Acts 2:20
The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.
The sun will be turned to darkness
This phrase evokes a powerful image of cosmic disturbance, often associated with divine judgment or significant eschatological events. The Greek word for "sun" is "ἥλιος" (hēlios), which is a common term used throughout the New Testament. The imagery of the sun turning to darkness is reminiscent of Old Testament prophecies, such as those found in Joel 2:31, which Acts 2:20 directly quotes. This darkness symbolizes a profound change or upheaval, often indicating God's intervention in human history. In a historical context, such celestial phenomena were seen as omens or signs of divine action, reinforcing the idea that God is sovereign over creation and history.

and the moon to blood
The phrase "moon to blood" continues the theme of cosmic signs. The Greek word for "moon" is "σελήνη" (selēnē), and the transformation to "blood" suggests a deep, unsettling change. This imagery is also drawn from Joel 2:31 and is echoed in apocalyptic literature, such as Revelation 6:12. The blood-red moon can symbolize judgment, war, or significant spiritual events. In ancient times, a lunar eclipse could cause the moon to appear red, which would have been interpreted as a portentous sign. This serves as a reminder of the awe-inspiring power of God and the seriousness of His coming judgment.

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord
The phrase "the great and glorious day of the Lord" is a direct reference to the eschatological "Day of the Lord," a concept deeply rooted in the prophetic tradition of the Old Testament. The Greek word for "day" is "ἡμέρα" (hēmera), and it signifies a specific time of divine intervention. This "day" is described as both "great" and "glorious," indicating its significance and the manifestation of God's majesty and power. Historically, the "Day of the Lord" was anticipated as a time when God would decisively act to judge the wicked and deliver the righteous. For early Christians, this phrase would have been understood in the context of Christ's return, a time of both judgment and redemption. It serves as a call to readiness and faithfulness, inspiring believers to live in anticipation of God's ultimate plan for creation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Peter
The apostle who delivers the sermon at Pentecost, quoting the prophet Joel to explain the miraculous events occurring.

2. Jerusalem
The city where the events of Pentecost take place, a significant location for Jewish worship and the early Christian church.

3. Pentecost
The Jewish festival during which the Holy Spirit descends on the apostles, enabling them to speak in various languages.

4. Joel
An Old Testament prophet whose prophecy Peter cites to describe the signs and wonders associated with the last days.

5. The Day of the Lord
A future event characterized by divine judgment and the establishment of God's kingdom, often associated with apocalyptic imagery.
Teaching Points
Understanding Prophecy
Recognize the importance of Old Testament prophecies in understanding New Testament events and eschatology.

Signs of the Times
Be aware of the signs that precede the Day of the Lord, encouraging vigilance and readiness for Christ's return.

God's Sovereignty
Trust in God's control over cosmic events, knowing that He orchestrates history according to His divine plan.

Call to Repentance
The impending Day of the Lord serves as a call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Hope in Christ
While the imagery may seem daunting, believers can find hope in the promise of Christ's return and the establishment of His kingdom.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Peter's use of Joel's prophecy in Acts 2:20 help us understand the events of Pentecost?

2. What are the implications of the cosmic signs described in Acts 2:20 for believers today?

3. How do the descriptions of the Day of the Lord in other scriptures enhance our understanding of Acts 2:20?

4. In what ways can the anticipation of the Day of the Lord influence our daily lives and spiritual priorities?

5. How can we balance the fearsome imagery of judgment with the hope and assurance found in Christ's return?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Joel 2:31
The original prophecy that Peter quotes, emphasizing the signs in the heavens as precursors to the Day of the Lord.

Matthew 24:29-30
Jesus speaks of similar cosmic disturbances as signs preceding His return, reinforcing the apocalyptic imagery.

Revelation 6:12-17
Describes the opening of the sixth seal, where similar celestial phenomena occur, indicating the coming judgment.

Isaiah 13:9-10
Another prophetic passage that describes the darkening of the sun and moon as part of God's judgment on the world.
Downfall of ChristianityT. De Witt Talmage, D. D.Acts 2:20
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
Appearing, Blood, Changed, Dark, Darkness, Glorious, Gloriously, Glory, Illustrious, Manifest, Moon, Notable, Usher
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Acts 2:20

     4212   astronomy
     4251   moon
     4284   sun

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 2:16-20

     5115   Peter, preacher and teacher

Acts 2:16-21

     7408   Pentecost
     9140   last days

Acts 2:17-25

     6708   predestination

Acts 2:19-20

     1450   signs, kinds of
     7318   blood, symbol of guilt

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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