Acts 2:16 (DRB)

Passage

But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel:

Nearby Context

Acts 2:14 But Peter standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you and with your ears receive my words.

Acts 2:15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day:

Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet Joel:

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass, in the last days, (saith the Lord), 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.

Acts 2:18 And upon my servants indeed and upon my handmaids will I pour out in those days of my spirit: and they shall prophesy.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "spoken", "prophet", and "joel". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "spoken" and "prophet", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "For these are not drunk as you..." into verse 17's "And it shall come to pass in...", so "spoken" and "prophet" belong inside that flow. In Acts context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "spoken" and "prophet" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.