Peter’s sermon at Pentecost is a reminder of the imminent outpouring of the Holy Spirit as first prophesied in Joel 2:28 that is applicable to men and women, young and old, even today.
The Feast of Harvest, otherwise known as the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, marks not only the birth of the Church through an outpouring of the Holy Spirit but also the declaration of prophecies and miracles that are meant for all of us — regardless of our gender or age — that are intended to give us hope and purpose in the last days before the return of Jesus Christ.
In his first-ever sermon, Peter addresses the gathered assembly of Jews and citizens of Jerusalem and invites them to repent and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In doing so, they will receive the gift of eternal life made possible by the blood sacrifice of the recently ascended Jesus Christ.
Additionally, the arrival of the Holy Spirit will lead believers into the truths of “things to come” (John 16:13), thereby fulfilling Scripture.
This revelation of Divine truth is apparent through Peter’s insightful homily. Three thousand people are baptized in the Holy Spirit, and prophecies such as the one Peter declares in Acts 2:17 are foretold for all to hear:
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
However, what does Peter mean when he declares that “your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams?”
What Does Acts 2:17 Mean?
Peter’s words at Pentecost in Acts 2:17 are a reiteration of the prognostication made by Joel in the Old Testament:
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions” (Joel 2:28).
By repeating the words of the prophet Joel, Peter is declaring the manifestation of this prophecy through the events at Pentecost. It is the beginning of a new chapter of history, which includes the founding of the first Church.
What Is the Context of Acts 2:17?
Does Joel and, consequently, Paul mean that the gifts of seeing visions and dreaming dreams are limited to just young and elderly men?
In order to understand Acts 2:17, let us look at the context surrounding this Scripture.
Prior to this biblical chapter, Jesus' victorious resurrection from the grave has provided mankind with renewed hope through the promise of eternal life that came through His sacrifice at the Cross of Calvary.
The disciples are filled with joy at the return of their Rabbi and King and have spent 40 glorious days in His presence before His return to Heaven in Acts 1:9-10.
In the days following His ascension, the Twelve, including Matthias, who replaced Judas, hold onto the promise Jesus made to them in Acts 1:8 that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes over them.
As a result, they will bear witness to Him from Judea and Samaria to the very ends of the earth.
This assurance is a repetition of what Jesus told the disciples in John 14:16. Therefore, the disciples wait with expectation in the temple in Jerusalem (Luke 24:53) to be clothed with power from on high.
It is at the feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem that the manifestation of Acts 1:8 makes itself known through the tongues of fire and the consequential speaking of many tongues that mark the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Are Visions and Dreams Just for Young and Old Men?
At the beginning of Acts 2:17, we learn that the Holy Spirit will be poured out to all people. Not just males but everyone.
So, why does Joel, and then Peter some 800 years later, limit the receiving of dreams and visions to young and old men in their prophecies?
Through their poetic wordsmithing, the prophets are actually referring that all people, regardless of their gender and age and regardless of whether they are asleep or awake, are able to receive messages of God as a result of the Holy Spirit who dwells in them.
This is evident when you continue to read Acts. In Acts 21:8-9, the four daughters of Philip the evangelist are prophets.
Paul receives a vision of a man inviting him to Macedonia in (Acts 16:9) where he and Silas consequently bring their jailor to Christ after God broke their chains in prison.
In Acts 11:28, Agabus prophesizes the spread of a terrible famine throughout the Roman Empire, as well as Paul’s arrest in Acts 21:10-11.
Peter is summoned by an unsaved Gentile named Cornelius, who sees an angel in a vision in Acts 10:3-7. As a result, he and his family are baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Can We Experience Dreams and Visions Today?
If believers in the New Testament could experience divine communication with the Father through the Holy Spirit, does that mean that we, too, can experience the same correspondence today?
Yes, we can.
The events at Pentecost marked a new chapter in biblical history — the chapter of the Holy Spirit or what many of us know as the End Times.
This period of time is our final chapter, and it will last until Jesus returns and the gospel is preached to all ends of the earth through us who have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.
Therefore, for all of those who were baptized in the Holy Spirit that morning in Jerusalem in the Holy Spirit, and for those who come after them who give their lives to Christ — people like you and me — we receive the fullness of the arrival of the Holy Spirit and the manifestation of His hidden truths.
We can receive guidance and direction from God.
There are some believers who are not convinced that the miraculous occurrences of the Bible are relevant to us today.
Even at Pentecost, some people’s initial reaction to witnessing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was to conclude that those affected were drunk (Acts 2:13)!
They couldn’t fathom that this wondrous event happening before their very eyes could actually be real.
Is that what we are doing today as believers in Christ — are we seeing and experiencing dreams, visions, and signs of God and assigning a logical explanation to them so that we don’t have to challenge ourselves that God has something He wants to say to us?
Are we trying to divert God’s calling on our lives that can actually help us and those around us to break chains, experience breakthroughs, and experience an eternal loving relationship with Jesus?
A Prayer for Fullness
In these final days before Jesus’ return, l fervently hope and pray for a revival of hearts to hear from God miraculously, just as Peter prophesied in Acts 2:17.
Wonderful Lord,
I know You are the God of miracles, the One who makes what is impossible for us, possible by Your divine might and power.
Father, I want to walk in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit who dwells in me. I want to hear from you in wondrous ways.
I want to walk in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, whom You sent that day at Pentecost.
Renew my spirit and revive my heart Lord and let me spend the rest of my days in expectant communication with you and sharing Your Word of love and redemption with the world.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
For further reading:
Does God Give Prophetic Dreams to Us Today?
Is the Spiritual Gift of Prophecy Still Relevant Today?
What Should Christians Know about Psychics?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/rudall30
Madeline Kalu is an Australian Christian writer and the co-founder of Jacob’s Ladder Blog and The Proverbs 31 Home. She is also the co-author of the “My Year of Miracles 2024” journal, which encourages a daily reflection on the miracles that God performs in our lives throughout 2024. Madeline lives in Germany with her husband Solomon and the family’s two cats, who were rescued from the Ukrainian war zone.
