Acts 2 40

Acts 2:40 kjv

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Acts 2:40 nkjv

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."

Acts 2:40 niv

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

Acts 2:40 esv

And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation."

Acts 2:40 nlt

Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"

Acts 2 verses

Acts 2 40 Meaning

Acts 2:40 concludes Peter's powerful Pentecost sermon, highlighting his urgent call for the Jewish multitude to repent and embrace the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. It emphasizes that Peter not only delivered the core message but also continued to press upon them with numerous other words, admonishing them to escape the imminent divine judgment associated with their present unbelieving and unholy generation. The imperative "save yourselves" denotes a decisive personal choice required in response to God's initiative, separating oneself from the prevailing wickedness and its consequences.

Acts 2 40 Context

Acts 2:40 comes at the climax of Peter's Spirit-empowered sermon on the Day of Pentecost. The crowd, "cut to the heart" (Acts 2:37) by his proclamation of Jesus as Lord and Christ, asks, "What shall we do?" Peter's immediate response (Acts 2:38) is the call to repentance, baptism, and reception of the Holy Spirit. Verse 40 elaborates on the urgency and scope of this initial call, stressing that this was not the extent of his pleading. It sets Peter's primary exhortation, echoing the urgency felt by the Holy Spirit. The broader historical context is the inauguration of the Church and the New Covenant era, immediately following Jesus's ascension. The Jewish leaders' rejection of Christ and their complicity in His crucifixion defined them as a "corrupt generation" in divine judgment, distinct from those who now responded in faith. This period marked a critical choice for Israel: to cling to the old ways that rejected the Messiah, or to embrace the new reality in Christ.

Acts 2 40 Word analysis

• And: Connects this final exhortation to the previous statements, emphasizing it as part of Peter's extended, persistent preaching.
• with many other words (Greek: `pollōis te heterois logois`):
  • `pollōis` (many): Denotes a significant number. Peter did not just say a few words; he tirelessly expounded.
  • `heterois` (other, different in kind): Suggests that beyond the core message (repentance, baptism), Peter delved into various aspects, further convincing and compelling them. It implies he used diverse arguments or examples.
  • `logois` (words): Indicates specific statements, teachings, and reasonings. Peter’s message was coherent and substantial.
  Significance: Highlights Peter's sustained, comprehensive appeal beyond what is specifically recorded, demonstrating the intensity and thoroughness of his evangelistic effort. It suggests depth to the Spirit-inspired communication.
• he exhorted (Greek: `diepnemarthen`, imperfect tense of `diaphemizō` or `diamartyromai` depending on variant, but `diemartyato` is most common here):
  • `diamartyromai` (earlier transliteration `diepnemarthen` was an error from my side; correct one here is `diemartyato` as in Strong's G1263 - aorist middle indicative of `diamartyromai`): Meaning "to solemnly testify, earnestly admonish, bear witness, appeal urgently."
  • The imperfect tense indicates continuous or repeated action, meaning Peter kept on admonishing them.
  Significance: Not merely advice but an urgent, solemn, and sustained appeal, stemming from divine authority and prophetic urgency. It conveys the seriousness of the situation.
• them: Refers to the convicted multitude, "the house of Israel" (Acts 2:36), Jews and proselytes from many nations (Acts 2:5, 14), who asked, "What shall we do?"
• saying (Greek: `legōn`, present participle of `legō`): Introduces the direct content of Peter's exhortation.
• "Save yourselves" (Greek: `sōthēte`, aorist passive imperative of `sōzō`):
  • `sōzō`: To save, deliver, preserve. Here in the sense of spiritual salvation from divine judgment.
  • `aorist passive imperative`: This grammatical construction implies an active choice and response on the part of the hearers to a divinely provided means of salvation. While salvation is God's work, humans must actively embrace it. It’s an urgent command to allow oneself to be saved, implying immediate action. It emphasizes a distinct break from their previous path.
  Significance: It's a personal call to decision, requiring a turning away from the path of destruction towards God's way. It is not about self-effort to earn salvation but to accept and appropriate God’s salvation.
• from this (Greek: `apo tautēs`):
  • `apo`: From, away from, separation from. Denotes removal or distance.
  • `tautēs`: This, specifically pointing to the current, present context.
  Significance: Highlights the need for immediate and complete separation.
• corrupt (Greek: `skolias`):
  • Meaning "crooked, bent, perverse, morally depraved, wicked, unrighteous, rebellious."
  • This term describes moral and spiritual perversion, not just simple error but deliberate opposition to God's will.
  • This adjective resonates with OT descriptions of Israel's apostasy (e.g., Dt 32:5; Ps 78:8) and Jesus's own indictments of "this generation."
  Significance: It pronounces a divine verdict on the moral condition and disposition of the dominant culture and spiritual leadership of that time.
• generation" (Greek: `geneas`):
  • Meaning "race, stock, family, clan" but often used here to refer to "the men of one time" or "a body of people living at one time" (contemporaries), or even "a spiritual generation" united by common characteristics.
  • In this context, it refers primarily to the contemporary Jewish generation that rejected and crucified Jesus and remained steeped in unbelief and moral perversion, heading for divine judgment.
  Significance: It defines the social and moral group from which believers must separate, signifying not just temporal distance but spiritual disassociation from their sinful practices and fate. The emphasis is on escaping shared condemnation.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "many other words he exhorted them": This phrase emphasizes the depth and duration of Peter's appeal. It wasn't a single point but a sustained, passionate effort, showing the Holy Spirit's conviction flowing through Peter. The inclusion of "many other words" indicates that Luke's account is a summary, highlighting the most crucial points but acknowledging a more extensive discourse.
• "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation": This imperative represents a critical call to moral and spiritual dissociation. "Save yourselves" underscores human responsibility in responding to divine grace, a decision to align with God's redemptive plan. "Corrupt generation" identifies the entity from which they need to be saved—a generation marked by moral perversity, rebellion against God's Messiah, and destined for judgment. This is a prophetic warning, urging a spiritual exodus.

Acts 2 40 Bonus section

The term "this generation" (Greek: hē genea hautē) used by Peter echoes Jesus's frequent use of the same phrase to condemn the spiritual state of His contemporaries (e.g., Mt 12:39; Mk 8:38; Lk 11:29). This suggests a continuity in prophetic condemnation. The Pentecost message, therefore, wasn't just an offer of salvation but also a final divine verdict on a particular epoch in Israel's history that culminated in the rejection of their Messiah. Those who heeded Peter's warning physically and spiritually separated themselves from the fate awaiting the "corrupt generation," which ultimately faced severe judgment in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem. However, the spiritual meaning transcends this historical event, perpetually calling believers to spiritual separation from all forms of worldliness and moral corruption that oppose God, urging a proactive and intentional detachment from systems that foster rebellion against divine truth.

Acts 2 40 Commentary

Acts 2:40 encapsulates the climactic exhortation of Peter’s Pentecost sermon, marking a pivotal moment of choice for his hearers. It reveals the heart of the apostolic preaching: an urgent call to embrace salvation through Christ, coupled with a distinct command to separate from the prevailing wickedness. Peter, by the power of the Holy Spirit, did not merely present theological truths; he applied them with an imperative force, compelling his audience to act decisively. "Save yourselves" highlights that while salvation is God’s gift, it requires an active human response – repentance and faith – that leads to a profound change of alignment. To "save yourselves from this corrupt generation" was to turn away from the path chosen by their peers and leaders who had rejected Christ and invited divine wrath. It implied a rejection of the status quo of unbelief and sin, signifying an entrance into the nascent community of believers, marked by obedience to Christ. This warning, reinforced by "many other words," stressed the imminent and severe consequences of remaining aligned with that generation's spiritual rebellion, offering a lifeline to escape impending judgment.

Examples of "save yourselves" in practical usage:

1. Confronting cultural norms: A believer chooses not to participate in practices or ideologies that contradict biblical principles, even if widely accepted by society.
2. Rejecting a corrupt past: Someone coming to faith breaks off former relationships or habits that fostered sin and now actively seeks new, righteous influences.
3. Spiritual discernment: An individual refuses to embrace false teachings or compromise on core doctrines, understanding their destructive nature.