Acts 2:43
in Acts 2A sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
KJV
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
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This verse in Acts 2
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And fear came - That is, there was great reverence or awe. The multitude had just before derided them Act 2:13; but so striking and manifest was the power of God on this occasion, that it silenced all clamors, and produced a general veneration and awe. The effect of a great work of God’s grace is commonly to produce an unusual seriousness and solemnity in a community, even among those who are not converted. It restrains, subdues, and silences opposition.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"And fear came upon every soul": of those that believed. For they did not despise the Apostles, like common men, nor did they fix their regard on that which was visible merely. Verily, their thoughts were kindled into a glow. And as Peter had before spoken much, and declared the promises, and the things to come, well might they be beside themselves with fear. The wonders also bore witness to the words: "Many wonders and signs were done by the Apostles." As was the case with Christ; first there were signs, then teaching, then wonders; so was it now.
"And fear came upon every soul": clearly, of those, as well, who did not believe; namely, upon seeing so great a change all at once effected, and besides in consequence of the miracles.
For they did not despise those who happened to be there, but because Peter was a great figure, flowing from above, and showing the things to come by his promises, they were rightly afraid. For the works bore witness to the word. Just as before …
The Medieval Church1 voice
"There was... fear on every soul," because they did not disregard what was happening as something accidental. Since Peter was filled with abundant grace and was revealing the promises and the future, it was very natural that they were seized with fear, especially since he …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But it was at Jerusalem, because this had been the place which God chose, to put his name there, and the prophecy was that thence the word of the Lord should go forth to all nations, Isa. ii. It was now the place of the general rendezvous of all devout people: here God had promised to meet them and bless them; here therefore he meets them with this blessing of blessings.
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Upon every inhabitant of Jerusalem, at least upon a great many of them; and upon all, or the greater part of them that saw, and heard these things; that heard the apostles speak with divers tongues, and Peter preach in the awful manner he did, and saw so many thousands at once embrace the Gospel of Christ, and profess his name, when it now, by reason of his crucifixion but a few weeks ago, lay under the greatest reproach and scandal; and such a number baptized in water; and also because of the miracles done by the apostles, after mentioned.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
they that gladly received his word were baptized--"It is difficult to say how three thousand could be baptized in one day, according to the old practice of a complete submersion; and the more as in Jerusalem there was no water at hand except Kidron and a few pools.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+odd-straight-quotes
And fear came upon every soul - Different MSS. and versions read this clause thus, And Great fear and Trembling came upon every soul in Jerusalem. For several weeks past they had a series of the most astonishing miracles wrought before their eyes; they were puzzled and confounded at the manner in which the apostles preached, who charged them home with the deliberate murder of Jesus Christ, and who attested, in the most positive manner, that he was risen from the dead, and that God had sent down that mighty effusion of the Spirit which they now witnessed as a proof of his resurrection and ascension, and that this very person whom they had crucified was appointed by God to be the Judge of quick and dead. They were in consequences stung with remorse, and were apprehensive of the judgments of God; and the wonders and signs continually wrought by the apostles were at once proofs of the celestial origin of their doctrine and mission, and of their own baseness, perfidy, and wickedness.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐγίνετο | egineto | There was becoming | G1096 → | 667 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| πάσῃ | pase | upon every | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ψυχῇ | psuchea | soul | G5590 → | 103 times |
| φόβος, | phobos | awe, | G5401 → | 46 times |
| πολλά | polla | many | G4183 → | 367 times |
| τε | te | and both | G5037 → | 213 times |
| τέρατα | terata | wonders | G5059 → | 16 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| σημεῖα | semeia | signs | G4592 → | 75 times |
| διὰ | dia | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀποστόλων | apostolon | apostles | G652 → | 79 times |
| ἐγίνετο. | egineto | were taking place. | G1096 → | 667 times |
ἐγίνετοThere was becoming
eginetoG1096 →667 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
πάσῃupon every
paseG3956 →1235 times
ψυχῇsoul
psucheaG5590 →103 times
φόβος,awe,
phobosG5401 →46 times
πολλάmany
pollaG4183 →367 times
τεand both
teG5037 →213 times
τέραταwonders
terataG5059 →16 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
σημεῖαsigns
semeiaG4592 →75 times
διὰthrough
diaG1223 →664 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀποστόλωνapostles
apostolonG652 →79 times
ἐγίνετο.were taking place.
eginetoG1096 →667 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 14:12Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
it leads to
- Matthew 21:21
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain,…
- Mark 16:17
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
- Luke 10:17–19
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
- Acts 16:18
She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And…
- Matthew 21:21
Through
Mark 16:17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
it leads to
- Acts 5:16
Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- Acts 8:7
With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
- Luke 10:17
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
- Acts 5:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies54
Show the next 6 titles
- David, a Type of Christ
- Dreams in Scripture and in Egypt
- The Fall Feasts
- The Hebrew Feasts
- Fire
- Father, Forgive Them
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- God and the Nations, from Abraham to the New Jerusalem
- Head Coverings
- The Words Tiqvah and Elpis
- How Prophecy Works
- Infant Baptism and Believers' Baptism
- Jesus on the Holy Spirit
Show the next 6 titles
- Joel, the Study Guide
- Joel 2:28-32 in Acts 2
- Joseph
- Locusts in Scripture
- Mesopotamia
- The Messianic Psalms
Show the next 6 titles
Show the next 6 titles
- Speaking in Tongues
- The Suffering Servant
- The Table of Nations
- The Appointed Times Read as a Calendar of Prophecy
- The Christian Year
- The Church
Show the next 6 titles
About Acts

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; 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; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 7; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.
