The Orthodox Study Bible: Acts 2: 21
This Orthodoxy Bible uses the New King James Bible (NKJV)
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Acts 2: 21
21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’
In context, the Apostle Peter quotes from the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, Book of Joel 2 28-32.
With these New Testament citations of the Old Testament, as Peter is cited in Acts 2: 16-21, the context provided is not identical as the older original. A reason is that the Hebrew Bible and its covenant, although remaining as scripture, are accompanied by, as in progressive revelation, the New Testament and its covenant (Luke 22: 20 & Hebrews as examples). The New Testament emphasis is the new covenant, doctrines and theology, which replaces the old covenant. Still the Hebrew Bible should be understood as well in its original context within the old covenant.
My focus however in this limited space, website format, is the Acts version. This article will be unexhaustive.
The new covenant...
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Luke 22:20
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is (a) poured out for you is the (b) new covenant in My blood.
a
Mt 26:28 Mk 14:24
b
Ex 24:8 Je 31:31 1 Co 11:25 2 Co 3:6 Heb 8:8 Heb 8:13 Heb 9:15
PROBLEM: In Acts 2, Pentecost arrives, and the disciples are filled with the Holy Spirit. In response to criticism, Peter says that what they hear and see was “spoken by the prophet Joel” (cf. Joel 2:28–32). Yet, in the passage that Peter quotes, there are events in it that did not happen at Pentecost, like the moon turning to blood. Does Peter err on this occasion?
SOLUTION: First, Peter was simply showing that Pentecost involved a partial or initial fulfillment of Joel 2:28–32. This partial fulfillment was in regard to the indwelling Holy Spirit for believers. And this is exactly what happened on the day of Pentecost. Joel says that God “will pour out My spirit on all flesh ... I will pour out My Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28–29). And God did pour forth His Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
Second, Peter’s reference was to indicate that the last days had been inaugurated (cf. Heb. 1:1–2; 2:4). The wonders of the sky above and the signs on the earth beneath (Acts 19–21) are to take place later on in earth’s history at the time of Christ’s second coming. Notice that these things will happen “before the ... great and notable day of the Lord” (v. 20) which is yet future (cf. Matt. 24:1ff).
This excerpt is from When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992). © 2014 Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe.
The Orthodoxy text states in regards to Acts 2: 16-21, that Joel was one of the early prophets (ninth century, BCE) that proclaimed God's sovereign Lordship and judgement in the last days. (275). With Pentecost the first part of the prophecy was answered with the outpouring of God the Holy Spirit to believers. The second part will be fulfilled at the second coming of Jesus Christ. (275).
Some key New Testament sections related to the second coming are Matthew 24, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12. (My add)
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Key for the Acts-Joel example:
Different Languages: The Hebrew Bible was written in Hebrew, with parts in Aramaic, the New Testament in Greek, with parts in Aramaic.
Indirect quotations: The New Testament writers frequently quote the Old Testament without verbal exactness. Most likely, many of the quotations were from memory. At times the citations were made according to the sense of the Old Testament rather than making a direct quote.
Sometimes the quotations in Scripture are indirect not direct. An indirect quotation does not cite someone directly but does report accurately what that person said.
Indirect quotes were used to emphasize the New Testament covenant, doctrines and theology.
Strong's Concordance
Original Word: ἐπικαλέω
GRK: ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸ ὄνομα
Verb-Aorist-Subjunctive-Middle-3rd Person Singular
Corey Keating
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As far as the tense of the verb in the subjunctive mood, it should be remembered that the subjunctive only shows the kind of action (verbal aspect or ‘aktionsart’) and not time. Only verbs in the indicative mood indicate time in an absolute sense. (See intermediate discussion of verb tenses). However, the ‘time’ implied by the subjunctive is usually future since it is a mood of contingency. Thus the future indicative and the aorist subjunctive are closely related and sometimes used in substitution for each other.
Aorist is past tense. Subjunctive is usually, future tense. The middle is neither active or passive.
Humanly speaking, based on the New Testament Greek, and accurate translations, the Lord can be theologically called upon, in biblical times up to present times and future times, within this present realm.
STRONG, J. (1890)(1986) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Burlington, Welch Publishing Company.
