CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Acts 2:3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/acts/2-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/44_Act_02_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Acts 2:3 - The Holy Spirit at Pentecost" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/acts/2-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/acts/2-3.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/acts/">Acts</a> > <a href="/acts/2.htm">Chapter 2</a> > Verse 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/acts/2-2.htm" title="Acts 2:2">◄</a> Acts 2:3 <a href="/acts/2-4.htm" title="Acts 2:4">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/acts/2.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/acts/2.htm">New International Version</a> They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. <a href="/nlt/acts/2.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. <a href="/esv/acts/2.htm">English Standard Version</a> And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. <a href="/bsb/acts/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. <a href="/blb/acts/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And there appeared to them dividing tongues as of fire and sat upon each one of them. <a href="/kjv/acts/2.htm">King James Bible</a> And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. <a href="/nkjv/acts/2.htm">New King James Version</a> Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. <a href="/nasb_/acts/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them. <a href="/nasb/acts/2.htm">NASB 1995</a> And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. <a href="/nasb77/acts/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. <a href="/lsb/acts/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And there appeared to them tongues like fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. <a href="/amp/acts/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a> There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. <a href="/csb/acts/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. <a href="/hcsb/acts/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> And tongues, like flames of fire that were divided, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. <a href="/asv/acts/2.htm">American Standard Version</a> And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. <a href="/cev/acts/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Then they saw what looked like fiery tongues moving in all directions, and a tongue came and settled on each person there. <a href="/erv/acts/2.htm">English Revised Version</a> And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. <a href="/gwt/acts/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Tongues that looked like fire appeared to them. The tongues arranged themselves so that one came to rest on each believer. <a href="/gnt/acts/2.htm">Good News Translation</a> Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. <a href="/isv/acts/2.htm">International Standard Version</a> They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated, and one rested on each of them. <a href="/msb/acts/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. <a href="/net/acts/2.htm">NET Bible</a> And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. <a href="/nheb/acts/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. <a href="/wbt/acts/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And there appeared to them, cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. <a href="/wey/acts/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> and they saw tongues of what looked like fire distributing themselves over the assembly, and on the head of each person a tongue alighted. <a href="/web/acts/2.htm">World English Bible</a> Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/acts/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and there appeared to them divided tongues, as it were of fire; it also sat on each one of them, <a href="/blb/acts/2.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And there appeared to them dividing tongues as of fire and sat upon each one of them. <a href="/ylt/acts/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and there appeared to them divided tongues, as it were of fire; it sat also upon each one of them, <a href="/slt/acts/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And seen to them were tongues divided as fire, and it sat upon each one of them.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/acts/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: <a href="/cpdv/acts/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And there appeared to them separate tongues, as if of fire, which settled upon each one of them. <a href="/nabre/acts/2.htm">New American Bible</a> Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. <a href="/nrsvce/acts/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/acts/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And there appeared to them tongues which were divided like flames of fire; and they rested upon each of them. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/acts/2.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> And tongues like fire that were divided appeared to them, and they sat on each one of them.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/acts/2.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And there appeared to them tongues like fire, which distributed themselves, and sat one on each of them. <a href="/godbey/acts/2.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> And there appeared unto them divided tongues, as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them; <a href="/haweis/acts/2.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And there was an appearance to them of divided tongues, as of fire, and it rested on every one of them. <a href="/mace/acts/2.htm">Mace New Testament</a> and there appeared several little flames, and sat upon each of them: <a href="/wey/acts/2.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> and they saw tongues of what looked like fire distributing themselves over the assembly, and on the head of each person a tongue alighted. <a href="/worrell/acts/2.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And there appeared to them tongues, as of fire, distributed among them; and it sat upon each one of them. <a href="/worsley/acts/2.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And there appeared unto them divided tongues, as it were of fire, and it sat upon each of them: <a href="/parallel/acts/2-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/in5WTRQ9BSQ?start=267" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/acts/2.htm">The Holy Spirit at Pentecost</a> …2Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autois (PPro-DM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">They</a> <a href="/greek/3708.htm" title="3708: ōphthēsan (V-AIP-3P) -- Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.">saw</a> <a href="/greek/1100.htm" title="1100: glōssai (N-NFP) -- The tongue; by implication, a language.">tongues</a> <a href="/greek/5616.htm" title="5616: hōsei (Adv) -- As if, as it were, like; with numbers: about. From hos and ei; as if.">like</a> <a href="/greek/4442.htm" title="4442: pyros (N-GNS) -- Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; fire.">flames of fire</a> <a href="/greek/1266.htm" title="1266: diamerizomenai (V-PPM/P-NFP) -- To divide up into parts, break up; I distribute. From dia and merizo; to partition thoroughly.">that separated</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/2523.htm" title="2523: ekathisen (V-AIA-3S) -- Another form for kathezomai; to seat down, i.e. Set; intransitively, to sit; figuratively, to settle.">came to rest</a> <a href="/greek/1909.htm" title="1909: eph’ (Prep) -- On, to, against, on the basis of, at. ">on</a> <a href="/greek/1538.htm" title="1538: hekaston (Adj-AMS) -- Each (of more than two), every one. As if a superlative of hekas; each or every.">each</a> <a href="/greek/1520.htm" title="1520: hena (Adj-AMS) -- One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one."></a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autōn (PPro-GM3P) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">of them.</a> 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/3-11.htm">Matthew 3:11</a> I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. <a href="/luke/3-16.htm">Luke 3:16</a> John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. <a href="/john/1-33.htm">John 1:33</a> I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ <a href="/acts/1-5.htm">Acts 1:5</a> For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” <a href="/acts/11-15.htm">Acts 11:15-16</a> As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He had fallen upon us at the beginning. / Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ <a href="/1_corinthians/12-13.htm">1 Corinthians 12:13</a> For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. <a href="/joel/2-28.htm">Joel 2:28-29</a> And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. / Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. <a href="/isaiah/44-3.htm">Isaiah 44:3</a> For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. <a href="/ezekiel/36-26.htm">Ezekiel 36:26-27</a> I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances. <a href="/john/14-16.htm">John 14:16-17</a> And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— / the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. <a href="/john/16-7.htm">John 16:7</a> But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. <a href="/romans/8-9.htm">Romans 8:9</a> You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. <a href="/1_john/2-20.htm">1 John 2:20</a> You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. <a href="/1_john/2-27.htm">1 John 2:27</a> And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught. <a href="/numbers/11-25.htm">Numbers 11:25-26</a> Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed that Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but they never did so again. / Two men, however, had remained in the camp—one named Eldad and the other Medad—and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those listed, but they had not gone out to the tent, and they prophesied in the camp.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And there appeared to them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them.cloven.<a href="/acts/2-4.htm">Acts 2:4,11</a> And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance… <a href="/genesis/11-6.htm">Genesis 11:6</a> And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.<a href="/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9</a> Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.like.<a href="/isaiah/6-5.htm">Isaiah 6:5</a> Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.<a href="/jeremiah/23-29.htm">Jeremiah 23:29</a> Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?<a href="/malachi/3-2.htm">Malachi 3:2,3</a> But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: … sat.<a href="/acts/1-15.htm">Acts 1:15</a> And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)<a href="/isaiah/11-2.htm">Isaiah 11:2,3</a> And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; … <a href="/matthew/3-15.htm">Matthew 3:15</a> And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_kings/5-21.htm">Alighted</a> <a href="/acts/1-3.htm">Appeared</a> <a href="/luke/23-1.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/acts/1-18.htm">Asunder</a> <a href="/ezekiel/32-13.htm">Cloven</a> <a href="/john/6-11.htm">Distributed</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/31-15.htm">Distributing</a> <a href="/john/19-24.htm">Divided</a> <a href="/john/21-9.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/habakkuk/3-5.htm">Flames</a> <a href="/acts/1-18.htm">Head</a> <a href="/john/19-24.htm">Parted</a> <a href="/luke/23-34.htm">Parting</a> <a href="/john/21-8.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/luke/23-56.htm">Rested</a> <a href="/john/21-20.htm">Resting</a> <a href="/john/19-13.htm">Sat</a> <a href="/luke/24-28.htm">Seemed</a> <a href="/luke/24-51.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/acts/1-14.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/acts/1-19.htm">Tongue</a> <a href="/luke/16-21.htm">Tongues</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/24-64.htm">Alighted</a> <a href="/acts/5-36.htm">Appeared</a> <a href="/acts/2-47.htm">Assembly</a> <a href="/acts/15-39.htm">Asunder</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-4.htm">Cloven</a> <a href="/acts/2-45.htm">Distributed</a> <a href="/romans/12-13.htm">Distributing</a> <a href="/acts/13-19.htm">Divided</a> <a href="/acts/2-19.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/acts/7-30.htm">Flames</a> <a href="/acts/4-11.htm">Head</a> <a href="/acts/2-45.htm">Parted</a> <a href="/acts/2-45.htm">Parting</a> <a href="/acts/2-26.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/acts/14-23.htm">Rested</a> <a href="/acts/2-26.htm">Resting</a> <a href="/acts/3-10.htm">Sat</a> <a href="/acts/5-40.htm">Seemed</a> <a href="/acts/13-13.htm">Separated</a> <a href="/acts/2-7.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/acts/2-8.htm">Tongue</a> <a href="/acts/2-4.htm">Tongues</a><div class="vheading2">Acts 2</div>1. <a href="/acts/2-1.htm">The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, and speaking various languages, </a> 12. <a href="/acts/2-12.htm">are admired by some, and derided by others;</a> 14. <a href="/acts/2-14.htm">whom Peter disproves;</a> 37. <a href="/acts/2-37.htm">he baptizes a great number who were converted;</a> 41. <a href="/acts/2-41.htm">who afterwards devoutly and charitably converse together; </a> 43. <a href="/acts/2-43.htm">the apostles working many miracles, </a> 46. <a href="/acts/2-46.htm">and God daily increasing his church.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/acts/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/acts/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>They saw tongues The phrase "they saw" indicates a visible, supernatural event witnessed by those present. This aligns with the biblical theme of God revealing Himself through signs and wonders. The "tongues" symbolize communication and the spreading of the Gospel, reflecting the reversal of the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel (<a href="/genesis/11.htm">Genesis 11:1-9</a>). This event marks the beginning of the Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations.like flames of fire Fire in the Bible often represents God's presence, purity, and judgment. In <a href="/exodus/3-2.htm">Exodus 3:2</a>, God appears to Moses in a burning bush, and in <a href="/exodus/19-18.htm">Exodus 19:18</a>, Mount Sinai is covered with smoke because the Lord descends on it in fire. The "flames of fire" here signify the Holy Spirit's purifying and empowering presence, preparing the disciples for their mission. This imagery also connects to the prophecy in <a href="/joel/2-28.htm">Joel 2:28-29</a>, where God promises to pour out His Spirit on all people.that separated The separation of the flames indicates the individual empowerment of each believer. This signifies that the Holy Spirit's presence and gifts are not limited to a select few but are available to all who believe. This democratization of the Spirit's power fulfills the promise of the New Covenant, where God writes His law on the hearts of His people (<a href="/jeremiah/31-33.htm">Jeremiah 31:33</a>).and came to rest on each of them The resting of the flames on each person signifies the personal and abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. This fulfills Jesus' promise in <a href="/john/14-16.htm">John 14:16-17</a> that the Spirit would dwell with and in the believers. The individual indwelling of the Holy Spirit marks the believers as God's temple (<a href="/1_corinthians/6-19.htm">1 Corinthians 6:19</a>) and empowers them for witness and service, as seen throughout the Acts of the Apostles.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/t/the_disciples.htm">The Disciples</a> The primary recipients of the Holy Spirit's outpouring, gathered in one place as instructed by Jesus. 2. <a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a> The city where the event of Pentecost took place, a significant location for Jewish festivals and early Christian gatherings. 3. <a href="/topical/p/pentecost.htm">Pentecost</a> A Jewish feast occurring fifty days after Passover, marking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. 4. <a href="/topical/h/holy_spirit.htm">Holy Spirit</a> The third person of the Trinity, whose presence is manifested through the tongues of fire. 5. <a href="/topical/u/upper_room.htm">Upper Room</a> The likely location where the disciples were gathered, symbolizing a place of prayer and waiting.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_symbolism_of_fire.htm">The Symbolism of Fire</a> Fire represents God's presence, purity, and power. Just as fire refines and purifies, the Holy Spirit works in believers to sanctify and empower them for service. <a href="/topical/u/unity_and_diversity_in_the_spirit.htm">Unity and Diversity in the Spirit</a> The tongues of fire rested on each disciple individually, yet they were all together in one place. This illustrates the unity and diversity within the body of Christ, where each member is uniquely gifted by the Spirit. <a href="/topical/t/the_fulfillment_of_prophecy.htm">The Fulfillment of Prophecy</a> The event of Pentecost fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the outpouring of the Spirit, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His promises. <a href="/topical/e/empowerment_for_witness.htm">Empowerment for Witness</a> The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses for Christ. Just as the disciples were transformed from fearful followers to bold proclaimers, we too are called to share the Gospel with courage. <a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_waiting_on_god.htm">The Importance of Waiting on God</a> The disciples were instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit. This teaches us the importance of patience and reliance on God's timing and provision in our spiritual journey.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_acts_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Acts 2</a> <a href="/q/how_to_explain_'tongues_of_fire'.htm">How can “tongues of fire” (Acts 2:3) be scientifically or physically explained? </a> <a href="/q/what_are_cloven_tongues_of_fire.htm">What are cloven tongues of fire?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_being_on_fire_for_god_mean.htm">What does being on fire for God mean?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_pentecost_sunday.htm">What is Pentecost Sunday?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/acts/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) Lastly, the Feast of Pentecost had--traditionally, at least--also a commemorative character. On that day--so it was computed by the later Rabbis, though the Book of Exodus (<a href="/exodus/19-1.htm" title="In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.">Exodus 19:1</a>) seems to leave the matter in some uncertainty--the Israelites had encamped round Sinai, and there had been thunders and darkness and voices, and the great Laws had been proclaimed. It was, that is, an epoch-making day in the religious history of Israel. It was fit that it should be chosen for another great epoch-making day, which, seeming at first to be meant for Israel only, was intended ultimately for mankind.Was fully come.--Literally, was being accomplished. The word seems chosen to express the fact that the meeting of the disciples was either on the vigil of the Feast-day, or in the early dawn. Assuming the Passover to have occurred on the night of the Last Supper, the Day of Pentecost would fall on the first day of the week, beginning, of course, at the sunset of the Sabbath. So the Churches of East and West have commemorated the day as on the eighth Sunday after Easter. In the Latin nations the name of Pentecost remains scarcely altered. The Pfingst of the Germans shows it still surviving in a very contracted form. Some eminent scholars have thought that our Whitsun-day represents it after a still more altered form, and that this is a more probable etymology of the word than those which connect it with the white garments worn on that day by newly-baptised converts, or with the gift of "wit, or wisdom."With one accord in one place.--Probably in the same large upper room as in <a href="/acts/1-13.htm" title="And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where stayed both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.">Acts 1:13</a>. We may reasonably think of the same persons as being present. The hour, we may infer from <a href="/acts/2-15.htm" title="For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.">Acts 2:15</a>, was early in the morning, and probably followed on a night of prayer. It is said, indeed, that devout Jews used to solemnise the vigil of Pentecost by a special thanksgiving to God for giving His Law to Israel; and this may well have been the occasion that brought the disciples together (Sch?ttgen, Hor. Hebr. in <a href="/acts/2-1.htm" title="And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.">Acts 2:1</a>). It was, in the mystic language of the Rabbis, the night on which the Law, as the Bride, was espoused to Israel, as the Bridegroom. The frequent occurrence of the Greek word for "with one accord" (<a href="/acts/1-14.htm" title="These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.">Acts 1:14</a>; <a href="/acts/2-46.htm" title="And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,">Acts 2:46</a>; <a href="/acts/4-24.htm" title="And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, you are God, which have made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:">Acts 4:24</a>; <a href="/acts/5-12.htm" title="And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders worked among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.">Acts 5:12</a>) is significant as showing the impression made on the writer by the exceptional unity of the new society. Outside the Acts it is found only in <a href="/romans/15-16.htm" title="That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.">Romans 15:16</a>. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/acts/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 3. - Tongues parting asunder for cloven tongues, A.V.; each one for each, A.V. There appeared. They had heard the sound, now they see the tongues of fire, and then they feel the Spirit working in them (see ver. 34). Tongues parting asunder. The idea of the cloven tongue, i.e. a tongue parted into two, which is thought to have been the origin of the miter, is not suggested either by the Greek or by the circumstances, and is clearly a mistaken one. Διαμεριζόμεναι means distributing themselves or being distributed. From the central apparition, or rather place of sound, they saw issuing forth many several tongues, looking like small flames of fire, and one such tongue sat upon each one of the brethren or disciples present. Each one. That Chrysostom is right ('Hom.'4.) in interpreting the each one of this verse of the hundred and twenty, and not of the twelve, and the ell in ver. 4 of all present besides the apostles, may be demonstrated. For not only must the all of ver. 1 refer to the same company as was described in the preceding chapter (vers. 15-26), but it is quite clear in ver. 15 of this chapter that Peter and the eleven (ver. 14), standing up separate from the body of the disciples, say of them, "These are not drunken, as ye suppose;" which is a demonstration that those of whom they thus spoke had been speaking with tongues (see also <a href="/acts/10-44.htm">Acts 10:44</a>). St. Augustine, too, says that the hundred and twenty all received the Holy Spirit. To the same effect Meyer, Wordsworth, Alford (who adds, "Not the hundred and twenty only, but all the believers in Christ then congregated at Jerusalem;" so also Lange). Farrar well remarks, "It was the consecration of a whole Church to be all of them a chosen generation, a royal priest- hood, a holy nation, a peculiar people" ('Life of St. Paul,' <a href="/acts/5.htm">Acts 5</a>.). Lange says, "Not only the apostles, but all the disciples, were filled with the Holy Ghost. There is a universal priesthood of all believers, and the Holy Ghost is the anointing which consecrates and qualifies for this priesthood" ('On the Acts,' Clark's edit., p. 67). <a href="/commentaries/acts/2-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>They αὐτοῖς (autois) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. saw ὤφθησαν (ōphthēsan) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3708.htm">Strong's 3708: </a> Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear. tongues γλῶσσαι (glōssai) Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1100.htm">Strong's 1100: </a> The tongue; by implication, a language. like ὡσεὶ (hōsei) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_5616.htm">Strong's 5616: </a> As if, as it were, like; with numbers: about. From hos and ei; as if. flames of a fire πυρός (pyros) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4442.htm">Strong's 4442: </a> Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; 'fire'. that separated διαμεριζόμεναι (diamerizomenai) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1266.htm">Strong's 1266: </a> To divide up into parts, break up; I distribute. From dia and merizo; to partition thoroughly. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. came to rest ἐκάθισεν (ekathisen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2523.htm">Strong's 2523: </a> Another form for kathezomai; to seat down, i.e. Set; intransitively, to sit; figuratively, to settle. on ἐφ’ (eph’) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1909.htm">Strong's 1909: </a> On, to, against, on the basis of, at. each ἕκαστον (hekaston) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1538.htm">Strong's 1538: </a> Each (of more than two), every one. As if a superlative of hekas; each or every. of them. αὐτῶν (autōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/acts/2-3.htm">Acts 2:3 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/acts/2-3.htm">Acts 2:3 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/acts/2-3.htm">Acts 2:3 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/acts/2-3.htm">Acts 2:3 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/acts/2-3.htm">Acts 2:3 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/acts/2-3.htm">Acts 2:3 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/acts/2-3.htm">Acts 2:3 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/acts/2-3.htm">Acts 2:3 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/acts/2-3.htm">Acts 2:3 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/acts/2-3.htm">Acts 2:3 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/acts/2-3.htm">NT Apostles: Acts 2:3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed (Acts of the Apostles Ac) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/acts/2-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Acts 2:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Acts 2:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/acts/2-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Acts 2:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Acts 2:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>