What is it about?
It is common to see in the Joel quotation of Acts 2:17–21 something that is significant and theological and programmatic for Luke-Acts. Yet, scholars often miss key elements of what Luke is doing here. The goal of this article is to map the complete theological program and to see all its multi-faceted and layered richness. This includes areas of salvation history, spiritual gifts and especially the gift of prophecy, eschatology, and evangelism. All these overlap with key themes in Luke and the New Testament. When seen in this light this prophecy and the Acts 2 sermon become key lenses through which to see the rest of the NT's pneumatology.
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Why is it important?
A key benefit of gaining an accurate perspective on Acts 2:17–21 is interpreting Luke-Acts with more precision. It is one of the key interpretive guides Luke leaves for us. This is especially true in the area of the Holy Spirit and his role in the life of the Christian, one of Luke's central concerns.
Perspectives
This study inspired me at many levels. One is the sheer greatness of Luke as a narrator, embedding into his text a skillful and deep organization that seems to jump off of every page. Another was the coherence of the NT's teaching on the Holy Spirit and his role in the life of a Christian. The authors might have different emphases, but they all approach the topic from an overarching coherence that isn't simplistic but it is evident. A final benefit was in gaining an even greater appreciation for the Pentecost moment, which is so spiritually and historically important for the church.
Daniel Baker
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Complete Theological Program of Acts 2:17–21 in Luke-Acts, Pneuma, April 2020, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/15700747-04201001.
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