the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Contemporary English Version
Acts 2:41
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About three thousand people started ridin' for God that day and were baptized.
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
Then those who gave hearing to his words had baptism: and about three thousand souls were joined to them that day.
Those then who had accepted his word were baptised; and there were added in that day about three thousand souls.
Then those who gladly [fn] received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
Then they, gladly receiving his word, were baptized; and there were added to them that day about three thousand souls.
Those, therefore, who joyfully welcomed his Message were baptized; and on that one day about three thousand persons were added to them;
Then they that gladly receiued his word, were baptized: and the same day there were added vnto them about three thousand soules.
Then truly the ones gladly welcoming His Word were baptized. And about three thousand souls were added that day.
They that gladly receaued his preachinge, were baptysed, & the same daye there were added vnto them aboute thre thousande soules.
then they that embraced his doctrine, were baptized: and there were about three thousand converts made that very day.
That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about 3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers].
They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Then they that gladly receaved his preachynge were baptised: and the same daye ther were added vnto them aboute thre thousande soules.
Then they that received his word were baptized: and there were added [to them] in that day about three thousand souls.
Then they that gladly received his word, were baptized: and the same day there were added [to them] about three thousand souls.
then those, indeed, who did gladly receive his word were baptized, and there were added on that day, as it were, three thousand souls,
Then those people who accepted what Peter said were baptized. About three thousand people were added to the number of believers that day.
So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added.
Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
So those who accepted what he said were immersed, and there were added to the group that day about three thousand people.
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Then they that gladly receiued his word, were baptized: and the same day there were added to the Church about three thousand soules.
And those men among them who readily accepted his word and believed were baptized and about three thousand souls were added in that day.
Then those who gladly received his word were immersed. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 persons were added to them.
And some of them eagerly received his word and believed and were baptized, and there were added in that day as three thousand souls.
And some of them readily received his discourse, and believed, and were baptized. And there were added, on that day, about three thousand souls.
Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
Those who believed what he said were baptized. There were about 3,000 more followers added that day.
They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.
So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
They, therefore, who welcomed his word, were immersed; and there were added, on that day, about three thousand souls.
They therefore that received his word were baptized: and there were added in that day about three thousand souls.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
So those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about three thousand souls were added.
Then they that gladly receaued his worde, were baptized: And the same day there were added [vnto them,] about three thousande soules.
Then those who accepted what Peter said were baptized. On that day about 3000 people were added to the group of believers.
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
Many of them believed his message and were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to the group that day.
Thanne thei that resseyueden his word weren baptisid, and in that dai soulis weren encreesid, aboute thre thousinde;
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
gladly: Acts 2:37, Acts 8:6-8, Acts 13:48, Acts 16:31-34, Matthew 13:44-46, Galatians 4:14, Galatians 4:15, 1 Thessalonians 1:6
were baptized: Acts 2:38
added: Acts 2:47, Acts 1:15, Acts 4:4, Psalms 72:16, Psalms 72:17, Psalms 110:3, Luke 5:5-7, John 14:12
Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 29:36 - the thing Psalms 45:5 - sharp Psalms 85:12 - our land Psalms 119:14 - rejoiced Isaiah 11:9 - not hurt Isaiah 32:20 - Blessed Isaiah 44:4 - spring Isaiah 51:11 - the redeemed Isaiah 56:6 - join Isaiah 60:22 - little Isaiah 66:8 - shall a nation Ezekiel 47:9 - a very great Matthew 28:19 - baptizing Mark 4:31 - is less than Mark 16:16 - is Luke 5:6 - they enclosed Luke 13:19 - and it Luke 19:6 - joyfully John 4:38 - sent John 8:28 - then John 17:20 - for them John 21:6 - the multitude John 21:11 - and for Acts 5:14 - believers Acts 6:1 - when Acts 8:12 - they believed Acts 8:14 - received Acts 9:18 - and was Acts 17:4 - some Acts 17:11 - they received Acts 21:20 - how Acts 27:37 - souls 1 Corinthians 15:1 - which also 1 Thessalonians 2:13 - because Hebrews 6:2 - the doctrine
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Then they that gladly received his word,.... The Syriac version adds, "and believed"; what Peter said concerning repentance and baptism, and especially concerning remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost; and concerning the promise of Christ, and salvation by him, of the pardon of sin, and of the Holy Spirit; which doctrine they received with great joy and gladness, it being suitable to their case; and very "readily", and "willingly", as the Syriac and Arabic versions render it; for they were now made a willing people in the day of God's power, and now that promise, or prophecy, in Psalms 110:3 had a remarkable accomplishment; these converts were the dew of Christ's youth, as well as instances of his powerful and efficacious grace: not all that heard this sermon of Peter's received his doctrine in this manner, only some; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions render the words, "and some of them readily received", c. which shows the distinguishing grace of God in this instance. The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions leave out the word "gladly", which should not be omitted: and as soon as they had received the word, and were comforted by it, they
were baptized in water, by immersion, for which there was great conveniency in Jerusalem, and in the temple, where the apostles now were: in the city of Jerusalem, in private houses, they had their baths for purifications, by immersion, as in the case of menstruous, gonorrhoeas, and other defilements, by touching unclean persons, and things, which were very frequent; so that a digger of cisterns, for such uses, and others, was a business in Jerusalem.
"Says Simeon Sicana g, who was a digger of cisterns, ditches, and caves, in Jerusalem, to R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, I am as great a man as thou art; he made answer to him, why? (or your reason for it;) he replied to him, because I am employed in the necessary affairs of many, (or of the public,) as you are; for says he, if a man comes to you for judgment, or to ask a question, you say to him, drink out of this cistern, whose waters are pure, and cold; or, if a woman asks thee concerning her monstrous, you say to her, טבלי, dip in this cistern, whose waters purify.''
And in the temple there was an apartment, called בית טבילה, "the dipping place", or "room", where the high priest dipped himself on the day of atonement h: and besides, there were ten lavers of brass, made by Solomon; and every laver held forty baths of water, and each was four cubits broad and long, sufficient for immersion of the whole body of a man; and to these Herbanus i the Jew seems to have respect, when he says, that in the outer part of Solomon's temple, there were
λουτηρης, "lavers", in every side, (or all around,) which were free, or open, for the use of all; to which, he thinks, the prophet Isaiah has respect, in Isaiah 1:16. Those were for the priests, both to wash their hands and feet at, and also to wash the burnt offerings; see
Exodus 30:18 k: and who were likewise obliged, very often, to bathe, or dip their whole bodies in water; for if a priest went out of the temple for a little while to speak with a friend,
טעון טבילה, "he was obliged to dipping": and if he nodded, he was obliged to wash his hands and his feet; but if he slept, he was obliged to dip himself; yea, a man might not go into the court, or to service, even though he was clean, עד שהוא טובל, "until he dip himself" l. Add to this, that there was the molten sea also for the priests to wash in, 2 Chronicles 4:6 which was done by immersion; on which one of the Jewish commentators m has these words:
"the sea was לטבילת, "for the dipping" of the priests; for in the midst of it, they dipped themselves from their uncleanness; but in the Jerusalem Talmud n there is an objection, is it not a vessel? as if it was said, how can they "dip" in it, for is it not a vessel? and there is no "dipping" in vessels: R. Joshua ben Levi replied, a pipe of water was laid to it from the fountain of Etam, and the feet of the oxen, (which were under the molten sea,) were open at the pomegranates; so that it was as if it was from under the earth, and the waters came to it, and entered, and ascended, by the way of the feet of the oxen, which were open beneath them, and bored.''
The reason of the objection is, because bathing, or dipping for purification, was not made in vessels, but in gatherings, or pools of water upon the ground; and which objection is removed, by observing, that a pipe was laid from the fountain of Etam, which supplied it with spring, or running water; so that the molten sea, and the lavers, were looked upon all one as pools of water, or springs of water, and as fit for immersion. This sea was ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and held two thousand baths, 1 Kings 7:23. Yea, three thousand, as in 2 Chronicles 6:5 and every laver held forty baths, 1 Kings 7:38 and every bath held four gallons and a half, and between seven and eight gallons of wine measure. And it may be observed, that there were also in Jerusalem the pool of Bethesda, into which persons went down at certain times, John 5:1 and the pool of Siloam, where persons bathed, and dipped themselves, on certain occasions; See Gill "Joh 9:7". So that there were conveniences enough for baptism by immersion in this place: and the same day there were added; unto them, or to the church, as in Acts 2:47 the whole company of the hundred and twenty disciples; the Arabic version supplies, "among the believers": the number of those, that were added to them, were about three thousand souls; or persons, men, and women; and their number is no objection to their being baptized by immersion. As for convenient places to baptize in, there were enough, as we have seen already; and there were administrators sufficient for this work: had there been no more than the twelve apostles, it was but two hundred and fifty men apiece; and there were twelve separate places in the temple, where they might be baptizing at the same time; there were the ten lavers, the molten sea, and the dipping room, so that the work was not so very heavy nor difficult; but besides, there were seventy disciples, who, as they were preachers of the word, were administrators of this ordinance; and supposing them all employed, as they might be, at the same time, either in the temple, or at the pools in Jerusalem, or at the baths, and cisterns, in private houses; they would not have more than six or seven and thirty persons apiece to baptize; and there was time enough in the day for it; it was but the third hour, or nine o'clock in the morning, when Peter began his sermon; and allowing an hour for that, there were eight hours more in the day, according to the Jewish reckoning of twelve hours in a day; so that the business might be done without any hurry, or great fatigue; and indeed, the objection, as to time, would equally lie against sprinkling, or pouring, as dipping; at least the difference is very inconsiderable; for the same form of words must be pronounced in administering the ordinance by the one, as by the other; and a person being ready, is very near as soon dipped into water, as water can be taken, and sprinkled, or poured on the face. Besides, after all, though these persons were added to the church the same day, it does not necessarily follow from the text, that they were all baptized in one day; the words do not oblige us to such a sense: I own, I am of opinion, that they were all baptized in one day; and that on the same day they were baptized, they were joined to the church; and that day was the day of Pentecost, the day on which the law was given on Mount Sinai, and on which now the Gospel was published to men of all nations under the heavens; the day on which the firstfruits were offered to the Lord, and on which now the firstfruits of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ were brought in to him. Let the order be observed, they were first baptized, and then added to the church.
g Midrash Kohelet, fol. 70. 3. h T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 16. 1. & 19. & Maimon. Beth. Habbechira, c. 5. sect. 11. 17. i Disput. Gregantii, p. 131. k Vid. Jarchi & Kimchi in 1 Kings vii. 38. & Ralbag in 2 Chron. iv. 5. l T. Hieros. Yoma, fol. 40. 2. Misna Yoma, c. 3. sect. 3. m R. David Kimchi. n lb. Yoma, fol. 41. 1.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
They that gladly received - The word rendered “gladly” means “freely, cheerfully, joyfully.” It implies that they did it without compulsion, and with joy. Religion is not compulsion. They who become Christians do it cheerfully; they do it rejoicing in the privilege of becoming reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Though so many received his word and were baptized, yet it is implied that there were others who did not. It is probable that there were multitudes assembled who were alarmed, but who did not receive the word with joy. In all revivals there are many who become alarmed, and who are anxious about their souls, but who refuse to embrace the gospel, and again become thoughtless, and are ruined.
His word - The message which Peter had spoken respecting the pardon of sin through Jesus Christ.
Were baptized - That is, those who professed a readiness to embrace the offers of salvation. The narrative plainly implies that this was done the same day. Their conversion was instantaneous. The demand on them was to yield themselves at once to God. And their profession was made, and the ordinance which sealed their profession administered without delay.
And the same day - The discourse of Peter commenced at nine o’clock in the morning, Acts 2:15. How long it continued it is not said; but the ceremony of admitting them to the church and of baptizing them was evidently performed on the same day. The mode in which this is done is not mentioned; but it is highly improbable that in the midst of the city of Jerusalem three thousand persons were wholly immersed in one day. The whole narrative supposes that it was all done in the city; and yet there is no probability that there were conveniences there for immersing so many persons in a single day. Besides, in the ordinary way of administering baptism by immersion, it is difficult to conceive that so many persons could have been immersed in so short a time. There is, indeed, here no positive proof that they were not immersed; but the narrative is one of those incidental circumstances often much more satisfactory than philological discussion, that show the extreme improbability that all this was done by wholly immersing them in water. It may be further remarked that here is an example of very quick admission to the church. It was the first great work of grace under the gospel. It was the model of all revivals of religion. And it was doubtless intended that this should be a specimen of the manner in which the ministers of religion should act in regard to admissions to the Christian church. Prudence is indeed required; but this example furnishes no warrant for advising those who profess their willingness to obey Jesus Christ, to delay uniting with the church. If persons give evidence of piety, of true hatred of sin, and of attachment to the Lord Jesus; they should unite themselves to his people without delay.
There were added - To the company of disciples, or to the followers of Christ.
Souls - Persons. Compare 1 Peter 3:20; Genesis 12:5. It is not affirmed that all this took place in one part of Jerusalem, or that it was all done at once; but it is probable that this was what was afterward ascertained to be the fruit of this day’s labor, the result of this revival of religion. This was the first effusion of the Holy Spirit under the preaching of the gospel; and it shows that such scenes are to be expected in the church, and that the gospel is suited to work a rapid and mighty change in the hearts of people.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 41. They that gladly received his word — The word ασμενως, which signifies joyfully, readily, willingly, implies that they approved of the doctrine delivered; that they were glad to hear of this way of salvation; and that they began immediately to act according to its dictates. This last sense is well expressed in a similar phrase by Josephus: when speaking of the young Israelites enticing the Midianitish women to sin, by fair speeches, he says, αἱ δε ασμενως δεξαμεναι τους λογους συνῃεσαν αυτοις, Ant. l. iv. c. 4. Then they who approved of their words consorted with them. The word is however omitted by ABCD, Coptic, Sahidic, AEthiopic, Vulgate, the Itala of the Codex Bezae, Clemens, and Chrysostom.
Were baptized — That is, in the name of Jesus, Acts 2:38, for this was the criterion of a Jew's conversion; and when a Jew had received baptism in this name he was excluded from all communication with his countrymen; and no man would have forfeited such privileges but on the fullest and clearest conviction. This baptism was a very powerful means to prevent their apostasy; they had, by receiving baptism in the name of Jesus, renounced Judaism, and all the political advantages connected with it; and they found it indispensably necessary to make the best use of that holy religion which they had received in its stead. Dr. Lightfoot has well remarked, that the Gentiles who received the Christian doctrine were baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; whereas the Jewish converts, for the reasons already given, were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Were added - three thousand souls. — προσετεθησαν, They went over from one party to another. The Greek writers make use of this verb to signify that act by which cities, towns, or provinces changed their masters, and put themselves under another government. So these 3000 persons left the scribes and Pharisees, and put themselves under the teaching of the apostles, professing the Christian doctrine, and acknowledging that Christ was come, and that he who was lately crucified by the Jews was the promised and only Messiah; and in this faith they were baptized.
These 3000 were not converted under one discourse, nor in one place, nor by one person. All the apostles preached, some in one language, and some in another; and not in one house-for where was there one at that time that could hold such a multitude of people? For, out of the multitudes that heard, 3000 were converted; and if one in five was converted it must have been a very large proportion. The truth seems to by this: All the apostles preached in different, parts of the city, during the course of that day; and in that day, τηημεραεκεινη, 3000 converts were the fruits of the conjoint exertions of these holy men. Dr. Lightfoot thinks that the account in this place is the fulfilment of the prophecy in Psalms 110:1, c.: The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand this refers to the resurrection and ascension of Christ. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, Psalms 110:3. This was the day of his power; and while the apostles proclaimed his death, resurrection, and ascension, the people came willingly in, and embraced the doctrines of Christianity.
