Acts 2 15

Acts 2:15 kjv

For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

Acts 2:15 nkjv

For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

Acts 2:15 niv

These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!

Acts 2:15 esv

For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

Acts 2:15 nlt

These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o'clock in the morning is much too early for that.

Acts 2 verses

Acts 2 15 Meaning

Acts 2:15 serves as Peter's foundational rebuttal to the accusation that the disciples are drunk. He directly challenges the mockers' assumption, stating that their supernatural behavior cannot be attributed to intoxication because it is only the third hour of the day, a time when such revelry would be highly improbable and culturally inappropriate for those, especially pilgrims, attending a sacred festival in Jerusalem. This verse thus defends the divine origin and integrity of the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2 15 Context

Acts chapter 2 describes the dramatic day of Pentecost. The disciples are gathered when the Holy Spirit descends upon them with powerful signs: a sound like a rushing wind, tongues of fire resting on each, and suddenly they begin to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enables them. Jerusalem is full of devout Jews from every nation, drawn by the Feast of Weeks (Pentercost), a pilgrimage festival. When the crowd hears the disciples speaking in their own diverse languages, they are astonished and perplexed. However, some among them, likely mockers or cynics, scoffingly suggest that the disciples are simply "filled with new wine" (Acts 2:13). Peter, with the other eleven apostles, stands up to address this direct accusation and explain the true nature of the astonishing phenomenon. Verse 15 is Peter's immediate, logical counter-argument against this mockery.

Acts 2 15 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): Connects Peter's statement to the preceding accusation (v. 13), providing a logical reason or explanation.
• these (οὗτοι - houtoi): Refers directly to the disciples, emphasizing them as the visible agents of the Spirit's outpouring, and by extension, the phenomena they exhibit.
• are not (οὐ - ou): A strong, absolute negative particle, indicating a complete and categorical denial of the charge. There is no doubt or possibility that they are drunk.
• drunk (μεθύουσιν - methuousin): Present active indicative of the verb methuō, meaning to be drunk, intoxicated, or under the influence of wine. It implies lack of self-control and often leads to disorderly conduct, contrasting sharply with the Spirit's orderly manifestation. This state would signify foolishness or folly to the crowd.
• as (ὥς - hōs): A particle of comparison, introducing the perspective or supposition of the accusers.
• you (ὑμεῖς - hymeis): The emphatic plural "you," directly addressing the group of mockers or those making the accusation. It is a direct and bold confrontation.
• suppose (ὑπολαμβάνετε - hypolambanete): Present active indicative of hypolambanō, meaning to take up, to assume, to imagine, or to infer. It suggests that their conclusion is based on faulty reasoning, misconception, or perhaps malicious intent, rather than reality. It implies an intellectual or judgmental error.
• since it is (ἐστιν - estin): "It is," linking the present state of the day to the reason for Peter's argument.
• only (emphasis of the surrounding phrase): While no single Greek word explicitly translates to "only," the context of "third hour of the day" conveys that it is early. The time itself emphasizes the unlikelihood of the accusation.
• the third (τρίτη - tritē): The cardinal number three. This refers to a specific time according to Jewish temporal reckoning.
• hour (ὥρα - hōra): A specific period of time. In the Jewish system, days began at sunrise (approx. 6 AM). The "third hour" thus corresponds to around 9 AM.
• of the day (ἡμέρας - hēmeras): Genitive form of hēmera, day. Specifies that this is 9 AM of the daylight hours, not nighttime.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "For these are not drunk": This phrase is a firm and absolute denial of the mocking accusation. Peter asserts that what they are witnessing is definitively not the result of intoxication. This sets the stage for a spiritual, rather than carnal, explanation. It contrasts human weakness (drunkenness) with divine power.
• "as you suppose": This phrase directly confronts the judgment of the mockers. It highlights that their perception is a mistaken "supposition" or "assumption," not an accurate observation. It underscores the flawed human understanding of divine work and positions Peter to offer the correct interpretation.
• "since it is only the third hour of the day": This is Peter's logical, culturally-grounded argument. The third hour (9 AM) was a time of serious activity in Jewish society: for daily morning sacrifices in the Temple (often attended by devout pilgrims like the disciples), morning prayers, or commencement of daily labor. It was an exceptionally uncommon time for public drunkenness, especially among pilgrims in Jerusalem during a holy festival. This specific time functions as both a refutation of the charge and a transition to his prophetic explanation.

Acts 2 15 Bonus section

The "third hour of the day" was traditionally one of the prescribed hours for prayer (the morning sacrifice in the Temple occurred at this time) and was therefore often a time of sobriety and devotion for Jews. Peter's appeal to this well-known cultural practice served to discredit the mockers' argument immediately. This common ground of understanding helps the wider audience to see the ridiculousness of the accusation. Moreover, by stating what this isn't, Peter clears the intellectual and spiritual space for a positive explanation of what it is—the Spirit of God poured out on all flesh, as foretold by the prophet Joel. This verse not only counters a negative assumption but also serves as a subtle transition from a misunderstanding to a divine revelation.

Acts 2 15 Commentary

Acts 2:15 is a masterful example of apologetics. Peter swiftly refutes the ludicrous accusation of drunkenness with simple, irrefutable logic based on common cultural knowledge and Jewish daily practices. The very timing of the event at the "third hour" (9 AM) made the charge culturally absurd, as public inebriation at such an early hour, especially during a solemn feast like Pentecost, was virtually unheard of and would be considered disgraceful. This detail highlights Peter's strategic use of observable facts to dismiss human skepticism. The statement also indirectly paves the way for a deeper theological explanation: if the disciples are not drunk, then what is the source of their extraordinary behavior? This leads directly to Peter's sermon, where he attributes the phenomenon to the Holy Spirit, fulfilling ancient prophecies. This verse is critical in establishing the authenticity and divine nature of the Spirit's work against the charge of mere human folly or debauchery, preparing the listeners to receive the profound truth about Jesus Christ and the promised Spirit.