The Future of Bible Study Is Here.
Acts 2:1–4
The Holy Spirit and the Day of Pentecost
2:1 Now1 when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2:2 Suddenly2 a sound3 like a violent wind blowing4 came from heaven5 and filled the entire house where they were sitting. 2:3 And tongues spreading out like a fire6 appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. 2:4 All7 of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages8 as the Spirit enabled them.9
1 | tn Grk “And” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic. Greek style often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” but English style does not. |
2 | tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated for stylistic reasons. It occurs as part of the formula καὶ ἐγένετο (kai egeneto) which is often left untranslated in Luke-Acts because it is redundant in contemporary English. Here it is possible (and indeed necessary) to translate ἐγένετο as “came” so that the initial clause of the English translation contains a verb; nevertheless the translation of the conjunction καί is not necessary. |
3 | tn Or “a noise.” |
4 | tn While φέρω (pherō) generally refers to movement from one place to another with the possible implication of causing the movement of other objects, in Acts 2:2 φέρομαι (pheromai) should probably be understood in a more idiomatic sense of “blowing” since it is combined with the noun for wind (πνοή, pnoē). |
5 | tn Or “from the sky.” The Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated “sky” or “heaven” depending on the context. |
6 | tn Or “And divided tongues as of fire.” The precise meaning of διαμερίζομαι (diamerizomai) in Acts 2:3 is difficult to determine. The meaning could be “tongues as of fire dividing up one to each person,” but it is also possible that the individual tongues of fire were divided (“And divided tongues as of fire appeared”). The translation adopted in the text (“tongues spreading out like a fire”) attempts to be somewhat ambiguous. |
7 | tn Grk “And all.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here. |
8 | tn The Greek term is γλώσσαις (glōssais), the same word used for the tongues of fire. sn Other languages. Acts 2:6–7 indicates that these were languages understandable to the hearers, a diverse group from “every nation under heaven.” |
9 |
Sign Up to Use Our
Free Bible Study Tools
By registering for an account, you agree to Logos’ Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
|
Sign up for the Verse of the Day
Get beautiful Bible art delivered to your inbox. We’ll send you a new verse every day to download or share.