It’s easy to overlook that Peter is quoting Joel and adding the phrase "saith God" himself. This bold addition highlights that God is directly speaking now, not just in an ancient prophecy, and that the outpouring of His Spirit is an active, present declaration from Him.
“‘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; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter is addressing a crowd in Jerusalem, explaining the miraculous event they're witnessing – the Holy Spirit descending like fire and enabling the disciples to speak in different languages. He directly quotes from the prophet Joel, declaring that this outpouring of the Spirit on all people, regardless of age or gender, is a sign that the "last days" – the Messianic era – have truly begun. This quote emphasizes that prophecy, visions, and dreams will be common manifestations of God's Spirit, signifying a new era of divine revelation.
What does it mean for 'the last days' to begin? It's not just about the end of time, but the dawn of God's kingdom.
When Peter quotes Joel in Acts 2:17, he's not just referencing an ancient prophecy. He's announcing that the 'last days' – the era of the Messiah and God's direct rule – have already arrived.
God’s Spirit isn’t a trickle; it’s a flood, meant for everyone, breaking down every barrier.
The imagery of God 'pouring out' His Spirit is incredibly powerful. It speaks of divine generosity and an unprecedented outpouring of spiritual presence and power.
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How does God communicate in this new era? It's through empowered speech, divine insights, and even the language of our dreams.
The specific manifestations mentioned—prophesying, visions, and dreams—are the ways God, through His Spirit, makes His will known in this new Messianic age.
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.
Peter's quote from Joel emphasizes that the dramatic events of Pentecost were not random but the long-awaited fulfillment of God's promise to pour out His Spirit on all people, signaling the Messianic age had arrived.
c. 400 BC
Prophet Joel Speaks
The prophet Joel delivers his message, foretelling a future outpouring of God's Spirit as a sign of the end times and the coming of the Messiah.
Early 1st century AD
Jewish Expectation of the Messiah
There was widespread Jewish expectation for the coming of a Messiah who would usher in a new era of God's presence and power.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified and, according to belief, resurrected, marking a pivotal moment in the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies.
c. AD 30
Jesus Ascends to Heaven
After his resurrection appearances, Jesus ascends to heaven, promising his followers that the Holy Spirit will soon be sent.
c. AD 30— this verse
The Day of Pentecost
The Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus' followers in Jerusalem, enabling them to speak in other languages and powerfully proclaiming the gospel.
This is the prophecy that Peter is quoting directly, showing that the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost was the fulfillment of God's promise in the Old Testament.
Isaiah 44:3This passage speaks of God pouring out water on thirsty ground and his blessing on offspring, echoing the theme of a generous outpouring of God's Spirit and its generational impact.
Jeremiah 31:31-34This prophecy describes a new covenant where God's law will be written on their hearts, signifying an internal transformation through His Spirit, which aligns with the effects of the Spirit's outpouring described in Acts.
John 7:37-39Jesus declares that whoever believes in him will have rivers of living water flowing from within, a promise directly connected to the Holy Spirit that would be given after his glorification, fulfilling the 'pouring out' described.
Romans 8:9-11Paul explains that if the Spirit of God dwells in believers, they are not in the flesh, highlighting that the indwelling Spirit is a mark of belonging to Christ and a sign of the promised outpouring.
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,…
It’s easy to overlook that Peter is quoting Joel and adding the phrase "saith God" himself. This bold addition highlights that God is directly speaking now, not just in an ancient prophecy, and that the outpouring of His Spirit is an active, present declaration from Him.
Peter is addressing a crowd in Jerusalem, explaining the miraculous event they're witnessing – the Holy Spirit descending like fire and enabling the disciples to speak in different languages. He directly quotes from the prophet Joel, declaring that this outpouring of the Spirit on all people, regardless of age or gender, is a sign that the "last days" – the Messianic era – have truly begun. This quote emphasizes that prophecy, visions, and dreams will be common manifestations of God's Spirit, signifying a new era of divine revelation.
Peter is addressing a crowd in Jerusalem, explaining the miraculous event they're witnessing – the Holy Spirit descending like fire and enabling the disciples to speak in different languages. He directly quotes from the prophet Joel, declaring that this outpouring of the Spirit on all people, regardless of age or gender, is a sign that the "last days" – the Messianic era – have truly begun. This quote emphasizes that prophecy, visions, and dreams will be common manifestations of God's Spirit, signifying a new era of divine revelation.
"“‘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…" — It’s easy to overlook that Peter is quoting Joel and adding the phrase "saith God" himself. This bold addition highlights that God is directly speaking now, not just in an ancient prophecy, and t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
