Acts 2 18

Acts 2:18 kjv

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Acts 2:18 nkjv

And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

Acts 2:18 niv

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

Acts 2:18 esv

even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Acts 2:18 nlt

In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants ? men and women alike ?
and they will prophesy.

Acts 2 verses

Acts 2 18 Meaning

Acts 2:18 proclaims that in the current epoch, known as "the last days," God's Holy Spirit would be lavishly poured out not only on a select few but inclusively on "my menservants and my maidservants"—signifying all believers regardless of social status or gender—thereby empowering them to "prophesy," meaning to speak forth divine truth under the Spirit's inspiration. This verse, a direct quote from Joel, announces a radical shift in divine access and spiritual enablement, making the Holy Spirit's ministry universally accessible within the believing community.

Acts 2 18 Context

Acts 2:18 is part of Peter’s pivotal sermon on the day of Pentecost, immediately following the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the gathered disciples, manifested by the sound of a rushing wind and speaking in other tongues. The skeptical crowd questioned what was happening, leading Peter to explain it not as drunkenness, but as the direct fulfillment of the prophet Joel’s ancient prophecy (Joel 2:28-32). Specifically, verse 18 expands on the earlier statement in Acts 2:17 ("And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh..."). The inclusion of "my menservants and my maidservants" highlights the radical universality of this outpouring.

Historically and culturally, in the ancient Near East and Roman society, social status, particularly that of slaves (δοῦλοι – douloi) and women (δοῦλαι – doulai), was often marginalized and excluded from prominent religious roles or direct divine communication. Joel’s prophecy, and Peter's reiteration of it, powerfully shattered these societal norms by declaring that the Holy Spirit would transcend such human-made distinctions, empowering all believers, regardless of their social standing or gender, to become active participants in proclaiming God's truth. This marked the commencement of a new era, often referred to as "the last days" or the age of the Church, where the Spirit's presence would indwell and empower the community of God's people directly, no longer confined to specific prophets, priests, or kings.

Acts 2 18 Word analysis

• And on (καί γε ἐπὶ - kai ge epi): The Greek particle "ge" strongly emphasizes and underscores what follows. So, it's not merely "and on" but "indeed even on" or "yes, certainly on," reinforcing the extraordinary inclusivity that is about to be declared. "Epi" signifies location and impact – the Spirit is poured "upon" them.
• my menservants (τοὺς δούλους μου - tous doulous mou): The word douloi refers to bondservants or slaves. In the biblical context, it also carries the connotation of dedicated service, a person fully devoted and surrendered to a master. The possessive "my" (mou) emphasizes God's divine ownership and personal relationship with these individuals, transcending their earthly status.
• and on (καὶ ἐπὶ - kai epi): This repetition maintains the parallel structure, explicitly affirming the inclusion of women alongside men.
• my maidservants (τὰς δούλας μου - tas doulas mou): This is the feminine form of douloi, referring to female bondservants or slaves. The explicit mention of "maidservants" is highly significant, challenging the common patriarchal societal structures of the time where women had limited public roles, especially in religious leadership or prophetic utterance. This underscores the universal nature of the Spirit's work.
• I will pour out (ἐκχεῶ - ekcheō): This verb describes a lavish, abundant, and unrestrained outflow or gush. It signifies God's generous and unreserved giving of His Spirit, emphasizing fullness and saturation rather than a meager portion. This imagery is consistent with the "rivers of living water" Jesus spoke of concerning the Spirit.
• in those days (ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις - en tais hemerais ekeinais): Peter has already clarified in Acts 2:17 that these are "the last days." This phrase denotes a specific epoch in God's redemptive plan—the final period leading up to the return of Christ, beginning with Pentecost. It is a period characterized by the widespread outpouring and active presence of the Holy Spirit.
• of my Spirit (ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου - apo tou pneumatos mou): "Apo" suggests derivation and source, indicating that what is poured out originates directly from God's Spirit. Pneuma refers to the Holy Spirit, the divine third person of the Godhead, who empowers, gifts, and indwells believers.
• and they shall prophesy (καὶ προφητεύσουσιν - kai prophēteusousin): Propheteuō means "to speak forth for God" or "to proclaim divine truth." While it can include foretelling, in the New Testament it often refers to inspired proclamation, instruction, encouragement, and comfort for the community (1 Cor 14:3). The ability to prophesy is presented here as a direct result of the Spirit's indwelling and is made available to all recipients, irrespective of status or gender.

• "my menservants and... my maidservants": This phrase group directly tackles the social hierarchies and gender divisions of the ancient world. It emphasizes God's sovereign choice to bypass human distinctions and to equip the most humble members of society (bondservants) and traditionally marginalized groups (women) with divine power and voice. This highlights God’s impartiality and the truly egalitarian nature of the Spirit's distribution in the new covenant.
• "I will pour out... of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy": This entire clause highlights the direct, causal relationship between God's lavish giving of the Spirit and the resulting spiritual empowerment for divine communication. The Spirit is not just given for personal piety, but for active service and proclamation. It signifies the Spirit moving from being an anointing for a select few leaders in the Old Testament to an indwelling presence and empowering force for the entire believing community in the New Testament.

Acts 2 18 Bonus section

The concept of "the last days" beginning with Pentecost, as underscored by this verse, fundamentally reshapes understanding of redemptive history. It's not just a distant future event, but a new era already inaugurated by the Spirit's coming, stretching from the first Pentecost until Christ's return. This era is uniquely characterized by the indwelling and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in all believers, establishing a continuity of God's active presence in the church. The revolutionary inclusion of "menservants and maidservants" prophesying was a clear sign of God bypassing human distinctions, pointing towards the new creation where all are one in Christ (Gal 3:28). This aspect of the Spirit's outpouring also highlights the intimate and personal relationship God desires with all His children, providing direct divine communication and enabling active participation in His kingdom work without the need for intermediaries to a privileged few. It emphasizes that the church itself is a prophetic community, called to speak God's word into the world.

Acts 2 18 Commentary

Acts 2:18 powerfully communicates the radical nature of the Pentecost event and the new covenant era it ushered in. God's promise, first spoken through Joel, reveals His intention to pour out His Spirit not just upon a select elite, like prophets or kings of old, but comprehensively upon all of humanity—specifically emphasizing even the most socially overlooked, the "menservants and maidservants." This dismantles traditional societal barriers of gender, social standing, and servitude in the distribution of divine empowerment. The consequence of this outpouring is the enablement to "prophesy," meaning to speak God's truth by inspiration. This prophetic activity, for the common believer, entails Spirit-empowered proclamation, edification, exhortation, and comfort, making God's word accessible and living through His people. It signifies the full democratization of spiritual privilege, underscoring that every Spirit-filled believer has direct access to God and can be a channel for His divine purposes in the world. This is not limited to a select clergy, but a universal calling for all.For example, this empowers:

• A factory worker sharing words of encouragement by divine leading to a colleague.
• A grandmother articulating profound biblical insights for her family.
• Anyone discerning and declaring God's specific will for a situation to others in a meeting or personal conversation.