“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text highlights that this outpouring of the Spirit isn't just for the elite or elders; it specifically includes "your sons and your daughters," pointing to a radical inclusivity where God’s power will be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or gender. It also emphasizes that prophecy, visions, and dreams are presented as ways God communicated His will in the past, suggesting a continuation and expansion of divine revelation for all people.
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse marks the beginning of Peter's powerful sermon in Jerusalem, directly after the disciples miraculously began speaking in different languages due to the Holy Spirit's arrival. Peter quotes the prophet Joel to explain this astonishing event, asserting that it's not a sign of drunkenness but the promised outpouring of God's Spirit on all people, signifying the start of a new spiritual era. He emphasizes that this outpouring is for everyone, breaking down previous barriers of age, gender, and social status.
Ever feel like you're living in the 'end times'? The Bible talks a lot about 'the last days.' What does that really mean, and why is it so significant?
The phrase 'in the last days' isn't just about the end of the world as we might imagine it. For the people of the Old Testament, it pointed to a future era of God's direct intervention and presence, most importantly the coming of the Messiah.
God's promises often feel so grand. But who are they for? This verse makes a bold statement about 'all flesh.' What does that truly encompass?
This is one of the most revolutionary aspects of the New Covenant: the Holy Spirit's outpouring is not limited to a select few, but is intended for 'all flesh.'
Ask a follow-up
We often think of prophets and special revelations as things of the distant past. But this verse suggests God's voice continues to break through in powerful ways. What are these forms of communication, and how do they relate to us?
The specific examples of prophecy, visions, and dreams in this verse highlight how God makes Himself known, especially through His Spirit. While these were literal ways God communicated in Old Testament times and on Pentecost, they point to a broader principle.
Understand the original words
eschatais hēmerais · Greek Noun phrase
Refers to the era encompassing the period between Christ's first coming and His second coming, characterized by the fulfillment of messianic prophecies.
pneuma mou · Greek Noun
The third person of the Trinity, the active agent of God’s power, presence, and transformation in the life of the believer and the church.
prophēteusousin · Greek Verb
To speak under divine inspiration, communicating God's truth to His people, often involving both forth-telling and foretelling.
horaseis · Greek Noun
A supernatural manifestation or divine communication given by God to reveal His will or future events to individuals.
enypniois · Greek Noun
A means by which God communicates revelation, guidance, or warnings to people while they are asleep.
c. 400 BC
Prophet Joel Speaks
The prophet Joel delivers his message, foretelling a future outpouring of God's Spirit following a devastating locust plague and famine. This vision includes the promise of prophecy, visions, and dreams for all people. This prophecy is found in the Book of Joel.
c. 200 BC - 1st Century BC
Messianic Expectation Grows
During this period, Jewish thought increasingly identified 'the last days' not just as a future time, but specifically as the era of the Messiah's arrival. This understanding shaped expectations for a new divine intervention.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The central events of Christianity occur, marking the culmination of God's redemptive plan. Jesus's ascension to heaven is a key precursor to the promised outpouring of the Spirit.
c. AD 33— this verse
The Day of Pentecost
The Holy Spirit is poured out upon Jesus's followers in Jerusalem, enabling them to speak in other languages and boldly proclaim the gospel. This event directly fulfills Joel's prophecy, as cited by Peter.
c. AD 50s-60s
New Testament Letters Written
Apostles like Paul and Peter write letters to early Christian communities, referencing 'the last days' or 'last times' to describe the current era of the Spirit's presence and the unfolding of God's plan.
This is the direct Old Testament prophecy that Peter is quoting in Acts 2:17. It foretells God pouring out His Spirit, enabling people across all generations and social strata to prophesy, see visions, and dream dreams.
Isaiah 44:3This passage speaks of God pouring out water on the thirsty and streams on the dry ground, which parallels the concept of God abundantly pouring out His Spirit in the 'last days' as described in Acts 2:17.
Jeremiah 31:31-34This prophecy foretells a new covenant where God will put His law within people and write it on their hearts, a promise fulfilled by the outpouring of the Spirit that empowers believers from within, as seen in Acts 2:17.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11This passage details the diverse gifts of the Holy Spirit given to believers for the common good, illustrating the broad range of spiritual empowerments that manifest when God's Spirit is poured out, as described in Acts 2:17.
Romans 8:11This verse confirms that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now dwells in believers, giving life to their mortal bodies. This indwelling Spirit is the very essence of what God promised to pour out on all flesh in Acts 2:17.
cambridgeActs 2:17: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:"
17 . in the last days ] These words are an interpretation of the afterwards of the Hebrew, and after these things of the LXX. The expression “the last days” is used in the Old Testament to signify the coming of the Messiah. (Cp. Isaiah 2:2 ; Micah 4:1 .) The lat…
barnesActs 2:17: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:"
It shall come to pass - It shall happen, or shall occur. In the last days - Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriac, and Arabic, after these things, or afterward. The expression the last days, however, occurs frequently in the Old Testament: Genesis 49:1, Jacob called his sons,…
The text highlights that this outpouring of the Spirit isn't just for the elite or elders; it specifically includes "your sons and your daughters," pointing to a radical inclusivity where God’s power will be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or gender. It also emphasizes that prophecy, visions, and dreams are presented as ways God communicated His will in the past, suggesting a continuation and expansion of divine revelation for all people.
This verse marks the beginning of Peter's powerful sermon in Jerusalem, directly after the disciples miraculously began speaking in different languages due to the Holy Spirit's arrival. Peter quotes the prophet Joel to explain this astonishing event, asserting that it's not a sign of drunkenness but the promised outpouring of God's Spirit on all people, signifying the start of a new spiritual era. He emphasizes that this outpouring is for everyone, breaking down previous barriers of age, gender, and social status.
This verse marks the beginning of Peter's powerful sermon in Jerusalem, directly after the disciples miraculously began speaking in different languages due to the Holy Spirit's arrival. Peter quotes the prophet Joel to explain this astonishing event, asserting that it's not a sign of drunkenness but the promised outpouring of God's Spirit on all people, signifying the start of a new spiritual era. He emphasizes that this outpouring is for everyone, breaking down previous barriers of age, gender, and social status.
"“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream drea…" — The text highlights that this outpouring of the Spirit isn't just for the elite or elders; it specifically includes "your sons and your daughters," pointing to a radical inclusivity where God’s power…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026