Acts 2:15
in Acts 2These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It is only the third hour of the day!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is but the third hour of the day;
KJV
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
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This verse in Acts 2
Commentary
16 notes on this verseThe first infusion of the Holy Spirit into the congregated disciples took place at "the third hour." Peter, on the day on which he experienced the vision of Universal Community, (exhibited) in that small vessel, had ascended into the more lofty parts of the house, for prayer's sake "at the sixth hour.
This site's exposition
What does this mean?
on Acts 2:12-15
The sign divides its hearers, some asking what it means and others mocking that the men are drunk on new wine. Peter answers the mockery with the hour: it is only the third hour of the day, nine in the morning.
This site's exposition
the third hour
Albert Barnes explains that Jews counted twelve hours from sunrise, so the third hour was about nine in the morning, the hour of morning worship. Cyril of Jerusalem observes that Christ, crucified at the third hour in Mark's account, sent His grace at the same hour.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
For Peter says, "It is the third hour of the day." And what of that? Is it not at the third hour that one becomes drunk? Certainly, that was not in accordance with their intention: for they did not truly think that of them, but …
The third hour became celebrated by the heavenly sayings: the one God has this number, a single Substance distinguished by three Persons; [a Substance] that many proofs demonstrate to us is also at the same time demonstrated by the hour.
"For not as ye suppose," says he, "are these drunken." Do you observe the mildness of his defence? Although having the greater part of the people on his side, he reasons with those others gently; first he removes the evil surmise, and then he establishes his apology. On this account, therefore, he does not say, "as ye mock," or, "as ye deride," but, "as ye suppose;" wishing to make it appear that they had not said this in earnest, and for the present taxing them with ignorance rather than with malice. "For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day." And why this? Is it not possible at the third hour to be drunken? But he did not insist upon this to the letter; for there was nothing of the kind about them; the others said it only in mockery. Hence we learn that on unessential points one must not spend many words. And besides, the sequel is enough to bear him out on this point: so now the discourse is for all in common.
Now that these things should have occurred at "the third hour," was not without cause. For the brightness of this fire is shown at the very time when people are not engaged in their works, nor at dinner; when it is bright day, when all are in the market-place. Do you observe also the freedom which fills his speech? "And hearken to my words."
For he who, according to Mark, was crucified at the third hour, has now at the third hour sent his grace. For his grace is not one and the Spirit's another, but he who was then crucified and had promised, fulfilled what he had promised.
8 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers2 voices
[Daniel 6:10] "Now when Daniel learned of it, that is, of the law which had been enacted, he entered his house, and with the windows in his upper room opened up in the direction of Jerusalem, he continued to bow his knees three times a day and worshipped, and made confession before his God just as he was previously accustomed to do."
Peter did not say, "As you mock," but, "as you suppose," treating the statement more gently; and not wishing to show them openly as wicked by saying this, but warning them toward repentance and regret.
The Medieval Church2 voices
For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. The Holy Spirit, about to proclaim the glory of the indivisible Trinity, came down fittingly at the third hour. And because it is said above: They were …
He did not say: "they are not drunk, as you" slander, but: "as you suppose," because he already speaks more gently and does not wish to insistently prove that they said this out of malice, but attributes ignorance to them rather than exposing them for …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For these are not drunken,....
That it was the accomplishment of the prophecies of the Old Testament which related to the kingdom of the Messiah, and therefore an evidence that this kingdom is come, and the other predictions of it are fulfilled.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For these are not drunken ... - The word these here includes Peter himself, as well as the others. The charge doubtless extended to all. The third hour of the day - The Jews divided their day into twelve equal parts, reckoning from sunrise to sunset. Of course the hours were longer in summer than in winter. The third hour would correspond to our nine o’clock in the morning. The reasons why it was so improbable that they would be drunk at that time were the following: (1) It was the hour of morning worship, or sacrifice.
But the third hour of the day - That is, about nine o’clock in the morning, previously to which the Jews scarcely ever ate or drank, for that hour was the hour of prayer. This custom appears to have been so common that even the most intemperate among the Jews were not known to transgress it; Peter therefore spoke with confidence when he said, these are not drunken - seeing it is but the third hour of the day, previously to which even the intemperate did not use wine.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὑπολαμβάνετε | hupolambanete | suppose | G5274 → | |
| οὗτοι | houtoi | these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| μεθύουσιν, | methuousin | are drunkards, | G3184 → | |
| ἔστιν | estin | it is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὥρα | hora | [the] hour | G5610 → | 106 times |
| τρίτη | trite | third | G5154 → | 56 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἡμέρας, | hemeras | day, | G2250 → | 389 times |
οὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
ὑπολαμβάνετεsuppose
hupolambaneteG5274 →
οὗτοιthese
houtoiG3778 →1381 times
μεθύουσιν,are drunkards,
methuousinG3184 →
ἔστινit is
estinG1510 →2333 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὥρα[the] hour
horaG5610 →106 times
τρίτηthird
triteG5154 →56 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ἡμέρας,day,
hemerasG2250 →389 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Samuel 1:15“No, my lord,” Hannah replied. “I am a woman oppressed in spirit. I have not had any wine or strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the LORD.
it leads to
- Psalms 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah
- Lamentations 2:19
Arise, cry out in the night from the first watch of the night. Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives…
- Psalms 42:4
These things come to mind as I pour out my soul: how I walked with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise.
- Psalms 142:2–3
I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.
- Psalms 143:6
I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah
- Psalms 62:8
Through
Matthew 20:3About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 5:13
At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
- Proverbs 19:15
Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
- Ezekiel 16:49
Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy.
- 1 Timothy 5:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies34
On this verse
On this chapter
- Afterlife Vocabulary
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit (the Acts Evidence)
- The Twelve
- Bread
- David, a Type of Christ
- The Fall Feasts
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Show the next 6 titles
About Acts
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Arator, ON THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 1; Bede, Commentary on Acts; Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 17.19; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER SIX; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 5; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Tertullian, On Prayer and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.