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Selected Verse: Acts 2:39 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 2:39	Strong Concordance	For [1063] the promise [1860] is [2076] unto you [5213], and [2532] to your [5216] children [5043], and [2532] to all [3956] that are afar off [1519] [3112], even as many as [3745] the Lord [2962] our [2257] God [2316] shall call [302] [4341].
	King James	For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
For the promise--of the Holy Ghost, through the risen Saviour, as the grand blessing of the new covenant. all afar off--the Gentiles, as in Eph 2:17), but "to the Jew first."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

For the promise--of the Holy Ghost, through the risen Saviour, as the grand blessing of the new covenant.

all afar off--the Gentiles, as in Eph 2:17), but "to the Jew first."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For the promise - That is, the promise respecting the particular thing of which he was speaking - the influences of the Holy Spirit. This promise he had adduced in the beginning of his discourse Act 2:17, and he now applies it to them. As the Spirit was promised to descend on Jews and their sons and daughters, it was applicable to them in the circumstances in which they then were. The only hope of lost sinners is in the promises of God, and the only thing that can give comfort to a soul that is convicted of sin is the hope that God will pardon and save. Unto you - To you Jews, even though you have crucified the Messiah. The promise had special reference to the Jewish people. To your children - In Joel, to their sons and daughters, who would, nevertheless, be old enough to prophesy. Similar promises occur in Isa 44:3, "I will pour my Spirit on thy seed, and my blessing on thine offspring"; and in Isa 59:21, "My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and forever." In these and similar places their descendants or posterity are denoted. It does not refer merely to children as children, and should not be adduced as applicable exclusively to infants. It is a promise I to parents that the blessings of salvation shall not be confined to parents, but shall be extended also to their posterity. Under this promise parents may be encouraged to train up their children for God; they are authorized to devote them to him in the ordinance of Christian baptism, and they may trust in his gracious purpose thus to perpetuate the blessings of salvation from age to age. To all - To the whole race; not limited to Jews. Afar off - To those in other lands. It is probable that Peter here referred to the Jews who were scattered in other nations; for he does not seem yet to have understood that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles. See Acts 10: Yet the promise was equally applicable to the Gentiles as the Jews, and the apostles were afterward brought so to understand it, Acts 10; Rom 10:12, Rom 10:14-20; 11. The Gentiles are sometimes clearly indicated by the expression "afar off Eph 2:13, Eph 2:17; and they are represented as having been brought nigh by the blood of Christ. The phrase is equally applicable to those who have been far off from God by their sins and their evil affections. To them also the promise is extended if they will return. Even as many ... - The promise is not to those who do not hear the gospel, nor to those who do not obey it; but it is to those to whom God in his gracious providence shall send it. He has the power and right to pardon. The meaning of Peter is, that the promise is ample, full, free; that it is suited to all, and may be applied to all; that there is no defect or lack in the provisions or promises, but that God may extend it to whomsoever he pleases. We see here how ample and full are the offers of mercy. God is hot limited in the provisions of his grace; but the plan is applicable to all mankind. It is also the purpose of God to send it to all people, and he has given a solemn charge to his church to do it. We cannot reflect but with deep pain on the fact that, although these provisions have been made - fully made; that they are adapted to all people; but that yet they have been extended by his people to so small a portion of the human family. If the promise of life is to all, it is the duty of the church to send to all the message of mercy.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

For the promise - That is, the promise respecting the particular thing of which he was speaking - the influences of the Holy Spirit. This promise he had adduced in the beginning of his discourse Act 2:17, and he now applies it to them. As the Spirit was promised to descend on Jews and their sons and daughters, it was applicable to them in the circumstances in which they then were. The only hope of lost sinners is in the promises of God, and the only thing that can give comfort to a soul that is convicted of sin is the hope that God will pardon and save.

Unto you - To you Jews, even though you have crucified the Messiah. The promise had special reference to the Jewish people.

To your children - In Joel, to their sons and daughters, who would, nevertheless, be old enough to prophesy. Similar promises occur in Isa 44:3, "I will pour my Spirit on thy seed, and my blessing on thine offspring"; and in Isa 59:21, "My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and forever." In these and similar places their descendants or posterity are denoted. It does not refer merely to children as children, and should not be adduced as applicable exclusively to infants. It is a promise I to parents that the blessings of salvation shall not be confined to parents, but shall be extended also to their posterity. Under this promise parents may be encouraged to train up their children for God; they are authorized to devote them to him in the ordinance of Christian baptism, and they may trust in his gracious purpose thus to perpetuate the blessings of salvation from age to age.

To all - To the whole race; not limited to Jews.

Afar off - To those in other lands. It is probable that Peter here referred to the Jews who were scattered in other nations; for he does not seem yet to have understood that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles. See Acts 10: Yet the promise was equally applicable to the Gentiles as the Jews, and the apostles were afterward brought so to understand it, Acts 10; Rom 10:12, Rom 10:14-20; 11. The Gentiles are sometimes clearly indicated by the expression "afar off Eph 2:13, Eph 2:17; and they are represented as having been brought nigh by the blood of Christ. The phrase is equally applicable to those who have been far off from God by their sins and their evil affections. To them also the promise is extended if they will return.

Even as many ... - The promise is not to those who do not hear the gospel, nor to those who do not obey it; but it is to those to whom God in his gracious providence shall send it. He has the power and right to pardon. The meaning of Peter is, that the promise is ample, full, free; that it is suited to all, and may be applied to all; that there is no defect or lack in the provisions or promises, but that God may extend it to whomsoever he pleases. We see here how ample and full are the offers of mercy. God is hot limited in the provisions of his grace; but the plan is applicable to all mankind. It is also the purpose of God to send it to all people, and he has given a solemn charge to his church to do it. We cannot reflect but with deep pain on the fact that, although these provisions have been made - fully made; that they are adapted to all people; but that yet they have been extended by his people to so small a portion of the human family. If the promise of life is to all, it is the duty of the church to send to all the message of mercy.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Afar off (εἰς μακρὰν) Lit., unto a long way. Referring probably to the Gentiles, who are described by this phrase both in the Old and New Testaments. See Zac 6:15; Eph 2:11-13. Peter knew the fact that the Gentiles were to be received into the Church, but not the mode. He expected they would become Christians through the medium of the Jewish religion. It was already revealed in the Old Testament that they should be received, and Christ himself had commanded the apostles to preach to all nations. Shall call (προσκαλέσηται) Rev. gives the force of πρός, to: "shall call unto him."

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For the promise is unto you - Jews of the land of Judea: not only the fulfillment of the promise which he had lately recited from the prophecy of Joel was made to them, but in this promise was also included the purification from sin, with every gift and grace of the Holy Spirit. To all that are afar off - To the Jews wherever dispersed, and to all the Gentile nations; for, though St. Peter had not as yet a formal knowledge of the calling of the Gentiles, yet, the Spirit of God, by which he spoke, had undoubtedly this in view; and therefore the words are added, even as many as the Lord our God shall call, i.e. all to whom, in the course of his providence and grace, he shall send the preaching of Christ crucified.

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¹⁷ And [2532] came [2064] and preached [2097] peace [1515] to you [5213] which [3588] were afar off [3112], and [2532] to them that were nigh [1451].

¹³ But [1161] now [3570] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] ye [5210] who [3588] sometimes [4218] were [5607] far off [3112] are made [1096] nigh [1451] by [1722] the blood [129] of Christ [5547].

¹⁴ How [4459] then [3767] shall they call on [1941] him in [1519] whom [3739] they have [4100] not [3756] believed [4100]? and [1161] how [4459] shall they believe in [4100] him of whom [3739] they have [191] not [3756] heard [191]? and [1161] how [4459] shall they hear [191] without [5565] a preacher [2784]?
¹⁵ And [1161] how [4459] shall they preach [2784], except [3362] they be sent [649]? as [2531] it is written [1125], How [5613] beautiful [5611] are the feet of them [4228] that preach the gospel [2097] of peace [1515], and bring glad tidings [2097] of good things [18]!
¹⁶ But [235] they have [5219] not [3756] all [3956] obeyed [5219] the gospel [2098]. For [1063] Esaias [2268] saith [3004], Lord [2962], who [5101] hath believed [4100] our [2257] report [189]?
¹⁷ So then [686] faith [4102] cometh by [1537] hearing [189], and [1161] hearing [189] by [1223] the word [4487] of God [2316].
¹⁸ But [235] I say [3004], Have [191] they not [3378] heard [191]? Yes verily [3304], their [846] sound [5353] went [1831] into [1519] all [3956] the earth [1093], and [2532] their [846] words [4487] unto [1519] the ends [4009] of the world [3625].
¹⁹ But [235] I say [3004], Did [1097] not [3378] Israel [2474] know [1097]? First [4413] Moses [3475] saith [3004], I [1473] will provoke [3863] you [5209] to jealousy [3863] by [1909] them that are no [3756] people [1484], and by [1909] a foolish [801] nation [1484] I will anger [3949] you [5209].
²⁰ But [1161] Esaias [2268] is very bold [662], and [2532] saith [3004], I was found [2147] of them that sought [2212] me [1691] not [3361]; I was made [1096] manifest [1717] unto them that asked [1905] not [3361] after [1905] me [1691].

¹² For [1063] there is [2076] no [3756] difference [1293] between [5037] the Jew [2453] and [2532] the Greek [1672]: for [1063] the same [846] Lord [2962] over all [3956] is rich [4147] unto [1519] all [3956] that call upon [1941] him [846].

²¹ As for me, this is my covenant [01285] with them, saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; My spirit [07307] that is upon thee, and my words [01697] which I have put [07760] in thy mouth [06310], shall not depart [04185] out of thy mouth [06310], nor out of the mouth [06310] of thy seed [02233], nor out of the mouth [06310] of thy seed's [02233] seed [02233], saith [0559] the LORD [03068], from henceforth and for [05704] ever [05769].

³ For I will pour [03332] water [04325] upon him that is thirsty [06771], and floods [05140] upon the dry ground [03004]: I will pour [03332] my spirit [07307] upon thy seed [02233], and my blessing [01293] upon thine offspring [06631]:

¹⁷ And [2532] it shall come to pass [2071] in [1722] the last [2078] days [2250], saith [3004] God [2316], I will pour out [1632] of [575] my [3450] Spirit [4151] upon [1909] all [3956] flesh [4561]: and [2532] your [5216] sons [5207] and [2532] your [5216] daughters [2364] shall prophesy [4395], and [2532] your [5216] young men [3495] shall see [3700] visions [3706], and [2532] your [5216] old men [4245] shall dream [1798] dreams [1797]:

¹¹ Wherefore [1352] remember [3421], that [3754] ye [5210] being in time past [4218] Gentiles [1484] in [1722] the flesh [4561], who [3588] are called [3004] Uncircumcision [203] by [5259] that which [3588] is called [3004] the Circumcision [4061] in [1722] the flesh [4561] made by hands [5499];
¹² That [3754] at [1722] that [1565] time [2540] ye were [2258] without [5565] Christ [5547], being aliens [526] from the commonwealth [4174] of Israel [2474], and [2532] strangers [3581] from the covenants [1242] of promise [1860], having [2192] no [3361] hope [1680], and [2532] without God [112] in [1722] the world [2889]:
¹³ But [1161] now [3570] in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] ye [5210] who [3588] sometimes [4218] were [5607] far off [3112] are made [1096] nigh [1451] by [1722] the blood [129] of Christ [5547].

¹⁵ And they that are far off [07350] shall come [0935] and build [01129] in the temple [01964] of the LORD [03068], and ye shall know [03045] that the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] hath sent [07971] me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently [08085] obey [08085] the voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] your God [0430].