Acts 2:41, commentary and pictures

On the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem those who gladly accepted the apostles' message about the risen Savior were baptized that same day and about three thousand souls were added to the believers and to the church. This followed Christ's ascension and ten days in which the disciples prayed earnestly, put away differences and sins, and came together in one accord, and then the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit with mighty wind, tongues as of fire, and speaking in other tongues as Peter preached Christ as Lord and called for repentance and baptism for remission of sins. The Spirit gave the preaching direct power to pierce hearts, convict of sin, overturn unbelief and idolatry, and turn hearts to Christ, which human learning or eloquence cannot do. Among the three thousand were many who had mocked and reviled Christ and witnessed His condemnation and crucifixion, who became convinced He was the Son of God and promised Messiah, acknowledged Him as Savior and Redeemer, and became messengers of the gospel to their homes and nations. While the weight of testimony reckons about three thousand added that day, those who held the other reckoning teach five thousand converts added to the fellowship in the one-day ingathering. The Pentecost ingathering is the pattern for the closing gospel work, when under the same unity, prayer, consecration, and outpouring of the Spirit the loud cry will again go with power and many will be converted.

Pentecost Setting and Sequence

Acts 2:41 belongs to the Pentecost account of the early church in Acts 1 and Acts 2, especially Acts 2:1-47, which sets forth the gospel commission. That second chapter is to be read and received and presented to others as a lesson, and to be studied because later believers must pass through similar experiences. It is the record of Pentecost when the Spirit of God worked mightily through believers who were united and together in one place and in purpose, when the disciples received the Holy Spirit and proclaimed the risen Saviour.

It happened in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost during a sacred religious festival. An unusually large crowd had gathered to witness events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, including representatives of many nations, and the gospel was preached before them under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Many of those gathered were converted and carried the news to their homes in different parts of the country and to many places.

It followed Christ's ascension to heaven, very soon after, and ten days in which the disciples returned to Jerusalem in obedience to His commission and prayed earnestly with deep heart-searching. They put away all differences and sins, ceased striving for the highest place, drew close together in Christian fellowship and holy fellowship, came into perfect unity of one accord and one mind, realized their privilege in associating with Christ and sorrowed over grieving Him by slowness of comprehension. They did not ask for blessing for themselves but were weighted with the burden of souls, with unity, prayer, faith in Christ's promise and burden for the salvation of others, consecrating themselves to God, working in harmony with His Word, exalting the Word and honoring its precepts, because the gospel was to be carried to the ends of the earth and they claimed the endowment of power Christ had promised.

Then came the fulfillment of God's promise by a wonderful outpouring of His Spirit upon the infant church after Christ had left it without His personal presence, Christ's first act in heaven after His ascension sending His Holy Spirit in rich abundance as the heavenly endowment to preach the gospel beginning at Jerusalem. Suddenly a sound as of a rushing mighty wind filled the house where they were assembled, cloven tongues as of fire sat on each, all were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance, so that every man heard the Word spoken in his own language. The multitude was amazed, some asking what it meant and others mocking that they were full of new wine. Peter standing with the eleven declared they were not drunken since it was only the third hour of the day, and that this was what was spoken by Joel, that in the last days God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh so sons and daughters would prophesy, young men see visions, old men dream dreams, servants and handmaidens prophesy, with wonders in heaven above and signs in earth beneath, the sun turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great day of the Lord, and that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. That outpouring was heaven's communication that Christ had been received in the heavenly courts with the angels who accompanied Him and that His inauguration was complete, with all heavenly intelligences joining in His coronation service.

In order, Peter bore witness that God had made Jesus whom they crucified both Lord and Christ, and called the convicted hearers to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Those who gladly received his word were baptized and about three thousand souls were added to the believers and to the church the same day, as the Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to proclaim Christ and made their words convicting. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers. Fear came on every soul as many wonders and signs were done by the apostles, and all who believed were together and had all things common and sold possessions and goods and parted them to all as every man had need. Continuing daily with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house they ate with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Receiving Word and Baptism

To gladly receive his word was to accept the apostles' message about the risen Saviour, His mission and kingdom, and the plan of salvation. That testimony was borne under the influence of the Holy Spirit before representatives of many nations gathered at Jerusalem, and its Spirit-given power made the words convicting. The preaching revealed Jesus and glorified Him, convinced many, displaced priestly traditions and superstitions, and let the Word enter hearts to give understanding. Those convicted were led to repent, believe, and be baptized in Jesus' name for remission of sins to receive the Holy Ghost. Such glad receiving belongs to those who search the Scriptures with humble hearts without measuring the result or interpreting by handed-down tradition, and to those who lived by the light already given and prayed for greater light.

Those who received were baptized the same day, and about three thousand souls were added that day to the believers and to the church. The ingathering followed the outpouring of the Holy Spirit empowering the disciples to proclaim a risen Saviour and the conditions of salvation. It showed the powerful result of Spirit-supported proclamation of the gospel, with heaven's communication that Christ's inauguration was complete and with the disciples going forth with one desire for the salvation of souls. Those added continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and prayers, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and from house to house with gladness and singleness of heart.

Among the three thousand were many who had mocked the claim that Jesus was the Son of God and multitudes who had reviled Christ and despised His power. Some had witnessed His trial and condemnation and crucifixion and been swept into mocking Him, yet became convinced the charges were false. Some had first heard truth at Matthew's feast and some had heard and believed His Sermon on the Mount. They became convinced Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Messiah and no pretender, saw their sinfulness and Christ as friend and Redeemer, acknowledged Him as Saviour, recognized Him as the one who had healed them, and became agents of mercy. Their response came as the apostles' Spirit-given words were confirmed by mighty miracles, producing a rapid harvest that astonished the disciples while opponents who remained prejudiced were temporarily so overawed that resistance ceased.

The weight of testimony gives the one-day ingathering as about three thousand, while those holding a differing account describe it as five thousand converts added to the fellowship in one day. In that differing account the truth Christ sowed sprang up under the apostles' teaching after His resurrection and ascension to bring many to believe. It also places the verse's account of conversion in a mission meant to spread beyond Jerusalem, noting the disciples failed to train the new members to work for others.

Many of those gathered in Jerusalem were converted after ten days of prayer and the putting away of differences and sins in unity and holy fellowship, and they carried the news to their homes. As they returned to their homes in different parts of the country they carried the truth with them and spread it among many nations and classes of society. The message of repentance and forgiveness preached in Christ's name was thus carried by those hearers to their homes and to many places, making them messengers of the gospel. So also people convicted of the truth received the word with gladness and then shared the good news with others.

Holy Spirit's Converting Power

The three thousand baptized and added that same day came in as the first-fruit harvest of the early rain, the former rain poured out on the infant church after Christ had left it without His personal presence. Only a few days after Jesus' death, when His cause seemed lost, God's truth overcame every barrier and bore abundant fruit. That outpouring was heaven's communication that Christ had been received in the heavenly courts with accompanying angels, that His inauguration was complete and all heavenly intelligences had joined His coronation service. The multitude heard other tongues and marveled, some asking what it meant and others mocking that the speakers were full of new wine, until Peter standing with the eleven declared it was only the third hour of the day and this was Joel's prophecy of the Spirit poured on all flesh with sons and daughters prophesying, young men seeing visions, old men dreaming dreams, servants and handmaidens prophesying, wonders above and signs beneath with sun darkened and moon turned to blood before the great day of the Lord, and salvation to whoever calls on the Lord. Those added then continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayers, with fear on every soul as many wonders and signs were done, all believers together with all things common selling possessions and parting to every man as he had need, continuing daily with one accord in the temple and from house to house eating with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favor with the people, while the Lord added daily such as should be saved.

The Spirit gave the preaching direct power to cut through unbelief, for the sword of the Spirit newly edged with power pierced hearts, convicted of sin, brought hearers under Christ's authority, revealed Christ and glorified Him, revealed His power and glory, and turned hearts to Christ. The sermon had power because Jesus was lifted up, and those who gladly accepted the message responded to the call to repent and be baptized in Jesus' name. That cutting, convicting, converting work brought repentance, confession, praise for sins forgiven, and acceptance of the truth. Human learning, eloquence, or strength cannot do this without God's aid, and the spoken word wins souls only as the Spirit confirms it and gives the Word power to break through unbelief.

The apostles' Spirit-given words were confirmed by mighty miracles, producing a rapid harvest of believers. The swiftness and size of the ingathering astonished even the disciples. Those who remained opposed and prejudiced were so overawed that resistance temporarily ceased.

Under that influence penitence, confession, thanksgiving, prophecy, praise for sins forgiven, and joy in sins forgiven mingled together, heaven bending low to behold matchless love as the disciples grasped the imparted gift of riches of the Spirit's power long held in restraint and now poured out as a rushing mighty wind. The converts were born again and became a living power for God's kingdom, praising God, seeking to be like Christ and do His works, serving one another with kindness and brotherly love. Their shared life was animated by Him who died for sinners, by Christ's Spirit, with unity of heart, mind, soul and purpose, a common desire to reflect Christ and enlarge His kingdom, and goods held for the advance of the work. In that genuine conversion people confess sins, doors open for further preaching, and the converted rejoice.

The conversions were the harvest of Christ's earlier sowing of the word sealed with His blood, not the result of the disciples' efforts alone. The disciples entered into labor begun by Christ and earlier workers, reaping what others sowed and doing the greater work of wider reach He had promised. The large number baptized revealed the power of His teaching taking root in hearts and minds, in striking contrast with the many who had heard during His ministry without becoming interested enough to seek the pearl of great price, and with the many in Jerusalem who had seen Him crucified without understanding that God gave His Son that believers might have everlasting life. The harvest belongs to God, so sower and reaper share the work and rejoice together in its reward.

Growth and Spread Afterwards

Through a single discourse thousands received the word, were converted, were baptized, and joined the believers in one day. The gospel's direct power and the Spirit's powerful work pierced hearts, cut through unbelief, overturned idolatry, and brought people under Christ's authority into the church. Large numbers continued to be added daily in Jerusalem, with new people and new territory added to God's church and its work extended. The apostles presented the message with convincing power by the Holy Spirit during the sacred feast when an unusually large crowd had gathered to witness events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.

That rapid ingathering began a wider work of preaching Christ throughout the world, with new fields of labor continually opening. The gospel's reach grew so rapidly from Jerusalem that it was carried to every nation under heaven within one generation. Multitudes who had reviled Christ and despised His power confessed themselves His disciples, with about three thousand baptized in one day. The church had been entrusted with heaven's truth to carry to the world, but it gradually lost its first love, cherished selfishness and worldliness, and withheld from the world the blessings God intended it to receive.

Those who received the Word became part of a growing body of believers drawn together in a united work of advocating truth and salvation through Christ. Their shared life was animated by Christ's Spirit and marked by unity and a common desire to reveal His character and enlarge His kingdom. Converts went on to consecrate their lives to sharing that message with others, considering how to follow Jesus in the work He had given them. Believers were to speak God's words, with the Holy Spirit working through them to convince people of sin, and the simplicity, truthfulness, and life of the message helped bring people to God. When the Spirit works among people many can be converted and join the church, and the same Spirit can work again when believers unite with Christ and take part in His work.

The witness continued with convincing power as the disciples carried out their commission with wisdom and zeal to exalt Jesus and rescue people through His saving message. Their testimony reached hearts and minds and weakened long-held superstitions. Large numbers were converted even amid severe opposition and persecution. People received the truth through the testimony proclaimed by the disciples, showing the power of that testimony.

Pattern for Final Ingathering

The Pentecost ingathering of about three thousand converted in a single day after Christ's ascension is the pattern for a future ingathering when an angel comes down from heaven and the earth is lightened with his glory. When the promised Spirit came like a rushing mighty wind filling the place where the disciples were assembled, preaching Jesus and Him crucified was given converting power, and that early outpouring provides the pattern for the gospel's closing work when the message will again go with power and many will be converted. The loud cry of the third message will resemble that Pentecost work of receiving the message, baptism, and addition to the believers, bringing a great movement of people to take their stand for God. It is the heavenly endowment Christ longs to bestow in large measure in answer to prayers put up in faith for fulfillment of the promise.

That same blessing, light strongly impressing minds, and large ingathering will be seen again today by those who come to God in the simplicity of His Word through the working of the Holy Spirit upon hearts. The blessing came at Pentecost very soon after Christ's ascension when believers prayed, were of one accord and one mind, consecrated themselves to God, worked in harmony with His Word, exalted the Word, and honored its precepts by a consistent course of action. Then the Holy Spirit came upon them, every man heard the Word spoken in his own language, and the people took hold of the Word that had been declared during Christ's ministry. The same blessings belong to believers now who comply with the same conditions.

The great multitude converted in one day shows that a great number can yet be convinced of the truth and take their stand for God. The about three thousand who received the message and were baptized in one day serves as the measure and comparison for the many expected to accept the truth. A similar multitude is expected among the Jews, with a coming work bringing as many converts in a day.

The Holy Spirit given at Pentecost is still available to those who seek Him, and hearts are to be prepared to receive what God has promised, continuing in teaching and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer. On that day under the Spirit's guidance thousands were converted when people received the truth and lived it in simplicity. When truth is lived and proclaimed in simplicity under the Spirit's guidance, God changes hearts decisively and on a great scale as then, with the influence of genuine truth made manifest as in the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Lessons for Church Today

The second chapter stands as the model for powerful public witness in centers of influence, for as Jerusalem was such a center where the light was to shine, so present truth is to have special representation in the nation's capital. The same work needed now is for workers to be sent out to many places to preach so the unreached may be saved, for every believer to carry the light so the earth may be filled with glory, and for neighbors and unworked cities to be given the message by taking the Bible house to house and reading it to bring souls to knowledge of the truth. Those who labor for souls in times of impenitence and unbelief must yield wholly to God and work in unison with heavenly intelligences, dedicating energies and all unreservedly to finish the last-days work, and then the Holy Spirit will accompany them and angels will cooperate with them. Many will thus be brought to knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus and will gladly join God's commandment-keeping people, with means flowing into the treasury, strong laborers raised up, unwarned fields in regions beyond entered, and the work soon closing in triumph. Believers are to shake off stupor and indifference, make others hungry to hear the Word by the self-denying life of Christ, and stay wide-awake to save the world and give the message in this judgment hour while God enlarges their efforts.

The thousands converted in one day came after unity, prayer, and faith, for differences were put away, purpose was united to carry the gospel to the world, and prayer in faith sought power to save souls through proclamation of the Word. They came into perfect unity, of one accord with no striving for the highest place, and after the Spirit came they remained of one heart and soul, animated by Him who died that sinners might live. They did not ask blessing for themselves but were weighted with burden for souls, and because the gospel was to go to the ends of the earth they claimed the endowment of power Christ had promised, with unity, prayer, faith in His promise, and burden for others' salvation preceding the result. That apostolic success is the former rain, showing what the Spirit can do when believers unite and preach. Their preparation for sharing the gospel and their concern for salvation drove a witness that God could so empower.

When moved by the same Spirit, believers hold nothing owned as their own but hold all for advance of the reformation and give generously back to God of His own with like liberality, and then a wide and far-reaching work will be accomplished. The grace of Christ is then expressed in words and works, with lips speaking to God's praise and hands stretched to help the perishing, shining light to those in darkness. Diligent cultivation of the Christian graces and faithful daily living can likewise bring hundreds and thousands to God, as on that day.

Gladly receiving the word leads to conviction, baptism, and reception as members of the church, gathering souls into the church as in the apostolic church, and that addition of baptized members is what makes ministerial work in a place complete and thorough. Ministers therefore must not leave a place for a new one while interest is still unfinished, but must remain until souls reach baptism and church membership. Those who have lived by light already had and prayed for greater light, when they hear it accept and are baptized and join God's people, as when at San Francisco one moved by God's Spirit came forward for prayer and was baptized while others were converted, some baptized, and several planned baptism and union with the church there. The large one-day increase was meant to spread mission beyond Jerusalem, yet those holding the five thousand number teach the disciples failed to train the new members to work for others. The substantial conversions by the Spirit's work show how God works when His people cherish faith and the Spirit moves through them.

The chapter teaches the need for deeper piety and Christ's meekness, with each heart humbled and converted daily, to be read and received and presented to others as a lesson. After the Spirit's descent the disciples went forth to proclaim a risen Saviour with one desire for salvation of souls, rejoicing in communion with saints, tender, thoughtful, self-denying and willing to sacrifice for truth, revealing in word and deed the love Christ commanded to awaken that love in other hearts. Believers are to cherish that same love and go forward in willing obedience to the new commandment to love one another, so closely united to Christ as to fulfill His requirements while the power of a Saviour who justifies by His righteousness is magnified. Genuine conversions under proclaimed truth move people to confess sins, open doors for further preaching, and rejoice in the converted. Such glad receiving comes after searching Scripture with humble hearts to know truth and what the Word says, without measuring the result and without interpreting by traditions handed down, and the spoken word wins souls only as the Spirit confirms it, which human learning, eloquence, or strength cannot do without God's aid.

The Spirit's power supporting gospel proclamation and the conditions of salvation brought about three thousand added the same day, illustrating the results the commission and promised power can bring to missionary work. The power promised to Christ's followers for saving souls was revealed when many turned from error to truth and joined the church, showing the large harvest that can follow when indolence and slothfulness no longer hinder. Spirit-empowered preaching bringing thousands in a single day is both example of power God can give and measure of zeal and effort needed to carry the gospel to others. Wherever the Spirit works the missionary spirit is expected, with believers awake in the judgment hour, united with Christ, and bearing reproach for Him.