Acts 2:33

33 Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.

Acts 2:33 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 2:33

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted
After his resurrection he ascended to heaven, and was exalted in human nature; "to the right hand of God", as the Ethiopic version; and the Arabic version used by De Dieu read; an honour that never was conferred on any creature, angels or men, besides: or he was exalted and raised to the high honour and dignity of a Prince and Saviour, of Lord, Head, and King, so as to have a name, dominion, and authority over all, by the mighty power of God, which is sometimes called his right hand; see ( Psalms 118:15 Psalms 118:16 ) .

and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost;
which the Father had promised to pour forth in the last days, ( Isaiah 44:3 ) ( Joel 2:28 ) and which Christ had promised to send from the Father, ( John 14:16 John 14:26 ) ( 15:26 ) ( 16:7 ) and which, upon his ascension and exaltation, he received as Mediator from him; see ( Psalms 68:18 ) compared with ( Ephesians 4:8 )

he hath shed forth this;
this Holy Spirit, or promised Spirit, these gifts of his; and so the Syriac version renders it, "he hath shed forth this gift"; which expresses both the plenty and abundance of the gifts bestowed, and the liberality of Christ in the donation of them: it is added,

which ye now see and hear;
meaning the cloven tongues, as of fire, which they saw sitting on the disciples, and the various languages which they heard them speak. The Alexandrian copy, the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions, leave out the word "now": and the Syriac, in the room of it, reads, "behold".

Acts 2:33 In-Context

31 he foreseeing [this] spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
32 This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.
34 For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.