Acts 2:14

Standing up (σταθεὶς) See on Luke 18:11; and Luke 19:8. Said (ἀπεφθέγξατο) See on Acts 2:4. Better, Rev., spake forth. "This most solemn, earnest, yet sober speech" (Bengel). Hearken (ἐνωτίσασθε) Only here in New Testament. From ἐν, in; and οὖς the ear. Rev., give ear. Words (ῥήματα) See on Luke 1:37.

Acts 2:14-15 . But Peter, standing up with the eleven — Who were then in company with him, and who, doubtless, also all, or at least most of them, addressed the people on this occasion, some in one language, and others in another, speaking by turns, or even altogether, in different parts of the assembly, to those who understood the languages in which they spoke, and therefore flocked about them. Peter, however, it appears, spoke first, and addressing himself to the native Jews, undoubtedly spoke in the language of the country, the Chaldaio-Syriac, which they all understood. It is probable that the others, who discoursed in other languages, uttered truths similar to those declared by Peter; and certainly it was not by Peter’s preaching only, but that of all, or most of the rest of the hundred and twenty, that the three thousand souls were that day converted and added to the church. But Peter’s sermon is recorded, to be an evidence for him, that he was thoroughly recovered from his fall, and thoroughly restored to the divine favour. He that had in a timid, cowardly manner, denied Christ, now as courageously confesses him. Peter, by standing up, showed that he was not drunk; and by the regular, consistent, and conclusive manner in which he reasoned, he manifested the utmost sobriety, and most perfect recollection.

He lifted up his voice — As one that was both well assured of, and much affected with, what he said; and was neither afraid nor ashamed to avow it; and in order that those who had been reproaching them might hear him; and said, Ye men of Judea — Ανδρες Ιουδαιοι , ye men that are Jews; and you especially that dwell at Jerusalem — Who were accessary to the death of Jesus; be this known unto you — Which ye did not know before, and which it infinitely concerns you to know now; and hearken to my words — With an attention becoming the importance of the subject on which I address you. My Master is gone, whose words you often heard in vain, and shall hear no more as you have done; but he speaks to you by us: hearken now to our words. For these are not drunken, as ye suppose — These disciples of Christ, that now speak with other tongues, speak good sense, and know what they say, as do those to whom they speak; who are led by their discourses into the knowledge of the wonderful works of God; and, indeed, it is very unreasonable and uncharitable for you to imagine that they are men intoxicated; seeing it is but the third hour of the day — That is, nine in the morning.

Peter standing up; it speaks his extraordinary courage; after his stumbling and fall, he runs the faster, being recovered; and begins to verify his name which our Lord had given him, showing himself as firm and stedfast as a rock. With the eleven; the other apostles, probably, spake too in divers languages; but by reason of the shortness of St. Luke’s intended narrative, and it being to the same purpose, their sermons are omitted. Men of Judea; such as came from other parts of the country. Ye that dwell at Jerusalem; such as were constant inhabitants in that city.

Acts 2:14 . Σταθεἰς , standing up ) All the gestures, all the words of Peter indicate the utmost soberness .— δὲ , but ) availing himself of the occasion. The apostles always found an opportunity, and never lost one. [They were not tied down to a particular place, or a fixed time, etc. They used the freest, and therefore so much the more effective, mode of setting forth the truth.—V. g.]— ἐπῇρε , lifted up ) with boldness of speech.— ἀπεφθέγξατο ) [ spake forth ]. This verb is judiciously employed here, instead of εἶπε , said [This point is lost in the Engl. Vers.]: inasmuch as this speech is most solemn and ardent, and yet at the same time sober. Comp. Acts 26:25 , “I speak forth ( ἀποφθέγγομαι ) the words of truth and soberness.”— ἄνδρες , Ye men ) In these ancient simple modes of address there is much more of inherent gravity (weight), than in ours of the present day, wherein so many epithets of Nobility and Dignity , etc., are accumulated in titles. Moreover, this speech has three parts, each of which begins with this appellation, at Acts 2:22 , and also 29: but as the familiarity of his language to them increases, in Acts 2:29 , he adds, Brethren , the beginning of their conversion having been already in the meantime made.— Ἰουδαῖοι , Jews ) born in Judea.— ἅπαντες , all ) Peter was speaking in the Hebrew language, which was the only one that ‘all’ understood.— τοῦτο , this ) A drunken man would not use such an exordium. Peter appropriately warns and beseeches them.

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, {h} 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: (h) The holiness of Peter is to be marked, in which the grace of the Holy Spirit is to be seen, even from the very beginning.

Verses 14-16. - Spake forth for said , A.V.; give ear unto for hearken to , A.V.; hath been spoken for was spoken , A.V. But Peter , etc. Peter stands up before the eleven as their primate, foremost in the authority of action as in precedence of place; and the apostles stand up before the multitude of believers, as those to whom Christ committed the government of his Church (see Acts 1:15 ). Spake forth ( ἀπεφθέγξατο , the same word as in ver. 4, "utterance "); implying the utterance of a loud and grave oration. In 1 Chronicles 26 . it is the phrase of the LXX. for those who prophesied with harps. From it is derived the word apophthegm , "a remarkable saying" (Johnson's Dictionary). Ye that dwell at Jerusalem ; the same as those described in ver. 5. They were foreign Jews who, either for the feast or for other causes, had taken up their abode at Jerusalem, and are distinguished from the men of Judea , the Jews who were natives of Judaea. Give ear ( ἐνωτίζεσθε ); found only here in the New Testament, but frequent in the LXX. as the rendering of the Hebrew הֶאֶזִין ( Genesis 4:23 ; Job 33:1 ; Isaiah 1:2 ). It is not classical Greek, and seems to have been coined by the LXX., as the equivalent of the above-named Hebrew word. It seems to be a rhetorical phrase. The thing to be known unto them was that they saw the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy in what had happened; for it was quite a mistake to attribute it to drunkenness.

14–21 . St Peter’s Sermon. Refutation of the Mockers 14 . But Peter, standing up , &c.] The twelve naturally take the leading place among the disciples, and Peter, who had been spokesman before, begins the general address now, directing it principally to those who were dwellers in Jerusalem and the neighbouring country, for it was more likely to be these who gave vent to the mocking speeches than the foreigners who would better recognize the astounding nature of what had come to pass. and said unto them ] Better, and spake forth onto them . The original word is the same as that used to describe the gift which they had just received. “They spake as the Spirit gave them utterance ,” lit. to speak forth ( Acts 2:4 ). St Paul employs it when Festus had said he was mad. “I speak forth the words of truth and soberness” ( Acts 26:25 ). and hearken ] The word is only found here in the N. T. It signifies to take anything into the ears.

Acts 2:14-15 . Σταθείς ] as in Acts 5:20 , Acts 17:22 , Acts 27:21 ; Luke 19:8 ; Luke 18:11 . The introduction of the address ( he stood up , etc.) is solemn . σὺν τοῖς ἕνδεκα ] thus Matthias is already included, and justly; Acts 2:32 , comp. with Acts 1:22 . We may add that Grotius aptly remarks (although contradicted by Calovius): “Hic incipit (Petrus) nominis sui a rupe dicti meritum implere.” ἀπεφθ .] as in Acts 2:4 : but not as if now Peter also had begun to speak ἑτέραις γλώσσ . (van Hengel). That speaking is past when Peter and the eleven made their appearance; and then follows the simple instruction regarding it, intelligible to ordinary persons, uttered aloud and with emphasis. κατοικοῦντες ] quite as in Acts 2:5 . The nominative with the article, in order to express the imperative address. See Bernhardy, p. 67. τοῦτο ] namely, what I shall now explain to you. Concerning ἐνωτίζεσθαι (from οὖς ), auribus percipere , which is foreign to the old classical Greek, but in current use in the LXX. and the Apocrypha, see Sturz, Dial. Al. p. 166. In the N. T. only here. Comp. Test. XII. Patr. p. 520. οὐ γάρ ] γάρ justifies the preceding summons.