The Meaning of Acts 2:43 Explained

Acts 2:43

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

YLT: And fear came on every soul, many wonders also and signs were being done through the apostles,

Darby: And fear was upon every soul, and many wonders and signs took place through the apostles' means.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Acts 2:43 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The feeling of awe that the obvious working of God in their midst inspired continued among all the people in Jerusalem. The wonder-inspiring miracles that the apostles performed pointed to God"s hand at work and kept this spirit alive. Not the least of these wonders must have been the remarkable unity and self-sacrifice of the believers. Compare Acts 2:22, where Peter said Jesus had done "wonders and signs," with this verse, where Luke wrote that the apostles performed "wonders and signs." This shows again Jesus" continuing work through His servants following His ascension. [1]

Context Summary

Acts 2:37-47 - Pentecostal Days
There were no exceptions in Peter's great appeal for repentance. Every one of you! he declared. "But I drove the nails into His hands." Every one of you! he insists. "But I pierced His side." Every one! says the Apostle again. And from this motley crowd arose the primitive Church. Notice that those who had gone deep into sin are not required to serve a long novitiate between forgiveness and the gift of Pentecost. In Acts 2:38 the two are combined. Notice also Acts 2:39. Not only Jews, but far-off Gentiles-nay, as many as God shall call by His inward speech and grace, are welcome to receive the fullness of the Spirit. Have you received it?
The italics, unto them, in Acts 2:41 had better be unto Him. The adding was primarily to Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 8:5. From the teaching of the Apostles these new believers stepped up into fellowship with them, because, when we are joined to Christ, we become one with all who are his. They still met in the Temple, standing there as one vast host, and seeing a new significance in the ancient rites. Their homes and daily meals were also raised to a new level; and every day there were additions of those who had experienced Christ's saving power. [source]

Chapter Summary: Acts 2

1  The apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, and speaking various languages,
12  are admired by some, and derided by others;
14  whom Peter disproves;
37  he baptizes a great number who were converted;
41  who afterwards devoutly and charitably converse together;
43  the apostles working many miracles,
46  and God daily increasing his church

Greek Commentary for Acts 2:43

Came [εγινετο]
Imperfect middle, kept on coming. [source]
Were done [εγινετο]
Same tense. Awe kept on coming on all and signs and wonders kept on coming through the apostles. The two things went on παρι πασσυ — pari passu the more wonders the more fear. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 2:43

Acts 2:19 Wonders [τερατα]
Apparently akin to the verb τηρεω — tēreō to watch like a wonder in the sky, miracle (μιραχυλυμ — miraculum), marvel, portent. In the New Testament the word occurs only in the plural and only in connection with σημεια — sēmeia (signs) as here and in Acts 2:43. But signs (σημεια — sēmeia) here is not in the lxx. See note on Matthew 11:20. In Acts 2:22 all three words occur together: powers, wonders, signs (δυναμεσι τερασι σημειοις — dunamesiανω — terasiκατω — sēmeiois). [source]
Acts 2:41 Were baptized [εβαπτιστησαν]
First aorist passive indicative, constative aorist. Note that only those who had already received the word and were converted were baptized. There were added (προσετετησαν — prosetethēsan). First aorist passive indicative of προστιτημι — prostithēmi old verb to add, to join to. Luke means that the 3,000 were added to the 120 already enlisted. It is not stated they were all baptized by Peter or the twelve or all on the same day, though that is the natural implication of the language. The numerous pools in Jerusalem afforded ample opportunity for such wholesale baptizing and Hackett notes that the habit of orientals would place no obstacle in the way of the use of the public reservoirs. Furneaux warns us that all the 3,000 may not have been genuine converts and that many of them were pilgrims at the passover who returned home. Souls Persons as in Acts 2:43. [source]
Acts 2:41 Souls [πσυχαι]
Persons as in Acts 2:43. [source]
Acts 6:2 Fit [αρεστον]
Pleasing, verbal adjective from αρεσκω — areskō to please, old word, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 12:3; John 8:29; 1 Jo John 3:22. Non placet. Should forsake (καταλειπσαντας — kataleipsantas). Late first aorist active participle for usual second aorist καταλιποντας — katalipontas from καταλειπω — kataleipō to leave behind. Serve tables Present active infinitive of διακονεω — diakoneō from διακονος — diakonos “Tables” here hardly means money-tables as in John 2:15, but rather the tables used in the common daily distribution of the food (possibly including the love-feasts, Acts 2:43-47). This word is the same root as διακονια — diakonia (ministration) in Acts 6:1 and διακονος — diakonos (deacon) in Philemon 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8-13. It is more frequently used in the N.T. of ministers (preachers) than of deacons, but it is quite possible, even probable, that the office of deacon as separate from bishop or elder grew out of this incident in Acts 6:1-7. Furneaux is clear that these “seven” are not to be identified with the later “deacons” but why he does not make clear. [source]
Acts 6:2 Serve tables [διακονειν τραπεζαις]
Present active infinitive of διακονεω — diakoneō from διακονος — diakonos “Tables” here hardly means money-tables as in John 2:15, but rather the tables used in the common daily distribution of the food (possibly including the love-feasts, Acts 2:43-47). This word is the same root as διακονια — diakonia (ministration) in Acts 6:1 and διακονος — diakonos (deacon) in Philemon 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8-13. It is more frequently used in the N.T. of ministers (preachers) than of deacons, but it is quite possible, even probable, that the office of deacon as separate from bishop or elder grew out of this incident in Acts 6:1-7. Furneaux is clear that these “seven” are not to be identified with the later “deacons” but why he does not make clear. [source]
Romans 1:21 Heart [καρδία]
The heart is, first, the physical organ, the center of the circulation of the blood. Hence, the seat and center of physical life. In the former sense it does not occur in the New Testament. As denoting the vigor and sense of physical life, see Acts 14:17; James 5:5; Luke 21:34. It is used fifty-two times by Paul. Never used like ψυχή , soul, to denote the individual subject of personal life, so that it can be exchanged with the personal pronoun (Acts 2:43; Acts 3:23; Romans 13:1); nor like πνεῦμα spiritto denote the divinely-given principle of life. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
It is the central seat and organ of the personal life ( ψυχή ) of man regarded in and by himself. Hence it is commonly accompanied with the possessive pronouns, my, his, thy, etc. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Like our heart it denotes the seat of feeling as contrasted with intelligence. 2 Corinthians 2:4; Romans 9:2; Romans 10:1; 2 Corinthians 6:11; Philemon 1:7. But it is not limited to this. It is also the seat of mental action, feeling, thinking, willing. It is used - -DIVIDER-
1. Of intelligence, Romans 1:21; 2 Corinthians 3:15; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 1:18. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
2. Of moral choice, 1 Corinthians 7:37; 2 Corinthians 9:7. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
3. As giving impulse and character to action, Romans 6:17; Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22. The work of the law is written on the heart, Romans 2:15. The Corinthian Church is inscribed as Christ's epistle on hearts of flesh, 2 Corinthians 3:2-3. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
4. Specially, it is the seat of the divine Spirit, Galatians 4:6; Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:22. It is the sphere of His various operations, directing, comforting, establishing, etc., Philemon 4:7; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:5. It is the seat of faith, and the organ of spiritual praise, Romans 10:9; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
It is equivalent to the inner man, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 3:17. Its characteristic is being hidden, Romans 2:28, Romans 2:29; Romans 8:27; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 14:25. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
It is contrasted with the face, 1 Thessalonians 2:17; 2 Corinthians 5:12; and with the mouth, Romans 10:8. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

Romans 13:1 Every soul [πασα πσυχη]
As in Romans 2:9; Acts 2:43. A Hebraism for πας αντρωπος — pās anthrōpos (every man). [source]

What do the individual words in Acts 2:43 mean?

There was coming then upon every soul awe many and both wonders and signs through the apostles were taking place
Ἐγίνετο δὲ πάσῃ ψυχῇ φόβος πολλά τε τέρατα καὶ σημεῖα διὰ τῶν ἀποστόλων ἐγίνετο

Ἐγίνετο  There  was  coming 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
πάσῃ  upon  every 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
ψυχῇ  soul 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ψυχή  
Sense: breath.
φόβος  awe 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: φόβος  
Sense: fear, dread, terror.
πολλά  many 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
τε  and  both 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: τέ  
Sense: not only … but also.
τέρατα  wonders 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: τέρας  
Sense: a prodigy, portent.
σημεῖα  signs 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: σημεῖον  
Sense: a sign, mark, token.
διὰ  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
ἀποστόλων  apostles 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπόστολος  
Sense: a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.
ἐγίνετο  were  taking  place 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.