the Second Week after Easter
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Read the Bible
Syriac Peshitta (NT Only)
Acts 2:18
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
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- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedBible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
on my servants: 1 Corinthians 7:21, 1 Corinthians 7:22, Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11
and they: Acts 2:17
Reciprocal: Numbers 11:25 - they prophesied Song of Solomon 3:6 - like Isaiah 32:15 - the spirit Ezekiel 39:29 - for Daniel 7:1 - Daniel Hosea 10:12 - rain Luke 2:36 - a prophetess Luke 3:16 - and with John 16:13 - he will show Acts 6:8 - did Acts 15:32 - being Acts 16:9 - a vision 1 Corinthians 12:10 - prophecy 2 Corinthians 3:8 - the ministration 1 Peter 1:12 - sent
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And on my servants, and on my handmaidens,.... In Joel it is only the servants and the handmaids; and which Kimchi interprets of strangers that should stand in the land of Israel, and serve the Israelites. But these phrases do not seem so much to describe the civil state and condition of those persons, as their religious character, being such as were brought, by the power of divine grace, to yield a cheerful obedience to the will of God; though it may also regard the former, and show, that with God there is no distinction and difference of bond or free, of rich or poor; contrary to a maxim of the Jews s, that the Shekinah does not dwell but upon a wise man, a mighty man, and a rich man.
I will pour out, in those days, of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy; see the note on the preceding verse, from whence this clause, "and they shall prophesy", is repeated; for it is not in the text in Joel; which is done to point at the end and effect of the Spirit being poured down upon them.
s T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 92. 1.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
And on my servants - The Hebrew text in Joel is “upon the servants.” The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate, however, render it “on my servants.” In Joel, the prophet would seem to be enumerating the different conditions and ranks of society. The influences of the Spirit would be confined to no class; they would descend on old and young, and even on servants and handmaids. So the Chaldee Paraphrase understood it. But the Septuagint and Peter evidently understood it in the sense of servants of God, as the worshippers of God are often called servants in the Scriptures. See Romans 1:1. It is possible, however, that Joel intended to refer to the servants of God. It is not “upon your servants,” etc., as in the former expression, “your sons,” etc.; but the form is changed, “upon servants and handmaids.” The language, therefore, will admit the construction of the Septuagint and of Peter; and it was this variation in the original Hebrew which suggested, doubtless, the mention of “my servants,” etc., instead of your servants.
And on my handmaids - Female servants. The name is several times given to pious women, Psalms 86:16; Psalms 116:16; Luke 1:38, Luke 1:48. The meaning of this verse does not materially differ from the former. In the times of the gospel, those who were brought under its influence would be remarkably endowed with ability to declare the will of God.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Acts 2:18. On my servants and on my handmaidens — This properly means persons of the lowest condition, such as male and female slaves. As the Jews asserted that the spirit of prophecy never rested upon a poor man, these words are quoted to show that, under the Gospel dispensation, neither bond nor free, male nor female, is excluded from sharing in the gifts and graces of the Divine Spirit.
