Acts 2:13-18

 

Acts 2:13 (KJB)
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
 
Any time the true Gospel is preached there will always be people who will make some kind of disparaging remarks. Many had thought they were drunk because they heard so many different languages being spoken at once and when all those voices were combined, it may have sounded like they were drunk. It could also be that there were people present who did not know any of the languages, so they too would think there was some type of mischief going on. The new wine would have been an intoxicating beverage, made from a sweet grape and would have a higher alcoholic content.
 
Acts 2:14 (KJB)
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:
 
Hearken - Give heed to
 
Peter, probably having heard the accusation that all one hundred and twenty of them were drunk, stood with the other eleven disciples and began to address the people. The fact that they were standing was also an indication they were not drunk. If they were drinking, they would have been reclining at a table. Peter gets up and raises his voice in complete sobriety as he addresses the men of Jerusalem and those who were visiting from surrounding Judaea. At this point , those who were speaking in tongues had ceased so Peter could give a defense and explanation as to what was going on.
 
Acts 2:15 (KJB)
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
 
First of all Peter addresses their concern about the one hundred and twenty being drunk. He tells them immediately that they are not drunk plus it is only the third hour of the day which would translate to 9:00 AM. Those hearing Peter would have known they were not drunk because the Jews would have morning prayers before they even ate or engaged in any work. So it would have been anathema to touch anything intoxicating before they went into the presence of God. They would know about Nadab and Abihu who drank strong drink and were killed by the Lord for offering strange fire in the Temple. (Leviticus 10:1-11)
 
Acts 2:16 (KJB)
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
 
Now Peter transfers their thinking from the idea that they were drunk to the fact that what was happening before their eyes was a fulfillment of prophecy found in the book of Joel. (Joel 2:28-29 KJV) And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: {29} And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
 
Acts 2:17 (KJB)
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:
 
Peter was now speaking the word of Joel. There was one change from the time of Joel. Joel had used the word “afterward” in Joel 2:28. Here Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is now stating that the last days have begun. The prophesying does not necessarily mean the foretelling of future things but means that all true believers will now declare the Word of God. No longer would it be only one set of people such as those leaders in the temple but all Christians worldwide will declare the Word of God. Before the Bible was completed in 95 A.D. with the book of Revelation, God used many different ways in communicating His word to His people. He had utilized dreams and visions. The Apostle John saw the book of Revelation in a vision. God came to Joseph in a dream concerning taking Jesus and Mary to Egypt. (Matthew 2:13) Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10)
 
Acts 2:18 (KJB)
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
 
There would be no such thing as class distinctions when it came to the giving of the Holy Spirit. No longer would there be an elite group of men privileged to study and understand God’s Word, it will be available to be understood by all Christians because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. There will be no such thing as a super spiritual class of clergy who alone will have reign over interpretation but the Bible will be open to all Christians to learn, to teach, and to evangelize. This verse will be very much fulfilled as the Gospel will go forth to the Roman Empire as well as empires to come such as the Ottoman where slavery was still used. Onesimus, in the book of Philemon, was a good example of the Spirit of God indwelling someone who was a slave. There are no social distinctions at the foot of the cross.

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