◄ Acts 2:18 ►
Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Study Bible
Even on My menservants and maidservants

This phrase highlights the inclusivity of God's promise, extending beyond societal hierarchies. In the ancient world, servants were often considered the lowest social class, yet God promises His Spirit to them as well. This reflects the breaking down of social barriers in the early Christian community, as seen in Galatians 3:28, where Paul states that there is neither slave nor free in Christ. The use of "menservants and maidservants" also echoes Joel 2:29, emphasizing the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

Jol 2:29 My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit…
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free…
Col 3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised…

I will pour out My Spirit

The imagery of pouring out suggests abundance and generosity. This act signifies a new era of divine interaction with humanity, where the Holy Spirit is not limited to prophets, priests, or kings but is available to all believers. This outpouring fulfills the promise of the New Covenant found in Ezekiel 36:26-27, where God promises to give a new heart and spirit to His people. The event of Pentecost, described earlier in Acts 2, is the initial fulfillment of this promise, marking the birth of the Church.

Jol 2:28 And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people.…
Ezk 39:29 And I will no longer hide My face from them,…
Isa 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,…

in those days,

This phrase refers to the eschatological period initiated by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. "Those days" are the last days, a term used in the New Testament to describe the time between Christ's first and second coming. This period is characterized by the active work of the Holy Spirit in the world, as seen in the spread of the Gospel and the growth of the Church.

Jer 31:33-34 “But this is the covenant I will make”…
Ezk 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit…
Heb 8:10-12 For this is the covenant I will make with the house…

and they will prophesy.

Prophesying here is not limited to predicting the future but includes speaking forth God's truth, inspired by the Holy Spirit. This democratization of prophecy signifies that all believers, regardless of social status, can be vessels of divine revelation. The ability to prophesy is a sign of the Spirit's presence, as seen in 1 Corinthians 14:1, where Paul encourages believers to desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. This empowerment for ministry and witness is a key aspect of the Spirit's work in the Church.

Num 11:25-29 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him,…
1Sa 10:10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah,…
1Co 14:31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Apostles
The primary recipients of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, tasked with spreading the Gospel.

2. Jerusalem
The location where the events of Pentecost took place, a significant city in Jewish history and the early Christian church.

3. The Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity, whose outpouring is promised and fulfilled in this passage.

4. Servants (Men and Women)
Represents all believers, indicating the inclusivity of God's promise to pour out His Spirit.

5. Pentecost
The Jewish festival during which the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers, marking the birth of the Church.
Teaching Points
Inclusivity of the Spirit's Work
The Holy Spirit is poured out on all believers, regardless of gender or social status, highlighting the universal nature of God's promise.

Empowerment for Ministry
The outpouring of the Spirit equips believers to prophesy and serve, emphasizing the active role of the Spirit in the life of the Church.

Fulfillment of Prophecy
Acts 2:18 demonstrates the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises, encouraging believers to trust in His Word.

Equality in Christ
The passage underscores the spiritual equality of men and women, challenging cultural norms and promoting unity in the body of Christ.

Active Participation in God's Mission
Believers are called to be active participants in God's mission, using the gifts of the Spirit to edify the Church and reach the world.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy in Acts 2:18 impact our understanding of God's promises?

2. In what ways can we see the Holy Spirit's work in our lives today, similar to the events of Pentecost?

3. How does the inclusivity of the Spirit's outpouring challenge or affirm our views on gender roles within the Church?

4. What spiritual gifts have you recognized in your life, and how can you use them to serve others?

5. How can we ensure that we are actively participating in God's mission, empowered by the Holy Spirit, in our daily lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Joel 2:28-29
Acts 2:18 is a direct fulfillment of this Old Testament prophecy, emphasizing the outpouring of the Spirit on all people.

Galatians 3:28
This verse echoes the theme of equality in Christ, where distinctions such as gender are transcended in the spiritual realm.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Discusses the distribution of spiritual gifts, including prophecy, to all believers by the Holy Spirit.

Numbers 11:29
Moses expresses a desire for all of God's people to be prophets, which is realized in the New Testament through the Holy Spirit.

John 14:16-17
Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit, who will dwell with and in believers, guiding them into all truth.
Sermons
The Day of Pentecost, and its Immediate GiftsP.C. Barker Acts 2:1-41
Interpretation of the Phenomena of the SpiritE. Johnson Acts 2:14-21
Prophecies of the Times of the SpiritR. Tuck Acts 2:14-21
The Spirit Speaking Through the Voice of an ApostleR.A. Redford Acts 2:14-36
Truths from Peter's SermonW. Clarkson Acts 2:14-36
A New Style of Religious MinistryD. Thomas, D. D.Acts 2:14-40
A Sermon to Prick the ConscienceJ. C. Jones.Acts 2:14-40
A Varied Ministry Blessed by the Holy SpiritC. H. Spurgeon.Acts 2:14-40
Different Styles of PreachingW. Arthur, M. A.Acts 2:14-40
Elements of Power in Peter's SermonHomiletic MonthlyActs 2:14-40
Peter's Impulsiveness Useful Because Wisely DirectedW. H. Blake.Acts 2:14-40
Plain PreachingActs 2:14-40
Preaching on the Day of PentecostJ. Thompson, A. M.Acts 2:14-40
St. Peter to the MultitudeD. Fraser, D. D.Acts 2:14-40
St. Peter's First SermonG. T. Stokes, D. D.Acts 2:14-40
The First Apostolic Appeal to the MultitudeW. Hudson.Acts 2:14-40
The First SermonDean Vaughan.Acts 2:14-40
The Power of the Human VoiceJ. Parker.Acts 2:14-40
The SceneW. Arthur, M. A.Acts 2:14-40
A Young Man's VisionC. H. Spurgeon.Acts 2:17-21
Features of the New DispensationW. Hudson.Acts 2:17-21
The Dispensation of the Holy Ghost and its Distinctive CharacterCapel Molyneux, B. A.Acts 2:17-21
The Gospel AgeHomilistActs 2:17-21
The Possibilities of LifeW. E. Chadwick, M. A.Acts 2:17-21
The Pouring Out of God's SpiritTheological Sketch BookActs 2:17-21
The Promise KeptE. B. Conder, D. D.Acts 2:17-21
The Sending of the Holy GhostBp. Andrewes.Acts 2:17-21
The Visionary Aspect of ChristianityJ. F. Ewing, M. A.Acts 2:17-21
Visions RealisedW. E. Chadwick, M. A.Acts 2:17-21
People
Arabians, David, Elam, Elamites, Israelites, Joel, Parthians, Peter
Places
Asia, Cappadocia, Crete, Cyrene, Egypt, Jerusalem, Judea, Libya, Mesopotamia, Pamphylia, Phrygia, Pontus, Rome
Topics
Bondmen, Bondservants, Bondslaves, Bondwomen, Forth, Handmaidens, Hand-maidens, Maidservants, Maid-servants, Menservants, Men-servants, Pour, Prophesy, Prophets, Servants, Spirit, Women, Women-servants, Yea, Yes
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 2:18

     8344   servanthood, in believers

Acts 2:1-21

     4544   wine
     7241   Jerusalem, significance

Acts 2:1-41

     7505   Jews, the

Acts 2:14-21

     1429   prophecy, OT fulfilment

Acts 2:14-41

     7703   apologetics
     8712   denial of Christ

Acts 2:16-18

     3242   Holy Spirit, baptism with

Acts 2:16-20

     5115   Peter, preacher and teacher

Acts 2:16-21

     7408   Pentecost
     9140   last days

Acts 2:17-18

     1432   prophecy in NT
     3030   Holy Spirit, power
     4921   day
     5707   male and female
     5745   women
     7968   spiritual gifts, nature of

Acts 2:17-25

     6708   predestination

Library
November 25 Evening
Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall he saved.--ACTS 2:21. Manasseh did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, and he reared up altars for Baal. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.--And …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

July 3 Evening
Things which are despised, hath God chosen.--I COR. 1:28. Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? Jesus, . . . saw two brethren, . . . casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me.--Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

March 4. "They were all Filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts ii. 4).
"They were all filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts ii. 4). Blessed secret of spiritual purity, victory and joy, of physical life and healing, and all power for service. Filled with the Spirit there is no room for self or sin, for fret or care. Filled with the Spirit we repel the elements of disease that are in the air as the red-hot iron repels the water that touches it. Filled with the Spirit we are always ready for service, and Satan turns away when he finds the Holy Ghost enrobing us in His garments …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Pentecost
Text: Acts 2, 1-13. 1 And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Pentecost Monday
Text: Acts 2, 14-28. Only the text, without a sermon, is printed in the edition of 1559 of Luther's works. This and the following epistle text are too long to consider here, as they contain so many beautiful quotations from the Old Testament, which should not be passed over too briefly. Hence their discussion is reserved for their proper place. …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Pentecost Tuesday
Text: Acts 2, 29-36. Only the text, without a sermon, is printed in the edition of 1559 of Luther's works. …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

The Name Above Every Name
'Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.'--ACTS ii. 36. It is no part of my purpose at this time to consider the special circumstances under which these words were spoken, nor even to enter upon an exposition of their whole scope. I select them for one reason, the occurrence in them of the three names by which we designate our Saviour--Jesus, Lord, Christ. To us they are very little more than three proper …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

A Fourfold Cord
'And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.' --ACTS ii. 42. The Early Church was not a pattern for us, and the idea of its greatly superior purity is very largely a delusion. But still, though that be true, the occasional glimpses that we get at intervals in the early chapters of this Book of the Acts of the Apostles do present a very instructive and beautiful picture of what a Christian society may be, and therefore of what Christian …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

A Pure Church an Increasing Church
'And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.'--ACTS ii. 47. 'And the Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved.'--(R. V.) You observe that the principal alterations of these words in the Revised Version are two: the one the omission of 'the church,' the other the substitution of 'were being saved' for 'such as should be saved.' The former of these changes has an interest as suggesting that at the early period referred to the name of 'the church' had not yet been …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Abiding Gift and Its Transitory Accompaniments
'And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Fourfold Symbols of the Spirit
'A rushing mighty wind.' ... 'Cloven tongues like as of fire.' ... 'I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh.' --ACTS ii. 2, 3, 17. 'Ye have an unction from the Holy One.'--1 JOHN ii. 20. Wind, fire, water, oil,--these four are constant Scriptural symbols for the Spirit of God. We have them all in these fragments of verses which I have taken for my text now, and which I have isolated from their context for the purpose of bringing out simply these symbolical references. I think that perhaps we …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Peter's First Sermon
'This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33. 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. 34. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, 35. Until I make Thy foes Thy footstool. 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

The Historical and Spiritual Causes of the Death of Christ
"Him, being by the determined will and foreknowledge of God given up, through the hand of lawless men, ye affixed to a cross and slew."--ACTS II. 23. St. Paul places this in the very forefront of that gospel which, as it had been delivered to him, so he in his turn had delivered to the Corinthians, that "Christ died for our sins." Neglecting all, deeper interpretations of this, it is at least clear that in the apostle's mind there was the closest and most intimate connexion between the death of …
J. H. Beibitz—Gloria Crucis

The Necessity and Benefits of Religious Society
Eccles. 4:9-12 -- "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe be to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat; but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Among the many reasons assignable for the sad decay of true Christianity, perhaps the neglecting …
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield

The Great Assize
[i.e., The Last Judgment -- GL] [21] "We shall all stand before the judgement-seat of Christ." Rom. 14:10. 1. How many circumstances concur to raise the awfulness of the present solemnity! -- The general concourse of people of every age, sex, rank, and condition of life, willingly or unwillingly gathered together, not only from the neighboring, but from distant, parts; criminals, speedily to be brought forth and having no way to escape; officers, waiting in their various posts, to execute the orders …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Means of Grace
"Ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them." Mal. 3:7. I. 1. But are there any ordinances now, since life and immortality were brought to light by the gospel? Are there, under the Christian dispensation, any means ordained of God, as the usual channels of his grace? This question could never have been proposed in the apostolical church, unless by one who openly avowed himself to be a Heathen; the whole body of Christians being agreed, that Christ had ordained certain outward means, …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Pricked in their Heart
Peter's discourse was not distinguished by any special rhetorical display: he used not the words of man's wisdom or eloquence. It was not an oration, but it was a heart-moving argument, entreaty, and exhortation. He gave his hearers a simple, well-reasoned, Scriptural discourse, sustained by the facts of experience; and every passage of it pointed to the Lord Jesus. It was in these respects a model of what a sermon ought to be as to its contents. His plea was personally addressed to the people who …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 35: 1889

The Baptism of the Spirit
And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind.... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.' (Acts ii. 2, 4.) The Holy Ghost is the active force in all spiritual life. It is, therefore, important that we should realize the close connexion between the experience of Holiness and that 'Promise of the Father' for which the early disciples were to wait. All followers of Jesus should realize, as truly as the disciples did on that historic day, that their day of Pentecost …
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and Service

The Promises of the Christian Home.
"The promise is unto you, and to your children." ACTS II., 39. "Parent who plantedst in the joy of love, Yet hast not gather'd fruit,--save rankling thorns, Or Sodom's bitter apples,--hast thou read Heaven's promise to the seeker? Thou may'st bring Those o'er whose cradle thou didst watch with pride, And lay them at thy Savior's feet, for lo! His shadow falling on the wayward soul, May give it holy health. And when thou kneel'st Low at the pavement of sweet Mercy's gate, Beseeching for thine erring …
Samuel Philips—The Christian Home

False Teachings of the Apostasy.
This is subject enough for volumes. There is scarcely a text in the Bible but what has been perverted by some one confused by the fogs of Babylon. Perhaps you can not find two individuals in the whole of sectism that see "eye to eye" upon the whole truth. To mention all the erroneous teachings of apostates would be almost impossible. However we believe it to be compatible with this work and to the glory of God to mention and refute a few of the false doctrines that have been most effectual in obscuring …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day

How Does it Come?
How does the Filling of the Spirit come? "Does it come once for all? or is it always coming, as it were?" was a question addressed to me once by a young candidate for the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. There are many asking the same question. We have considered how the Fullness is obtained, but now we proceed to consider, How does the Fullness come? In speaking of the blessing of being filled with the Spirit, the New Testament writers use three tenses in the Greek--the Aorist, the Imperfect, and the …
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

Its Effects.
Among the effects and benefits which in this life accompany and flow from being filled with the Holy Ghost, may be mentioned the following:-- 1. Courage. "Oh, I could not do so and so--I have not the courage," is a reply frequently made by Christian people when asked to undertake some piece of service or other for the Master. The first point to be settled is, "Is that the Master's will for me?" If so, lack of courage is a confession to the lack of the "Fullness of the Holy Ghost." The Spirit-filled …
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

Every Believer's Birthright.
On every hand a lack of something is being felt and expressed by God's people. Their Christian experience is not what they expected it would be. Instead of expected victory, it is oft-recurring, dreaded defeat; instead of soul satisfaction, it is soul hunger; instead of deep, abiding heart rest, it is disquiet and discontent; instead of advancing, it is losing ground. Is this all Christ meant when He said, "Come unto Me"? Is this life of constant disappointment the normal life of the Bible Christian? …
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

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