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Acts 2:18

in Acts 2

Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

KJV

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

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This verse in Acts 2

Commentary

5 notes on this verse
And on my servants, and on my handmaidens,.... In Joel it is only the servants and the handmaids; and which Kimchi interprets of strangers that should stand in the land of Israel, and serve the Israelites.

This site's exposition

spoken by the prophet Joel

on Acts 2:16-18

This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: Peter's first word of interpretation claims fulfillment outright, and the citation of Joel 2:28-32 runs longer than any other Old Testament quotation in Acts. In the last days, Peter renders Joel's afterward, the apostolic reading that the last days began at Pentecost, and the pouring is upon all flesh, sons and daughters prophesying, young men seeing visions, old men dreaming dreams, servants and handmaidens included, every wall of age, sex, and station down. The exposition presents the promise at the strength the text gives it: the last days Peter announces are the church's own days, and the poured-out Spirit, with the prophesying, visions, and dreams Joel names, is the church's living endowment, received today as it was received that morning.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

on Acts 2:17-21

It refers to the last days, the times of the gospel, which are called the last days because the dispensation of God's kingdom among men, which the gospel sets up, is the last dispensation of divine grace, and we are to look for no other than the continuation of this to the end of time.

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

The Jewish doctors taught that the Spirit came only upon wise and rich men, and such as were of the seed of Israel; but God will not tie himself to their rules. [2.] That the Spirit should be in them a Spirit of prophecy; by the Spirit they should be enabled to foretel things to come, and to preach the gospel to every creature.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

On my servants and on my handmaidens - This properly means persons of the lowest condition, such as male and female slaves. As the Jews asserted that the spirit of prophecy never rested upon a poor man, these words are quoted to show that, under the Gospel dispensation, neither bond nor free, male nor female, is excluded from sharing in the gifts and graces of the Divine Spirit.

The words behind it

22 Greek words

Every 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.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

6 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Hosea 10:12Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.7 worksLuke 2:36There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,5 worksColossians 3:11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.3 worksGalatians 3:28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.3 works1 Corinthians 7:21–22Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.2 worksActs 21:10After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Galatians 3:28

    There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 12:12–13

      The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ.

    • Colossians 3:11

      Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.

    • Romans 3:29–30

      Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,

    • Galatians 5:6

      For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. All that matters is faith, expressed through love.

    • Romans 10:12–15

      For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,

  • Through

    Colossians 3:11

    Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.

    it leads to

    • Galatians 3:28–29

      There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

    • 1 Corinthians 12:13

      For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

    • Romans 10:12

      For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him,

Where this verse is studied

About Acts

The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Ascension — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
Acts: the study guide →Read Acts 2 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Carl Friedrich Keil, The Twelve Minor Prophets, on Joel 2; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Acts 2 →