Acts 2:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →On the day the Spirit came, Peter announces that God is pouring Himself out on everyone, young and old, son and daughter alike.
The Context of Acts 2:17
On the morning of Pentecost in Jerusalem, with the sound of a rushing wind still in the air and a crowd gathering in amazement, Peter stands up and reaches back centuries to the prophet Joel to explain what they are seeing.
What Does Acts 2:17 Mean?
Something the world had waited for has finally arrived. For ages the Spirit of God had rested on a chosen few, a prophet here, a king there. Now Peter declares that the dam has broken: God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh. The list is sweeping on purpose. Sons and daughters, young men and old, the visions of the dreaming and the words of the speaking, all of it given freely. These are the last days, the long-promised season when God draws near to ordinary people.
This outpouring flows straight from the risen Jesus. A few verses on, Peter says that Christ, raised and exalted, has received the Spirit from the Father and poured Him out on the gathered believers (verse 33). The gift in this room is the proof that Jesus reigns. What once belonged to the few He now hands to the many, so that the nearness of God is no longer a rare thing but an open door.
Acts 2:17 in the Original Language
ekcheo (ἐκχέω), 'pour out' -- to empty out fully, like water lavished without measure.
How to Apply Acts 2:17 Today
The Spirit of God is no longer reserved for a select few. Whatever our age, whatever our place, this promise reaches us, an open invitation into the nearness of God. We can receive what Jesus poured out, the same Spirit that filled that first room.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 2:17
What does Acts 2:17 mean?
On the day the Spirit came, Peter announces that God is pouring Himself out on everyone, young and old, son and daughter alike.
What is the context of Acts 2:17?
On the morning of Pentecost in Jerusalem, with the sound of a rushing wind still in the air and a crowd gathering in amazement, Peter stands up and reaches back centuries to the prophet Joel to explain what they are seeing.
How can I apply Acts 2:17 today?
The Spirit of God is no longer reserved for a select few. Whatever our age, whatever our place, this promise reaches us, an open invitation into the nearness of God. We can receive what Jesus poured out, the same Spirit that filled that first room.