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Acts 2:40

in Acts 2

With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.

KJV

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

This verse in Acts 2

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

Save yourselves from this untoward generation - Separate yourselves from them: be ye saved, σωθητε: the power is present with you; make a proper use of it, and ye shall be delivered from their obstinate unbelief, and the punishment that awaits it in the destruction of them and their city by the Romans.

This site's exposition

they were cut to the heart

on Acts 2:37-40

The hearers were cut to the heart, the Greek katanysso, stabbed through, used only here in the New Testament. Peter answers, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, for the forgiveness of your sins.

This site's exposition

this corrupt generation

Clarke links the warning to the unbelief that would bring the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown think Peter already foresaw the nation's impenitence. Albert Barnes notes that the sermon, one of the longest in the New Testament, is only an outline of what Peter said.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 7 · Written before 407.

proposed

"And with many other words did he testify, and exhort, saying." Observe how, throughout, the writer studies brevity, and how free he is from ambition and display. "He testified and exhorted, saying." This is the perfection of teaching, comprising something of fear and something of love. "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." He says nothing of the future, all is about the present, by which indeed men are chiefly swayed; he shows that the Gospel releases from present evils as well.

A commentator

John Chrysostom

Homily on Acts 7 · Written before 407.

proposed

Since, however, the hearer would desire to learn what was the sum and substance of these further words, he tells us this: "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." They approved of what had been said, although fraught with terror, and after their assent given, proceed at once to baptism.

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

proposed

And with many other words did he testify and exhort - In such an accepted time we should add line upon line, and not leave off, till the thing is done.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Save yourselves from this untoward generation--as if Peter already foresaw the hopeless impenitence of the nation at large, and would have his hearers hasten in for themselves and secure their own salvation. BEAUTIFUL BEGINNINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Many other words - This discourse, though one of the longest in the New Testament, is but an outline. It contains, however, the substance of the plan of salvation, and is admirably arranged to attain its object. Testify - Bear witness to. He bore witness to the promises of Christianity; to the truths pertaining to the danger of sinners; and to the truth respecting the character of that generation. Exhort - He entreated them by arguments and promises. Save yourselves - This expression here denotes, preserve yourselves from the influence, opinions, and fate of this generation. It implies that they were to use diligence and effort to deliver themselves. God deals with people as free agents. He calls upon them to put forth their own power and effort to be saved. Unless they put forth their own strength, they will never be saved. When they are saved, they will ascribe to God the praise for having inclined them to seek him, and for the grace whereby they are saved. This generation - This age or race of people; the Jews then living. They were not to apprehend danger from them from which they were to deliver themselves; but they were to apprehend danger from being with them, united in their plans; designs, and feelings. From the influence of their opinions, etc., they were to escape. That generation was signally corrupt and wicked. See Matt. 23; Mat 12:39; Mat 16:4; Mar 8:38. They had crucified the Messiah; and they were, for their sins, soon to be destroyed. Order? this untoward generation? - Untoward: “Perverse, refractory, not easily guided or taught” (Webster). The same character our Saviour had given of that generation in Mat 11:16-19. This character they had shown uniformly. They were smooth, cunning, plausible; but they were corrupt in principle, and wicked in conduct. The Pharisees had a vast hold on the people. […]

The words behind it

16 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.

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

    2 Corinthians 6:17

    “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 52:11

      Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

    • Revelation 18:4

      Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues.

    • 2 Corinthians 7:1

      Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

    • Psalms 1:1–3

      Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.

    • Numbers 16:26

      And he warned the congregation, “Move away now from the tents of these wicked men. Do not touch anything that belongs to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.”

  • Through

    Philippians 2:15

    so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

    it leads to

  • Through

    Ephesians 4:17

    So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

    it leads to

    • Romans 1:21

      For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts.

  • Through

    1 Timothy 4:16

    Pay close attention to your life and to your teaching. Persevere in these things, for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

    it leads to

    • Titus 1:9

      He must hold firmly to the faithful word as it was taught, so that he can encourage others by sound teaching and refute those who contradict it.

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies54

About Acts

The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.
The Pentecost, El Greco, about 1600, Museo del Prado. Public domain.

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); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.