Acts 2 · Verse 43

Acts 2:43

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Acts 2:43, King James Version

Acts 2:43 in other translations

BSBA sense of awe came over everyone, and the apostles performed many wonders and signs.
WEBFear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
ASVAnd fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
YLTAnd fear came on every soul, many wonders also and signs were being done through the apostles,
DARBYAnd fear was upon every soul, and many wonders and signs took place through the apostles' means.
BBEBut fear came on every soul: and all sorts of wonders and signs were done by the Apostles.
WebsterAnd fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

What does Acts 2:43 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 2:41-47

Ac 2:41-47. Beautiful Beginnings of the Christian Church. 41-47. they that gladly received his word were baptized--"It is difficult to say how three thousand could be baptized in one day, according to the old practice of a complete submersion; and the more as in Jerusalem there was no water at hand except Kidron and a few pools. The difficulty can only be removed by supposing that they already employed sprinkling…

Read the full comment on Acts 2:41-47 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 43. And fear came. That is, there was great reverence or awe. The multitude had just before derided them, (Acts 2:13;) but so striking and manifest was the power of God on this occasion, that it silenced all clamours, and produced a general veneration and awe. The effect of a great work of God's grace is commonly to produce an unusual seriousness and solemnity in a community, even among those who are not convicted. It restrains, subdues, and silences opposition.

Every soul. Every person, or individual; that is, upon the people generally; not only on those who became Christians, but upon the multitudes who witnessed these things. All things were fitted to produce this fear: the recent crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth; the wonders that attended that event; the events of the day of Pentecost; and the miracles performed by the apostles, were all fitted to diffuse solemnity, and thought, and anxiety through the community.

Many wonders and signs. Acts 2:22. This was promised by the Saviour Mk 16:17. Some of the miracles which they wrought are specified in the following chapters.

(a) "many wonders and signs" Mk 16:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 43 And fear came upon every soul - Different MSS. and versions read this clause thus, And Great fear and Trembling came upon every soul in Jerusalem. For several weeks past they had a series of the most astonishing miracles wrought before their eyes; they were puzzled and confounded at the manner in which the apostles preached, who charged them home with the deliberate murder of Jesus Christ, and who attested, in the most positive manner, that he was risen from the dead, and that God had sent down that mighty effusion of the Spirit which they now witnessed as a proof of his resurrection and ascension, and that this very person whom they had crucified was appointed by God to be the Judge of quick and dead. They were in consequences stung with remorse, and were apprehensive of the judgments of God; and the wonders and signs continually wrought by the apostles were at once proofs of the celestial origin of their doctrine and mission, and of their own baseness, perfidy, and wickedness.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 2:42-47

In these verses we have the history of the truly primitive church, of the first days of it; its state of infancy indeed, but, like that, the state of its greatest innocence. They kept close to holy ordinances, and abounded in piety and devotion; for Christianity, when admitted in the power of it, will dispose the soul to communion with God in all those ways wherein he has appointed us to meet him, and has promised…

Read the full comment on Acts 2:42-47 →

Acts 2:43 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐγίνετοeginetoThere was becomingG1096
δὲdethenG1161
πάσῃpasēupon everyG3956
ψυχῇpsuchēasoulG5590
φόβος,phobosawe,G5401
πολλάpollamanyG4183
τεteand bothG5037
τέραταteratawondersG5059
καὶkaiandG2532
σημεῖαsēmeiasignsG4592
διὰdiathroughG1223
τῶνtōntheG3588
ἀποστόλωνapostolōnapostlesG652
ἐγίνετο.eginetowere taking place.G1096

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 2:43

  • Luke 7:16

    And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

  • John 14:12

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

  • Luke 8:37

    Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

  • Mark 16:17

    And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

  • Jeremiah 33:9

    And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

  • Esther 8:17

    And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.

  • Hosea 3:5

    Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.

  • Acts 5:15-16

    Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

  • Acts 3:6-9

    Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

  • Acts 4:33

    And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

  • Acts 9:40

    But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

  • Acts 5:11-13

    And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
fear.
5:11,13; Es 8:17; Jer 33:9; Ho 3:5; Lu 7:16; 8:37
many.
3:6-9; 4:33; 5:12,15,16; 9:34,40; Mr 16:17; Joh 14:12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 2:42

    And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

  • Acts 2:43

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

  • Acts 2:44

    And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

Read all of Acts 2

Acts 2:43 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y toda persona tenía temor: y muchas maravillas y señales eran hechas por los apóstoles.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et toute âme avait de la crainte; et beaucoup de prodiges et de miracles se faisaient par les apôtres.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Es kam aber jede Seele Furcht an, und es geschahen viele Wunder und Zeichen durch die Apostel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Fiebat autem omni animæ timor: multa quoque prodigia et signa per Apostolos in Jerusalem fiebant, et metus erat magnus in universis.