Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Acts 2:17 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 2:17 'AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' says God, 'THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE [divinely prompted] VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM [divinely prompted] DREAMS; |
Bible Question:
Dear Tim, Thank you very much for your response. May I ask a few follow-up questions? 1. You stated that Peter said that the events of the first Pentecost were the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. As far as I can tell, Joel did not mention a single or specific day in this passage, but rather said that it shall be “in the last days… I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit… before the great and glorious day of the Lord shall come.” How can this be reconciled? 2. Joel’s prophecy begins in Ac 2:17 and continues through verse 21. Was Peter saying that this entire passage was fulfilled on the first Pentecost? 3. Is it possible that the first Pentecost was just the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy? 4. You said that it is certainly “possible” that God will yet again pour out His Spirit in some remarkable way. My understanding is that our God does not will that anyone should perish, but that it is His desire that everyone should come to repentance and be spared eternity in the lake of fire. If we ourselves are in tune with His heart – and desire what He desires – is there a reason why we should not be actively standing in faith, and crying out to Him to see such an unprecedented outpouring of His Spirit to draw the unsaved to Himself? 14But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15"For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: 17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; 18EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY. 19'AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE. 20'THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. 21'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.' |
Bible Answer: You wrote "actively standing in faith". After John the Baptist went to prison, not before but after, Jesus Christ began His earthly Ministry. He commanded us all to repent and believe. Believe what, exactly? Have faith in what, exactly? Does His command in Mk 1:14-15 have anything to do with Mt 6:33? Yes, everything. There are many types of faith but in Eph 4:4-7, we read about one faith as well as one baptism and one body and One Spirit and One Lord and One God and Father of us all. In Ac 2, the 3000 believed what Peter declared through the Power of God's Holy Spirit, 1Pe 1:12 and because they believed, they sincerely repentent and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved, Ac 2. How? Read Lk 24; Ac 1-2; 1Pe 1 very carefully. |