Acts 2:19

I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Peter addresses the Jerusalem crowd at Pentecost while explaining the immediate outpouring of the Spirit. He declares that God will display cosmic and terrestrial phenomena before the arrival of the Day of the Lord.

The words — The Greek δώσω (dōsō) translates literally as "I will show," and τέρατα (terata) means "wonders" or "portents." These terms frame the subsequent signs as deliberate divine demonstrations rather than natural occurrences.

The thread — This declaration directly quotes Joel 2:30, which also promises wonders in the heavens and on the earth accompanied by blood, fire, and smoke. It functions as a prophetic marker linking to the imminent judgment described in Zephaniah 1:14 and Malachi 4:1.

Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that the coming cosmic signs are initiated by God's sovereign will. It calls the reader to recognize the certainty of the approaching Day of the Lord and to respond with sober readiness.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

καὶkaiand δώσωdōsōI will show τέραταteratawonders ἐνenin τῷtō<the>οὐρανῷouranōheaven ἄνωanōabove καὶkaiand σημεῖαsēmeiasigns ἐπὶepion τῆςtēsthe γῆςgēsearth κάτω,katōbelow,αἷμαhaimablood καὶkaiand πῦρpurfire καὶkaiand ἀτμίδαatmidavapor καπνοῦ.kapnouof smoke.

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Joel 2:30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.
Zephaniah 1:14 The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.
Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”