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Selected Verse: Acts 2:2 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ac 2:2	Strong Concordance	And [2532] suddenly [869] there came [1096] a sound [2279] from [1537] heaven [3772] as [5618] of a rushing [5342] mighty [972] wind [4157], and [2532] it filled [4137] all [3650] the house [3624] where [3757] they were [2258] sitting [2521].
	King James	And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

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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]
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, &c.--"The whole description is so picturesque and striking that it could only come from an eye-witness" [OLSHAUSEN]. The suddenness, strength, and diffusiveness of the sound strike with deepest awe the whole company, and thus complete their preparation for the heavenly gift. Wind was a familiar emblem of the Spirit (Eze 37:9; Joh 3:8; Joh 20:22). But this was not a rush of actual wind. It was only a sound "as of" it.

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

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, &c.--"The whole description is so picturesque and striking that it could only come from an eye-witness" [OLSHAUSEN]. The suddenness, strength, and diffusiveness of the sound strike with deepest awe the whole company, and thus complete their preparation for the heavenly gift. Wind was a familiar emblem of the Spirit (Eze 37:9; Joh 3:8; Joh 20:22). But this was not a rush of actual wind. It was only a sound "as of" it.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And suddenly - It burst upon them at once. Though they were waiting for the descent of the Spirit, yet it is not probable that they expected it in this manner. As this was an important event, and one on which the welfare of the church depended, it was proper that the gift of the Holy Spirit should take place in some striking and sensible manner, so as to convince their own minds that the promise was fulfilled, and so as deeply to impress others with the greatness and importance of the event. There came a sound - ἦχος ēchos. This word is applied to any noise or report. Heb 12:19, "the sound of a trumpet"; Luk 4:37, "The fame of him," etc. Compare Mar 1:28. From heaven - Appearing to rush down from the sky. It was suited, therefore, to attract their attention no less from the direction from which it came, than on account of its suddenness and violence. Tempests blow commonly horizontally. This appeared to come from above; and this is all that is meant by the expression. "from heaven." As of a rushing mighty wind - Literally, "as of a violent blast borne along" - φερομένης pheromenēs - rushing along like a tempest. Such a wind sometimes borne along so violently, and with such a noise, as to make it difficult even to hear the thunder in the gale. Such appears to have been the sound of this remarkable phenomenon. It does not appear that there was any wind, but the sudden sound was like such a sweeping tempest. It may be remarked, however, that the wind in the sacred Scriptures is often put as an emblem of a divine influence. See Joh 3:8. It is invisible, yet mighty, and thus represents the agency of the Holy Spirit. The same word in Hebrew רוּח ruwach and in Greek πνεῦμα pneuma is used to denote both. The mighty power of God may be denoted also by the violence of a tempest, Kg1 19:11; Psa 29:1-11; Psa 104:3; Psa 18:10. In this place the sound as of a gale was emblematic of the mighty power of the Spirit, and of the effects which his coming would accomplish among people. And it filled - Not the wind filled, But the sound. This is evident: (1) Because there is no affirmation that there was any wind. (2) the grammatical structure of the sentence will admit no other construction. The word "filled" has no nominative case but the word "sound": "and suddenly there was a sound as of a wind, and (the sound) filled the house." In the Greek, the word "wind" is in the genitive or possessive case. It may be remarked here that this miracle was really far more striking than the common supposition makes it to have been. A tempest would have been terrific. A mighty wind might have alarmed them. But there would have been nothing unusual or remarkable in this. Such things often happened; and the thoughts would have been directed of course to the storm as an ordinary, though perhaps alarming occurrence. But when all was still; when there was no storm, no wind, no rain, no thunder, such a rushing sound must have arrested their attention, and directed all minds to a phenomenon so unusual and unaccountable. All the house - Some have supposed that this was a room in or near the temple. But as the temple is not expressly mentioned, this is improbable. It was probably the private dwelling mentioned in Act 1:13. If it be said that such a dwelling could not contain so large a multitude as soon assembled, it may be replied that their houses had large central courts (See the notes on Mat 9:2), and that it is not affirmed that the transactions recorded in this chapter occurred in the room which they occupied. It is probable that it took place in the court and around the house.

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

And suddenly - It burst upon them at once. Though they were waiting for the descent of the Spirit, yet it is not probable that they expected it in this manner. As this was an important event, and one on which the welfare of the church depended, it was proper that the gift of the Holy Spirit should take place in some striking and sensible manner, so as to convince their own minds that the promise was fulfilled, and so as deeply to impress others with the greatness and importance of the event.

There came a sound - ἦχος ēchos. This word is applied to any noise or report. Heb 12:19, "the sound of a trumpet"; Luk 4:37, "The fame of him," etc. Compare Mar 1:28.

From heaven - Appearing to rush down from the sky. It was suited, therefore, to attract their attention no less from the direction from which it came, than on account of its suddenness and violence. Tempests blow commonly horizontally. This appeared to come from above; and this is all that is meant by the expression. "from heaven."

As of a rushing mighty wind - Literally, "as of a violent blast borne along" - φερομένης pheromenēs - rushing along like a tempest. Such a wind sometimes borne along so violently, and with such a noise, as to make it difficult even to hear the thunder in the gale. Such appears to have been the sound of this remarkable phenomenon. It does not appear that there was any wind, but the sudden sound was like such a sweeping tempest. It may be remarked, however, that the wind in the sacred Scriptures is often put as an emblem of a divine influence. See Joh 3:8. It is invisible, yet mighty, and thus represents the agency of the Holy Spirit. The same word in Hebrew רוּח ruwach and in Greek πνεῦμα pneuma is used to denote both. The mighty power of God may be denoted also by the violence of a tempest, Kg1 19:11; Psa 29:1-11; Psa 104:3; Psa 18:10. In this place the sound as of a gale was emblematic of the mighty power of the Spirit, and of the effects which his coming would accomplish among people.

And it filled - Not the wind filled, But the sound. This is evident:

(1) Because there is no affirmation that there was any wind.

(2) the grammatical structure of the sentence will admit no other construction. The word "filled" has no nominative case but the word "sound": "and suddenly there was a sound as of a wind, and (the sound) filled the house." In the Greek, the word "wind" is in the genitive or possessive case. It may be remarked here that this miracle was really far more striking than the common supposition makes it to have been. A tempest would have been terrific. A mighty wind might have alarmed them. But there would have been nothing unusual or remarkable in this. Such things often happened; and the thoughts would have been directed of course to the storm as an ordinary, though perhaps alarming occurrence. But when all was still; when there was no storm, no wind, no rain, no thunder, such a rushing sound must have arrested their attention, and directed all minds to a phenomenon so unusual and unaccountable.

All the house - Some have supposed that this was a room in or near the temple. But as the temple is not expressly mentioned, this is improbable. It was probably the private dwelling mentioned in Act 1:13. If it be said that such a dwelling could not contain so large a multitude as soon assembled, it may be replied that their houses had large central courts (See the notes on Mat 9:2), and that it is not affirmed that the transactions recorded in this chapter occurred in the room which they occupied. It is probable that it took place in the court and around the house.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
A sound (ἦχος) See on Luk 4:37. Of a rushing mighty wind (φερομένης πνοῆς βιαίας) Lit., of a mighty wind borne along. Πνοή is a blowing, a blast. Only here and Act 17:25. Rev., as of the rushing of a mighty wind. The house Not merely the room. Compare Act 1:13. Were sitting Awaiting the hour of prayer. See Act 2:15.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven - So will the Son of man come to judgment. And it filled all the house - That is, all that part of the temple where they were sitting.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
A sound from heaven - Probably thunder is meant, which is the harbinger of the Divine presence. Rushing mighty wind - The passage of a large portion of electrical fluid over that place would not only occasion the sound, or thunder, but also the rushing mighty wind; as the air would rush suddenly and strongly into the vacuum occasioned by the rarefaction of the atmosphere in that place, through the sudden passage of the electrical fluid; and the wind would follow the direction of the fire. There is a good deal of similarity between this account and that of the appearance of God to Elijah, Kg1 19:11, Kg1 19:12, where the strong wind, the earthquake, and the fire, were harbingers of the Almighty's presence, and prepared the heart of Elijah to hear the small still voice; so, this sound, and the mighty rushing wind, prepared the apostles to receive the influences and gifts of the Holy Spirit. In both cases, the sound, strong wind, and fire, although natural agents, were supernaturally employed. See the note on Act 9:7.

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²² And [2532] when he had said [2036] this [5124], he breathed on [1720] them, and [2532] saith [3004] unto them [846], Receive ye [2983] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151]:

⁸ The wind [4151] bloweth [4154] where [3699] it listeth [2309], and [2532] thou hearest [191] the sound [5456] thereof [846], but [235] canst [1492] not [3756] tell [1492] whence [4159] it cometh [2064], and [2532] whither [4226] it goeth [5217]: so [3779] is [2076] every one [3956] that is born [1080] of [1537] the Spirit [4151].

⁹ Then said [0559] he unto me, Prophesy [05012] unto the wind [07307], prophesy [05012], son [01121] of man [0120], and say [0559] to the wind [07307], Thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; Come [0935] from the four [0702] winds [07307], O breath [07307], and breathe [05301] upon these slain [02026], that they may live [02421].

² And [2532], behold [2400], they brought [4374] to him [846] a man sick of the palsy [3885], lying [906] on [1909] a bed [2825]: and [2532] Jesus [2424] seeing [1492] their [846] faith [4102] said [2036] unto the sick of the palsy [3885]; Son [5043], be of good cheer [2293]; thy [4675] sins [266] be forgiven [863] thee [4671].

¹³ And [2532] when [3753] they were come in [1525], they went up [305] into [1519] an upper room [5253], where [3757] abode [2258] [2650] both [5037] Peter [4074], and [2532] James [2385], and [2532] John [2491], and [2532] Andrew [406], Philip [5376], and [2532] Thomas [2381], Bartholomew [918], and [2532] Matthew [3156], James [2385] the son of Alphaeus [256], and [2532] Simon [4613] Zelotes [2208], and [2532] Judas [2455] the brother of James [2385].

¹⁰ And he rode [07392] upon a cherub [03742], and did fly [05774]: yea, he did fly [01675] upon the wings [03671] of the wind [07307].

³ Who layeth the beams [07136] of his chambers [05944] in the waters [04325]: who maketh [07760] the clouds [05645] his chariot [07398]: who walketh [01980] upon the wings [03671] of the wind [07307]:

¹ A Psalm [04210] of David [01732]. Give [03051] unto the LORD [03068], O ye mighty [01121] [0410], give [03051] unto the LORD [03068] glory [03519] and strength [05797].
² Give [03051] unto the LORD [03068] the glory [03519] due unto his name [08034]; worship [07812] the LORD [03068] in the beauty [01927] of holiness [06944].
³ The voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] is upon the waters [04325]: the God [0410] of glory [03519] thundereth [07481]: the LORD [03068] is upon many [07227] waters [04325].
⁴ The voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] is powerful [03581]; the voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] is full of majesty [01926].
⁵ The voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] breaketh [07665] the cedars [0730]; yea, the LORD [03068] breaketh [07665] the cedars [0730] of Lebanon [03844].
⁶ He maketh them also to skip [07540] like a calf [05695]; Lebanon [03844] and Sirion [08303] like a young [01121] unicorn [07214].
⁷ The voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] divideth [02672] the flames [03852] of fire [0784].
⁸ The voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] shaketh [02342] the wilderness [04057]; the LORD [03068] shaketh [02342] the wilderness [04057] of Kadesh [06946].
⁹ The voice [06963] of the LORD [03068] maketh the hinds [0355] to calve [02342], and discovereth [02834] the forests [03295]: and in his temple [01964] doth every one speak [0559] of his glory [03519].
¹⁰ The LORD [03068] sitteth [03427] upon the flood [03999]; yea, the LORD [03068] sitteth [03427] King [04428] for ever [05769].
¹¹ The LORD [03068] will give [05414] strength [05797] unto his people [05971]; the LORD [03068] will bless [01288] his people [05971] with peace [07965].

¹¹ And he said [0559], Go forth [03318], and stand [05975] upon the mount [02022] before [06440] the LORD [03068]. And, behold, the LORD [03068] passed by [05674], and a great [01419] and strong [02389] wind [07307] rent [06561] the mountains [02022], and brake in pieces [07665] the rocks [05553] before [06440] the LORD [03068]; but the LORD [03068] was not in the wind [07307]: and after [0310] the wind [07307] an earthquake [07494]; but the LORD [03068] was not in the earthquake [07494]:

²⁸ And [1161] immediately [2117] his [846] fame [189] spread abroad [1831] throughout [1519] all [3650] the region round about [4066] Galilee [1056].

³⁷ And [2532] the fame [2279] of [4012] him [846] went out [1607] into [1519] every [3956] place [5117] of the country round about [4066].

¹⁹ And [2532] the sound [2279] of a trumpet [4536], and [2532] the voice [5456] of words [4487]; which [3739] voice they that heard [191] intreated [3868] that the word [3056] should [4369] not [3361] be spoken [4369] to them [846] any more [3361]:

¹⁵ For [1063] these [3778] are [3184] not [3756] drunken [3184], as [5613] ye [5210] suppose [5274], seeing [1063] it is [2076] but the third [5154] hour [5610] of the day [2250].

²⁵ Neither [3761] is worshipped [2323] with [5259] men's [444] hands [5495], as though he needed [4326] any thing [5100], seeing he [846] giveth [1325] to all [3956] life [2222], and [2532] breath [4157], and [2596] all things [3956];

³⁷ And [2532] the fame [2279] of [4012] him [846] went out [1607] into [1519] every [3956] place [5117] of the country round about [4066].

⁷ And [1161] the men [435] which [3588] journeyed [4922] with him [846] stood [2476] speechless [1769], hearing [191] [3303] a voice [5456], but [1161] seeing [2334] no man [3367].

¹² And after [0310] the earthquake [07494] a fire [0784]; but the LORD [03068] was not in the fire [0784]: and after [0310] the fire [0784] a still [01827] small [01851] voice [06963].