Acts 2:21
in Acts 2And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
KJV
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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This verse in Acts 2
Commentary
6 notes on this verseon Acts 2:19-21
Now, "The sun shall be turned into darkness," and the preceding, "blood and fire and vapor of smoke," these refer to the coming judgment. More appropriately and specifically they speak of Jerusalem and its then captivity, as is shown by the nature of those suffering. …
This site's exposition
wonders in heaven above
on Acts 2:19-21
Wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath, blood and fire and vapour of smoke, the darkened sun and blood moon before that great and notable day of the Lord: Peter includes Joel's cosmic clauses, and the bench divides honestly over their reach, some reading AD 70's fires as near fulfillment, some the darkness of the crucifixion afternoon, some holding the signs for the day still future, and the parking order governs, positions named, no date set, no modern mapping. What is not disputed is where the quotation lands: whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved, the widest door in the prophets, which Paul cites at Romans 10:13 to the same purpose. Peter ends the citation there and begins his argument, and the exposition notes the art of it, the whosoever left ringing while he turns to name the Lord on whom they must call.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
But the Lord says: "I will pour out of My Spirit… before the great day of the Lord comes." Say to the Jew: "If the Godhead has one person and one name, and if God speaks of Himself, then why did He not say: 'before …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
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.
Those that distinguish themselves by singular piety shall be distinguished by special preservation. And observe, the saved remnant are described by this, that they are a praying people: they call on the name of the Lord, which intimates that they are not saved by any merit or righteousness of their own, but purely by the favour of God, which must be sued out by prayer.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Whosoever shall call - In the midst of these wonders and dangers, whosoever should call on the Lord should be delivered (Joel). The name of the Lord is the same as the Lord himself. It is a Hebraism, signifying to call on the Lord, Psa 79:6; Zec 13:9. Shall be saved - In Hebrew, shall be delivered, that is, from impending calamities. When they threaten, and God is coming forth to judge them, it shall be that those who are characterized as those who call on the Lord shall be delivered. This is equally true at all times.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἔσται, | estai | it will be, | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| πᾶς | pas | everyone | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ὃς | hos | who | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἂν | an | when | G302 → | 165 times |
| ἐπικαλέσηται | epikalesetai | they shall call upon | G1941 → | 30 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὄνομα | onoma | name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| κυρίου | kuriou | of [the] Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| σωθήσεται.¶ | sothesetai | will be saved.’ | G4982 → | 105 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἔσται,it will be,
estaiG1510 →2333 times
πᾶςeveryone
pasG3956 →1235 times
ὃςwho
hosG3739 →1405 times
ἂνwhen
anG302 →165 times
ἐπικαλέσηταιthey shall call upon
epikalesetaiG1941 →30 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ὄνομαname
onomaG3686 →227 times
κυρίουof [the] Lord
kuriouG2962 →711 times
σωθήσεται.¶will be saved.’
sothesetaiG4982 →105 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
Hebrews 4:16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
it leads to
- Ephesians 3:12
In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.
- Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
- Hebrews 10:19–23
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
- Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
- Philippians 4:6–7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
- Ephesians 3:12
Through
Joel 2:32And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by…
it leads to
- Romans 10:11–14
It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
- Romans 10:11–14
Through
Acts 22:16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
it leads to
- Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 2:38
Through
Psalms 86:5For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.
it leads to
- Psalms 145:8–9
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.
- Psalms 145:8–9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies25
On this chapter
- Afterlife Vocabulary
- Baptism in the Holy Spirit (the Acts Evidence)
- The Twelve
- The Deity of Christ
- The Fall Feasts
- The Hebrew Feasts
- Fire
- Head Coverings
- Jesus on the Holy Spirit
- The Messianic Psalms
- Miracles of Jesus
- The 153 Fish
- Pentecost
- The Suffering Servant
- The Church
- The Day of the LORD: yom YHWH
- The Intertestamental Period
- The Jewish Day and the Watches of the Night
- The Promise of the Father
- The Right Hand
- The Sects of Second Temple Judaism
- Water Baptism
By subject
Salvation35 verses
About Acts
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.