2:1 day of Pentecost. The 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week (Lev 23:15-16), thus the first day of the week. Pentecost is also called the Feast of Weeks (Dt 16:10), the Feast of Harvest (Ex 23:16) and the day of firstfruits (Nu 28:26). they were all together. The nearest antecedent of “they” is the 11 apostles (plus Matthias), but the reference is probably to all those mentioned in 1:13-15. in one place. Evidently not the upstairs room where they were staying (1:13) but perhaps some place in the temple precincts, for the apostles were “continually at the temple” when it was open (Lk 24:53; see note there). 2:2 violent wind. Breath or wind is a symbol of the Spirit of God (see Eze 37:9,14; Jn 3:8). The coming of the Spirit is marked by audible (wind) and visible (fire) signs. whole house. May refer to the temple (cf. 7:47).

2:3 tongues. A descriptive metaphor appropriate to the context, in which several languages are about to be spoken. fire. A symbol of the divine presence (see Ex 3:2 and note), it was also associated with judgment (see Mt 3:12).

2:4 All of them. Could refer either to the apostles or to the 120. Those holding that the 120 are meant point to the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy (vv. 17-18) as involving more than the 12 apostles. The nearest reference, however, is to the apostles (see note on v. 1), and the narrative continues with Peter and the 11 standing to address the crowd (v. 14). filled with the Holy Spirit. A fulfillment of 1:5,8; see also Jesus’ promise in Lk 24:49. Their spirits were completely under the control of the Spirit; their words were his words. in other tongues. The Spirit enabled them to speak in languages they had not previously learned (see NIV text note). Two other examples of speaking in tongues are found in Acts (10:46; 19:6). One extended NT passage deals with this spiritual gift (lCo 12-14). Not all agree, however, that these other’ passages refer to speaking in known languages. The gift had particular relevance here, where people of different nationalities and languages were gathered.

2:5 God-fearing Jews. Devout Jews from different parts of the world but assembled now in Jerusalem either as visitors or as current residents (cf. Lk 2:25-2:6) speaking in his own language. Jews from different parts of the world would understand the Aramaic of their homeland. Also the Greek language was common to all parts of the world. But more than this was occurring; they heard the apostles speak in languages native to the different places represented.

2:9 Parthians. Inhabitants of the territory from the Tigris to India. Medes. Media lay east of Mesopotamia, northwest of Persia and south-southwest of the Caspian Sea. Elamites. Elam was north of the Persian Gulf, bounded on the west by the Tigris. Mepotamia. Between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Judea. The homeland of the Jews, perhaps used here in the OT sense “from the river of Egypt the Euphrates” (Ge 15:18), including Galilee. Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia. Districts in Asia Minor.