Acts 2:3
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 13
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὤφθησαν
there appeared
G3700
ὤφθησαν
there appeared
Strong's:
G3700
Word #:
2 of 13
to gaze (i.e., with wide-open eyes, as at something remarkable; and thus differing from g0991, which denotes simply voluntary observation; and from g1
αὐτῶν
of them
G846
αὐτῶν
of them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
3 of 13
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
διαμεριζόμεναι
cloven
G1266
διαμεριζόμεναι
cloven
Strong's:
G1266
Word #:
4 of 13
to partition thoroughly (literally in distribution, figuratively in dissension)
γλῶσσαι
tongues
G1100
γλῶσσαι
tongues
Strong's:
G1100
Word #:
5 of 13
the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired)
πυρός
of fire
G4442
πυρός
of fire
Strong's:
G4442
Word #:
7 of 13
"fire" (literally or figuratively, specially, lightning)
ἐκάθισεν
it sat
G2523
ἐκάθισεν
it sat
Strong's:
G2523
Word #:
8 of 13
to seat down, i.e., set (figuratively, appoint); intransitively, to sit (down); figuratively, to settle (hover, dwell)
Cross References
Matthew 3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:Jeremiah 23:29Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?Acts 2:4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.Genesis 11:6And 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.Luke 24:32And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Historical Context
Occurred on the Jewish feast of Pentecost (Shavuot), fifty days after Passover, circa AD 30 or 33. This feast commemorated God's giving of the Law at Sinai, where fire also appeared (Exodus 19:18), creating a deliberate parallel between the Old and New Covenants. The 120 disciples were gathered in Jerusalem's upper room, likely near the Temple where thousands of Jewish pilgrims had assembled for the festival.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the imagery of fire challenge you to embrace both the refining and empowering work of the Holy Spirit in your life?
- What parallels do you see between God's giving of the Law at Sinai and the giving of the Spirit at Pentecost?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The 'cloven tongues like as of fire' (Greek: diamerizomenai glōssai hōsei pyros) represent the visible manifestation of the Holy Spirit's descent at Pentecost. Fire symbolizes God's purifying presence throughout Scripture (Exodus 3:2, Isaiah 6:6-7), while the divided tongues signify the Spirit's distribution to each believer individually. This fulfills both John the Baptist's prophecy that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16) and Christ's promise of the Comforter's coming. The Spirit's visible appearance authenticated the birth of the Church and empowered the apostles for their worldwide mission.