Acts 2:20 Meaning and Explanation
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The imagery of Acts 2:20 is meant to awaken attention, not satisfy every question about future signs. Peter places it immediately before the promise that whoever calls on the Lord's name shall be saved. The verse therefore holds warning and mercy together: God's day is great, visible in its consequences, and deeply significant for every person.
The darkened sun and blood-like moon portray the solemn approach of the Lord's great and notable day, urging hearers to receive the salvation offered in the prophetic promise that follows.
The Context of Acts 2:20
Peter is explaining the Pentecost outpouring of the Holy Ghost to a Jerusalem crowd. He has said that Joel foretold the Spirit's gift in the last days, reaching people across age, sex, and social position. The quotation then speaks of wonders in heaven and signs on earth, followed by the sun turned to darkness and the moon into blood before the Lord's day. Verse 21 gives the promise of salvation to those who call on the Lord's name. Peter then proclaims Jesus' works, death, resurrection, exaltation, and lordship, and his hearers ask what they are to do.
What Does Acts 2:20 Mean?
"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood" uses the greatest lights known to ordinary sight. Daylight gives way to darkness, and the moon's familiar appearance becomes the color of blood. These are images of upheaval, warning, and the unsettling disclosure of divine power. The verse says they come "before" the day of the Lord. That sequence gives the imagery its purpose. God does not leave his coming day hidden behind human indifference; prophetic signs summon attention to it. Peter's use of Joel's words makes clear that the issue before the crowd is more than a strange sound or many languages. God's promised hour has drawn near in a decisive way.
The day is called "great and notable." Great speaks of its magnitude and weight; notable carries the sense of a day that stands out and demands notice. In the chapter, Peter does not pause to identify each heavenly sign or define the full sequence of future events. His sermon moves straight toward the saving declaration of verse 21 and the public testimony concerning Jesus. That movement helps us read verse 20 responsibly. The prophecy gives a true warning of God's day, while Peter's pastoral aim is to bring hearers to the Lord whose name saves. The crowd's later response in verses 37-41 shows that this message called for repentance, baptism, and reception of the Holy Ghost.
Jesus' own teaching provides a strong canonical setting for this language. He spoke of signs in the sun, moon, and stars, with nations distressed by what they see, and he joined that scene to the coming of the Son of man. Peter likewise proclaims that Jesus has been raised, exalted, and made both Lord and Christ. The coming day of the Lord therefore cannot be separated from the crucified and risen Jesus whom Peter preaches. His resurrection gives hope within a verse of solemn imagery. The One whom God raised is able to save those who call upon his name, and his lordship gives the approaching day its final seriousness.
Bible Verses Related to Acts 2:20
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.”
- Joel 2:31
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;”
- Luke 21:25
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
- Acts 2:21
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;”
- Revelation 6:12
Where Acts 2:20 Echoes in Scripture
Revelation 6:12 provides a particularly close later echo: it describes the sun becoming dark and the whole moon appearing as blood during a great shaking. The vision places this imagery within the revelation of divine judgment and human accountability. Its use of the same figures supports the solemn force of Acts 2:20, while neither passage invites readers to turn prophecy into a detailed schedule detached from repentance and faith.
How to Apply Acts 2:20 Today
Many of us meet unsettling news with either numbness or alarm. Acts 2:20 invites a more faithful posture: alertness before God, confidence in his rule, and readiness to answer his call. We can make room for regular repentance, seek reconciliation where relationships are strained, and encourage one another with the resurrection Peter announces. The verse also gives urgency to prayer for people around us, since verse 21 opens the promise of salvation to whoever calls on the Lord's name. Such readiness can be quiet, steady, and practical in homes, workplaces, churches, and communities.
Reflection & Prayer
What would change in our daily priorities if we remembered that the day of the Lord is great and notable? We might pray: "Lord Jesus, keep our hearts awake to your authority. Lead us in repentance, make us merciful toward others, and teach us to call upon your name with sincere hope."