Acts 2 43

Acts 2:43 kjv

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Acts 2:43 nkjv

Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

Acts 2:43 niv

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

Acts 2:43 esv

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Acts 2:43 nlt

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.

Acts 2 verses

Acts 2 43 Meaning

And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. This verse encapsulates the profound awe and spiritual impact experienced by the people in Jerusalem due to the powerful divine acts and authoritative ministry performed by the apostles, signaling God's active presence among the nascent church. It highlights both a reverential fear of God's power and the demonstrable evidence of His working through His chosen instruments.

Acts 2 43 Context

Acts 2:43 follows the momentous event of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit descended upon the believers (Acts 2:1-4). Peter, filled with the Spirit, delivered a powerful sermon, leading to the conviction and conversion of about three thousand people (Acts 2:14-41). This verse marks a pivotal point describing the immediate aftermath and characteristics of this newly formed Christian community in Jerusalem. It outlines a key element contributing to the early church's rapid growth and societal impact: the observable, supernatural activity that confirmed the apostles' message and authority to both new believers and onlookers. Historically, the Jewish audience was familiar with God's working through signs and wonders (like in the Exodus) and expected prophetic fulfillment, making these phenomena compelling evidence.

Acts 2 43 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding description of the believers' devotion and fellowship (Acts 2:42). It indicates a natural progression or consequence of the vibrant community life and the apostles' teaching.
• fear (φόβος - phobos): This Greek term here denotes not merely terror but a deep sense of reverence, awe, and respect—a holy dread. It's the profound recognition of God's manifest power and holiness, similar to the Old Testament "fear of the LORD" which is the "beginning of wisdom" (Ps 111:10; Prov 9:10). It signifies a proper posture before a mighty and holy God. This awe led to an awareness of divine presence.
• came upon (ἐγένετο ἐπὶ - egeneto epi): Signifies that this fear was not merely felt but powerfully enveloped and settled upon the individuals, indicating a widespread and compelling experience. It was an overwhelming sense that originated externally, from God's activity, impacting all present.
• every (πᾶσαν - pasan) soul (ψυχὴν - psychēn): "Every soul" emphasizes the widespread and personal impact on each individual. Psyche (soul) refers to the whole person—their life, being, inner self. This wasn't superficial, but deep and encompassing, affecting people's innermost beings.
• and many (τε πολλὰ - te polla): Connects the widespread fear to the visible demonstrations of power. "Many" emphasizes the frequency and abundance of these occurrences.
• wonders (τέρατα - terata) and signs (σημεῖα - sēmeia): These two words are frequently paired in the New Testament and are common in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) when referring to God's powerful acts (e.g., Exod 7:3, Deut 6:22).
  • Wonders (terata): Emphasizes the startling, astonishing, and supernatural aspect of the deed, evoking amazement and often dread. It points to the unusual and miraculous nature of the event itself.
  • Signs (sēmeia): Highlights the indicative or evidentiary purpose of the act. A semeion points beyond itself, revealing a divine truth, confirming a message, or validating the messenger's authority (e.g., God is present, this message is true, this apostle speaks for God). They validated the gospel proclamation and the apostles' claims.
• were done (ἐγίνετο - egineto): The imperfect tense implies a continuous or repeated action, meaning these wonders and signs were ongoing, not a one-time event. This regular display further cemented the divine confirmation.
• through the apostles (διὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων - dia tōn apostolōn): This crucial phrase identifies the divinely appointed instruments. Dia (through) signifies agency – the apostles were channels, not the source, of this power. Their ministry was thus authenticated by God's manifest power, underscoring their unique role as foundational figures in the early church (Eph 2:20; 2 Cor 12:12). Their actions visibly demonstrated the power of the resurrected Christ.

Acts 2 43 Bonus section

• The collective "fear" suggests a corporate awareness of God's holiness and power within and outside the community. It speaks to the holiness of the nascent assembly (see Acts 5:5, 11 where "great fear" came upon the whole church after Ananias and Sapphira's death).
• The emphasis on "through the apostles" highlights their foundational and unique role. While the Spirit would empower others later to perform signs (e.g., Stephen, Philip, Acts 6:8; 8:6-7), these early displays confirmed the authority and leadership of those specifically chosen and commissioned by Christ for establishing the church's initial structure and doctrine. This affirmed their inspired teaching in Acts 2:42.
• The "wonders and signs" can be seen as the visible outworking of the Spirit's indwelling power given at Pentecost, demonstrating that the resurrected Christ continued to act on earth through His body, the Church, and its apostolic leadership.

Acts 2 43 Commentary

Acts 2:43 is a concise yet profound summary of the early church's dynamic environment immediately following Pentecost. The verse details the two primary responses and demonstrations of God's presence among His people. First, a pervasive sense of reverential fear or awe (phobos) gripped everyone. This was not mere terror but a deep-seated respect and acknowledgment of God's palpable power, directly linked to the supernatural phenomena occurring. Such "fear of the Lord" leads to humility and readiness to obey (Prov 1:7; Ecc 12:13). Second, the ongoing performance of "many wonders and signs" through the apostles served as irrefutable evidence of God's validation of their message and authority. These miraculous acts—healings, exorcisms, and other powerful demonstrations—were not ends in themselves but divine proofs that authenticated the apostles as Christ's appointed messengers and confirmed the truth of the gospel (Heb 2:4). This combination of spiritual awe and undeniable divine manifestations was crucial in building the early church, convincing skeptics, and solidifying the faith of believers, demonstrating that God was truly at work among them as prophesied (Joel 2:30-31). This active demonstration of power fostered the community's spiritual depth and accelerated its growth.