And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

ACTS 2:19KJV
Know the Bible

Acts 2:19 (KJV)

What does Acts 2:19 mean?

Acts 2:19 describes how God will display amazing and unsettling events both in the sky and on the earth, including blood, fire, and clouds of smoke, as signs to get people’s attention. These wonders are meant to signal something significant happening in God’s plan.

In Acts 2, the apostle Peter is speaking to a crowd in Jerusalem during the Jewish festival of Pentecost. He quotes from the prophet Joel to explain the unusual events they are witnessing, like people speaking in different languages. Peter uses this verse to show that these signs are part of what God promised long ago, marking a new and important moment in history.

The Greek behind Acts 2:19

  • "Wonders" (τέρατα, terata): This word refers to extraordinary events that amaze or astonish people, often pointing to God’s power. In this context, it highlights that these are not ordinary happenings but acts meant to get people’s attention.
  • "Signs" (σημεῖα, sēmeia): This word means indicators or markers, often used in the Bible for miracles that point to a deeper meaning or message from God. Here, it shows that the events are not random but have a purpose in God’s plan.
  • "Vapour" (ἀτμίδα, atmida) and "smoke" (καπνοῦ, kapnou): These words together paint a picture of dramatic, possibly destructive events, often linked to judgment or major change in the Bible. The imagery would have been familiar to Peter’s listeners from Old Testament stories.

Why Acts 2:19 matters

  • Acts 2:19 helps clear up that the strange events at Pentecost were not just chaos or drunkenness, but fulfillment of God’s promises through the prophet Joel.
  • The verse emphasizes that God uses visible, dramatic signs to announce major shifts in His relationship with humanity, inviting people to pay attention.
  • Acts 2:19 connects the Pentecost experience to a much larger story, showing that what was happening was part of God’s long-term plan, not a random or isolated event.

Where else these words appear

“vapour” Greek G822 · used in 2 verses

  • James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

“above” Greek G507 · used in 9 verses

  • John 2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
  • John 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
  • Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

“beneath” Greek G2736 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
  • Mark 14:66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
  • John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

“smoke” Greek G2586 · used in 11 verses

  • Revelation 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
  • Revelation 9:17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
  • Revelation 15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.