Acts 2:33
in Acts 2Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.
KJV
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
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This verse in Acts 2
Commentary
16 notes on this verseA commentator
Victorinus of PettauVictorinus Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
"And He had in His right hand seven stars." He said that in His right hand He had seven stars, because the Holy Spirit of sevenfold agency was given into His power by the Father. As Peter exclaimed to the Jews: "Being at the right hand of God exalted, He hath shed forth this Spirit received from the Father, which ye both see and hear." Moreover, John the Baptist had also anticipated this, by saying to his disciples: "For God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.
This site's exposition
to the right hand of God
on Acts 2:33-36
The morning's sign is the act of the ascended Christ, who has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Father, Son and Spirit stand together in the verse, and Psalm 110:1 follows, since David did not ascend into heaven. The verdict is that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ, Lord from Psalm 110 and Christ from Psalm 16, aimed at those present.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
And again Peter ascribes the event to the Father. For he knows that this will draw on the listeners. Having spoken, "Having been exalted," and having approached the matter of the ascension, and that he is in the heavens. Therefore he did not speak plainly, …
Therefore also the Lord Jesus Christ Himself not only gave the Holy Spirit as God, but also received it as man, and therefore He is said to be full of grace, and of the Holy Spirit. And in the Acts of the Apostles it is more plainly written of Him, "Because God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit." Certainly not with visible oil but with the gift of grace which is signified by the visible ointment wherewith the Church anoints the baptized. And Christ was certainly not then anointed with the Holy Spirit, when He, as a dove, descended upon Him at His baptism. For at that time He deigned to prefigure His body, i.e. His Church, in which especially the baptized receive the Holy Spirit. But He is to be understood to have been then anointed with that mystical and invisible unction, when the Word of God was made flesh, i.e. when human nature, without any precedent merits of good works, was joined to God the Word in the womb of the Virgin, so that with it it became one person. Therefore it is that we confess Him to have been born of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary. For it is most absurd to believe Him to have received the Holy Spirit when He was near thirty years old: for at that age He was baptized by John; but that He came to baptism as without any sin at all, so not without the Holy Spirit. For if it was written of His servant and forerunner John himself, "He shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb," because, although generated by his father, yet he received the Holy Spirit when formed in the womb; what must be understood and believed of the man Christ, of whose flesh the very conception was not carnal, but spiritual? […]
Who then was exalted? The lowly or the most high? And what is the lowly if it be not the human? And what is the most high save the divine? But God being most high needs no exaltation, and so the apostle says that the …
"This Jesus" - observe how he does not call Him otherwise - "hath God raised up; whereof all we are witnesses. Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted": again he takes refuge with the Father, and yet it had been enough to say what precedes: but he knows what a great point this is. Here he has hinted at the Ascension also, and that Christ is in heaven: but neither does he say this openly. "And having received," says he, "the promise of the Holy Ghost." Observe how, in the beginning of his discourse, he does not say that Jesus Himself had sent It, but the Father: now, however, that he has mentioned His signs and the things done to Him by the Jews, and has spoken of His resurrection, he boldly introduces what he has to say about these matters, again adducing themselves as witnesses by both senses: "He hath shed forth this, which ye do see and hear." And of the resurrection he has made continual mention, but of their outrageous deed he has spoken once for all.
"And having received the promise of the Holy Ghost." This again is great. "The promise," he says; because promised before His Passion. Observe how he now makes it all His "He hath poured forth this", covertly making a great point. For if it was He that poured it forth, it is of Him that the Prophet has spoken above, "In the last days I will pour forth of My Spirit on My Servants, and on Mine handmaids, and I will do wonders in the heaven above." Observe what he secretly puts into it! But then, because it was a great thing, he again veils it with the expression of "His having received of the Father." He has spoken of the good things fulfilled, of the signs; has said, that He is king, the point that touched them; has said, that it is He that gives the Spirit.
9 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
"He hath poured it out," he says; not requiring worthiness: and not simply gave, but with abundance.
The Medieval Church3 voices
Exalted therefore by the right hand of God, because the Psalm had said: "Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." And having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this, which you both see …
And having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has poured out this which you see and hear. In Greek it is translated thus: He has poured out this gift which you now see and hear. Indeed, concerning Jesus, whom the …
By the expression "having been exalted," David indicated the ascension and that He (Jesus) is in the heavens, but even this was not clear at first. Look: at the beginning of his speech, when he also brought the prophet Joel as a witness, he did …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Being exalted by the right hand of God - By the right hand; that is, the mighty power of God. Our Lord was exalted at his ascension to God's right hand in heaven.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The Psalm is then affirmed to have had its only proper fulfilment in JESUS, of whose resurrection and ascension they were witnesses, while the glorious effusion of the Spirit by the hand of the ascended One, setting an infallible seal upon all, was even then witnessed by the thousands who stood listening to Him.
By the right hand of God exalted - Raised by omnipotence to the highest dignity in the realms of glory, to sit at the right hand of God, and administer the laws of both worlds. The promise of the Holy Ghost - This was the promise that he had made to them a little before he suffered, as may be seen in Joh 14:16, etc., Joh 16:7, etc., and after he had risen from the dead. Luk 24:49, and which as the apostle says was now shed forth.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Therefore, being by the right hand - The right hand among the Hebrews was often used to denote “power”; and the expression here means, not that he was exalted to the right hand of God. but by his power. He was raised from the dead by his power, and borne to heaven, triumphant over all his enemies.
The words behind it
25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τῇ | tea | To the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δεξιᾷ | dexia | right hand | G1188 → | 53 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ὑψωθεὶς | hupsotheis | having been exalted | G5312 → | 20 times |
| τήν | ten | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τε | te | and | G5037 → | 213 times |
| ἐπαγγελίαν | epangelian | the promise | G1860 → | 52 times |
| τοῦ | tou | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεύματος | pneumatos | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἁγίου | hagiou | Holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| λαβὼν | labon | having received | G2983 → | 257 times |
| παρὰ | para | from | G3844 → | 192 times |
| τοῦ | tou | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πατρὸς | patros | Father | G3962 → | 410 times |
| ἐξέχεεν | execheen | He has poured out | G1632 → | 27 times |
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ὃ | ho | which | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| καὶ | kai | both | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| βλέπετε | blepete | are seeing | G991 → | 132 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀκούετε. | akouete | hearing. | G191 → | 425 times |
τῇTo the
teaG3588 →19766 times
δεξιᾷright hand
dexiaG1188 →53 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
ὑψωθεὶςhaving been exalted
hupsotheisG5312 →20 times
τήν<the>
tenG3588 →19766 times
τεand
teG5037 →213 times
ἐπαγγελίανthe promise
epangelianG1860 →52 times
τοῦof the
touG3588 →19766 times
πνεύματοςSpirit
pneumatosG4151 →378 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
ἁγίουHoly
hagiouG40 →220 times
λαβὼνhaving received
labonG2983 →257 times
παρὰfrom
paraG3844 →192 times
τοῦthe
touG3588 →19766 times
πατρὸςFather
patrosG3962 →410 times
ἐξέχεενHe has poured out
execheenG1632 →27 times
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
ὃwhich
hoG3739 →1405 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
καὶboth
kaiG2532 →9120 times
βλέπετεare seeing
blepeteG991 →132 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀκούετε.hearing.
akoueteG191 →425 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
John 14:26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
it leads to
- John 15:26
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- John 14:16
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 2:10–13
But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
- 1 John 2:27
And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all…
- John 16:7
But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send…
- John 15:26
Through
Acts 2:17‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
it leads to
- Joel 2:28–32
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
- Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
- Joel 2:28–32
Through
Acts 1:4And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss.
it leads to
- Luke 24:49
And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
- Luke 24:49
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies25
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About Acts

This page draws on 14 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); Augustine of Hippo, On The Trinity, Book 15; Bede, Commentary on Acts; Bede, Retractions on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 6; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Theodoret of Cyrus, DIALOGUE 2; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts and Victorinus of Pettau, Victorinus Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.
