Act 2:16-21 | KingComments | STEP | In order to explain what happened, Peter appeals to what is written by the prophet Joel about such an event. Joel has written about the outpouring of God’s Spirit “in the last days”. So do the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel ( ; ). Isaiah and Ezekiel speak about it in connection with the last days and as a blessing for Israel. Joel also speaks about the last days, but as a blessing for “all mankind”. With this he goes beyond the borders of Israel. Peter knows, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to quote the correct Scripture. He also knows where to stop his quotation. It is important to pay attention that he quotes Joel 2 without saying that it is the fulfillment of this prophecy ( ). That indeed is not the case. He refers to Joel because what happens on Pentecost has the same character as what Joel announces. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost is something reminiscent of what Joel has said. We could say that it is a pre-fulfillment of the prophecy, not the fulfillment itself. The fulfillment will take place after what Joel prophesied in the previous verses has been fulfilled. The words “after this” in , show that there is a chronological connection with the preceding verses. The main purpose of Peter in quoting this verse from Joel is to make it clear to the Jews that this wonder that took place so suddenly in their midst is fully confirmed by what Joel says about the outpouring of the Spirit. But the outpouring that has now taken place is not the full accomplishment of the event announced by Joel. The Holy Spirit has come to earth and through this the church has come into being, which He will continue to form, as this book of Acts shows. That outpouring happened in order to form a people for heaven. For that purpose, the Spirit is still on earth. What Joel writes about will take place in the last days, the days of the future, when the enemies of Israel are defeated and the people themselves live in their land. Furthermore, the expression “all mankind” is also important. This expression does not mean ’all people living then’, but indicates that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is not an event limited to the Jews. That aspect of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days is also clearly present in what happens on Pentecost. It was not that God enabled every new believer to speak the Jewish language, but He allowed His witnesses to speak the languages of their peasants who had been scattered among the Gentiles. This is a special testimony of the grace that goes out to the Gentiles. Believers from the Gentiles are not incorporated into the Jewish people, but as Gentiles they receive part in the blessing of the Holy Spirit. In a certain sense, this removes the judgment that God had brought on mankind in the confusion of languages. Language no longer forms a barrier. According to Joel, the outpouring of the Spirit on all mankind results in prophecy. We also see this happening here through Peter. His speech has the effect of touching people’s hearts and making many people repent ( ). This is precisely the purpose of prophecy, for prophecy means speaking from the presence of God to the hearts and consciences of men. Regarding the outpouring of the Spirit on all mankind, there is another remarkable difference with the Old Testament. In the Old Testament the Spirit as a gift seems to be reserved only for leaders such as kings and prophets. That the whole people would prophesy, then remained a wish, once expressed by Moses ( ). But this wish of Moses became with Joel a promise of Yahweh for all members of His people: “YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY”, as well as His “BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN”. This will be the case for all who will enter the realm of peace. This aspect of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is also present in the church on and since Pentecost. The Spirit has come upon all believers, without distinction of position or rank. Likewise, everyone who repents receives the Holy Spirit of promise, without distinction of gender, age or social status. Although Peter also quotes the wonders and signs that Joel mentions in connection with the coming of the Holy Spirit, they do not follow directly after the outpouring of the Spirit. This is because Israel as a nation did not repent, but remained disobedient. If they had repented, the “great and glorious day of the LORD” would have come immediately, accompanied by wonders and signs. Yahweh would have judged the enemies both inside and outside of Israel to deliver His people. His actions would have been accompanied by the phenomena mentioned here. Now that day is yet to come. That is why those phenomena are still future. They will certainly take place after the church has been raptured. We find that in the book of Revelation, from Revelation 6 onward. Under the sixth seal mentioned there are judgments taking place which are very similar to what Joel says and Peter quotes here. All judgments that take place from Revelation 6 fall under what Joel calls the “great and glorious” day of Yahweh ( ). These judgments pave the way for Christ’s return to earth to establish His kingdom of peace and righteousness. The “great and glorious day of the LORD” is the day of the return of the Lord Jesus (He is Yahweh) to earth and His reign that follows. That day is great because of the extensive consequences that His coming and government will have. Because of the announced judgments and the blessing that will follow, Peter concludes his quotation by offering salvation to all who are aware of their hopeless situation. That salvation is only possible by calling on the Name of the Lord. He who approaches Him in trusting faith does not perish, but is saved. Paul quotes this verse and declares it to be of general application for the proclamation of the gospel throughout the world ( ). In the gospel there is no distinction in judgment, nor is there any distinction in offering salvation. It is for everyone. Throughout all the centuries, salvation can only be found through faith in the Lord Jesus.

‏ Acts 2:16-21

The Prophecy of Joel

In order to explain what happened, Peter appeals to what is written by the prophet Joel about such an event. Joel has written about the outpouring of God’s Spirit “in the last days”. So do the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel (Isa 32:15; Eze 39:29). Isaiah and Ezekiel speak about it in connection with the last days and as a blessing for Israel. Joel also speaks about the last days, but as a blessing for “all mankind”. With this he goes beyond the borders of Israel. Peter knows, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to quote the correct Scripture. He also knows where to stop his quotation.

It is important to pay attention that he quotes Joel 2 without saying that it is the fulfillment of this prophecy (Joel 2:28-31). That indeed is not the case. He refers to Joel because what happens on Pentecost has the same character as what Joel announces. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost is something reminiscent of what Joel has said. We could say that it is a pre-fulfillment of the prophecy, not the fulfillment itself. The fulfillment will take place after what Joel prophesied in the previous verses has been fulfilled. The words “after this” in Joel 2:28, show that there is a chronological connection with the preceding verses.

The main purpose of Peter in quoting this verse from Joel is to make it clear to the Jews that this wonder that took place so suddenly in their midst is fully confirmed by what Joel says about the outpouring of the Spirit. But the outpouring that has now taken place is not the full accomplishment of the event announced by Joel. The Holy Spirit has come to earth and through this the church has come into being, which He will continue to form, as this book of Acts shows. That outpouring happened in order to form a people for heaven. For that purpose, the Spirit is still on earth. What Joel writes about will take place in the last days, the days of the future, when the enemies of Israel are defeated and the people themselves live in their land.

Furthermore, the expression “all mankind” is also important. This expression does not mean ’all people living then’, but indicates that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is not an event limited to the Jews. That aspect of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days is also clearly present in what happens on Pentecost.

It was not that God enabled every new believer to speak the Jewish language, but He allowed His witnesses to speak the languages of their peasants who had been scattered among the Gentiles. This is a special testimony of the grace that goes out to the Gentiles. Believers from the Gentiles are not incorporated into the Jewish people, but as Gentiles they receive part in the blessing of the Holy Spirit. In a certain sense, this removes the judgment that God had brought on mankind in the confusion of languages. Language no longer forms a barrier.

According to Joel, the outpouring of the Spirit on all mankind results in prophecy. We also see this happening here through Peter. His speech has the effect of touching people’s hearts and making many people repent (Acts 2:37 ; 41). This is precisely the purpose of prophecy, for prophecy means speaking from the presence of God to the hearts and consciences of men.

Regarding the outpouring of the Spirit on all mankind, there is another remarkable difference with the Old Testament. In the Old Testament the Spirit as a gift seems to be reserved only for leaders such as kings and prophets. That the whole people would prophesy, then remained a wish, once expressed by Moses (Num 11:29). But this wish of Moses became with Joel a promise of Yahweh for all members of His people: “YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY”, as well as His “BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN”. This will be the case for all who will enter the realm of peace.

This aspect of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is also present in the church on and since Pentecost. The Spirit has come upon all believers, without distinction of position or rank. Likewise, everyone who repents receives the Holy Spirit of promise, without distinction of gender, age or social status.

Although Peter also quotes the wonders and signs that Joel mentions in connection with the coming of the Holy Spirit, they do not follow directly after the outpouring of the Spirit. This is because Israel as a nation did not repent, but remained disobedient. If they had repented, the “great and glorious day of the LORD” would have come immediately, accompanied by wonders and signs. Yahweh would have judged the enemies both inside and outside of Israel to deliver His people. His actions would have been accompanied by the phenomena mentioned here. Now that day is yet to come. That is why those phenomena are still future.

They will certainly take place after the church has been raptured. We find that in the book of Revelation, from Revelation 6 onward. Under the sixth seal mentioned there are judgments taking place which are very similar to what Joel says and Peter quotes here. All judgments that take place from Revelation 6 fall under what Joel calls the “great and glorious” day of Yahweh (Joel 2:31). These judgments pave the way for Christ’s return to earth to establish His kingdom of peace and righteousness. The “great and glorious day of the LORD” is the day of the return of the Lord Jesus (He is Yahweh) to earth and His reign that follows. That day is great because of the extensive consequences that His coming and government will have.

Because of the announced judgments and the blessing that will follow, Peter concludes his quotation by offering salvation to all who are aware of their hopeless situation. That salvation is only possible by calling on the Name of the Lord. He who approaches Him in trusting faith does not perish, but is saved.

Paul quotes this verse and declares it to be of general application for the proclamation of the gospel throughout the world (Rom 10:13). In the gospel there is no distinction in judgment, nor is there any distinction in offering salvation. It is for everyone. Throughout all the centuries, salvation can only be found through faith in the Lord Jesus.