Acts 2:18

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 2:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
Acts 2:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And on my servants, and on my handmaidens, etc.] 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 f114, that the Shekinah does not dwell but upon a wise man, a mighty man, and a rich man.…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And on my servants - The Hebrew text in Joel is “upon the servants.” The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, however, render it “on my servants.” In Joel, the prophet would seem to be enumerating the different conditions and ranks of society. The influences of the Spirit would be confined to no class; they would descend on old and young, and even on servants and handmaids. So the Chaldee Paraphrase understood it. But the Septuagint and Peter evidently understood it in the sense of servants of God, as the worshippers of God are often called servants in the Scriptures. See Romans 1:1. It is possible, however, that Joel intended to refer to the servants of God. It is not “upon your servants,”…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And upon my servants - On those who are literally in a state of servitude. Acts 2:19”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“on my servants: Co1 7:21, Co1 7:22; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11 and they: Act 2:17 Acts 2:19”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification