Spoken by the Prophet Joel - Acts 2:16

Luke the physician wrote how Jesus' disciples and others were gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem when suddenly there was a loud noise and “cloven tongues” sat upon them. They began to speak in languages that were previously unknown to them, and a multitude of people gathered outside the home to see what was happening and “were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What does this mean? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, You men of Judaea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words. For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day”, and in chapter two and verse sixteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter said, “this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel” where we read:

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

The verse begins, “But this is that which was spoken ...” Luke began with the words, “but this is that” which means “however, moreover, nonetheless and notwithstanding what they experienced and what the crowd had seen existed as that” “which was spoken” or “that was uttered, declared and told” by the following prophet. Luke shared how “Peter” began to refer to a prophetic word recorded in the scriptures.

The verse continues, “... by the prophet Joel;” Luke added the words, “by the prophet” or “through the one who was moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman who solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation” “Joel” which means “to whom Jehovah is God and was a prophet of God”. Luke shared how “Peter” referred to the words shared by “Joel” whose prophesy is found in the Old Testament of the Bible.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” continued to explain to the multitude about what they were actually observing in the hundred and twenty people in the upper room. God was beginning His church, and He knew this time would come well in advance of it's arrival. “Peter” will say more about this in our next few verses, but for now let all who read these words know God was intentional in His desire to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus. Those who examine this outpouring of His Spirit should understand God's unconditional love for them and yield their lives to His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Luke shares how Peter says, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".