down for you - The former ['Spring'] rain, And the latter ['Autumn'] rain in the first month. (Joel 2:24 NKJV) The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine [grape juice] and [fresh olive] oil. (Joel 2:25 HOLMAN) "[And] I will [have repaid] you for the years that the swarming locust ate, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust - My great army that I [will have] sent against you. (Joel 2:26 NKJV) You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. (Joel 2:26 CBL) And [you will have eaten] abundantly, eating and being satisfied and [you will have praised] the name of Yahweh your God, because of what [wonderful works] He has done with you. And My people will not ever again be put to shame. (Joel 2:27 NKJV) And you will [have known] that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame. (Joel 2:28 NKJV) And it shall [have] come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh [all mankind - implying that all mankind are believers]; Your sons and your daughters will [have] prophesied, your old men will dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. (Joel 2:29 NKJV) And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. (Joel 2:30 NKJV) And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. (Joel 2:30 YLT) And I will [have given] wonders in the heavens, and in the earth, Blood and fire, and columns of smoke. (Joel 2:31 NKJV) The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. (Joel 2:32 NKJV) And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved [in the sense of saved from temporal death such that only the survivors will enter into the Eternal Kingdom of God which will have arrived - which implies that all the survivors will be believers, and hence have eternal life]. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls." ''' =
Verses 28-32
bring an astounding close to chapter two. For the first time in history
and forever, the Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all
mankind evidently right after the LORD's temporal judgment upon the
earth, (cf. "afterward," Joel 2:28). These verses portray a series of
unique events which so far in history have not taken place to
the degree, chrononlogy and simultaneity stipulated in the Book of Joel.
Note that centuries later, the Apostle Peter referred to the imminent
fulfillment of Joel chapter two in his time as a result of the
disciples' speaking in tongues. He indicated to the multitude of people
who were around him that what was about to occur in his time was the
fulfillment of what was prophesied in the Book of Joel, which included
the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon all mankind,
which evidently began with the disciples. The commencement of that Day,
Peter indicated, was predicated upon all Israel's acceptance of her
Messiah / Savior Jesus Christ, which did not occur. Hence the Day of
the LORD did not commence at that time either, ;
nor has anything taken place relative to the Day of the LORD to the
degree, chrononlogy and simultaneity stipulated in the Book of Joel, as
some contend.
According to the context of the Book of Joel, the pouring out of the Spirit upon all mankind implied that all of mankind who survive the judgment part of the Day of the LORD will have repented unto a moment of faith alone in the LORD's provision of temporal deliverance from harm and eternal life in the Eternal Kingdom of God. This universal outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Jews and Gentiles alike will evidently occur during the blessing part of the Day of the LORD - at the commencement of the Eternal Kingdom of God. So all of those individuals whose lives the LORD preserved during His judgment period of the Day of the LORD will receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. Even the manservants and maid servants of the LORD who will serve the people of Israel will receive the indwelling Spirit. And the sons and daughters of Israel will also receive other spiritual gifts: the old men of Israel will dream dreams of revelation from the LORD, the young men of Israel will see visions of revelation from the LORD. This will evidently occur in order to enable Israel to be the ruling nation of the eternal Kingdom of God. For each Israelite will become an oracle of God to one another and to the Gentiles, (Joel 2:28-29).
Verses 30-32 return to the time of the first portion of the Day of the LORD - the judgment / destructive part. What was portrayed in these verses will go far beyond what locusts can do. Furthermore, what was portrayed in these verses has not accompanied any judgment of the LORD upon Judah - including the locust plagues, as some contend, especially to the creationwide scope, degree of severity, or spontaneity stipulated. Nor for that matter, have the events described in Joel 2:30-32 accompanied any event in history up to the present time: "And I will [have given] wonders in the heavens, and in the earth, Blood and fire, and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD." The implications of this likely point to extensive worldwide warfare where the smoke of war will often cover the sun and make the moon appear blood red. On the other hand, natural disasters would do the same to an even greater extent: multiple and simultaneous earthquakes and volcanoes throughout the world - causing great columns of smoke to block out the sun and moon worldwide, etc.; adding to the bloody human destruction of vast armies of the world at war with one another and the LORD.
(Joel 2:10 NKJV) "The earth quakes before them, The heavens tremble; The sun and moon will [have grown] dark [lit., black], And the stars will diminish [lit., be gathered up] their brightness.
(Joel 2:11 NKJV) The LORD [has given] voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the Day of the LORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?" ...............................[(Joel 2:30-31)].
All of humanity will be confronted by the LORD in the destructive / judgment part of the Day of the LORD with such ferocity that no one will be able to endure it - unless one called upon the name of the LORD to be saved - in the sense of trusting in His capacity and willingness to provide that salvation from temporal destruction unto eternal life in the Eternal Kingdom of God . The phrase rendered, "For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance," refers to the key focus of the LORD during the Day of the LORD: His chosen people, Israel - the people associated with Mount Zion and Jerusalem. Nevertheless, only a remnant called by the LORD from the people of the LORD and all of humanity will choose to believe in Him to save them and be delivered from His temporal destruction and enter into the eternal Kingdom of God: "And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved [in the sense of saved from temporal death such that only the survivors will enter into the Eternal Kingdom of God which will have arrived - which implies that all the survivors will be believers, and hence have eternal life]. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls," (Joel 2:32).
****** END OF EXCERPT FROM JOEL CHAPTER 2 ******
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophany