Acts 2:18

18 And on my men-servants and my women-servants I will send my Spirit, and they will be prophets.

Acts 2:18 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 2:18

And on my servants, and on my handmaidens
In Joel it is only the servants and the handmaids; and which Kimchi interprets of strangers that should stand in the land of Israel, and serve the Israelites. But these phrases do not seem so much to describe the civil state and condition of those persons, as their religious character, being such as were brought, by the power of divine grace, to yield a cheerful obedience to the will of God; though it may also regard the former, and show, that with God there is no distinction and difference of bond or free, of rich or poor; contrary to a maxim of the Jews F19, that the Shekinah does not dwell but upon a wise man, a mighty man, and a rich man.

I will pour out, in those days, of my Spirit, and they shall
prophesy;
see the note on the preceding verse, from whence this clause, "and they shall prophesy", is repeated; for it is not in the text in Joel; which is done to point at the end and effect of the Spirit being poured down upon them.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 92. 1.

Acts 2:18 In-Context

16 But this is the thing which was said by the prophet Joel;
17 And it will come about, in the last days, says God, that I will send out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will be prophets, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams:
18 And on my men-servants and my women-servants I will send my Spirit, and they will be prophets.
19 And wonders will be seen in heaven, and signs on the earth, blood and fire and smoke:
20 The sun will become dark and the moon will be turned to blood, before that great day of the Lord comes in glory:
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