SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:37
¶ Entonces oído esto, fueron compungidos de corazn, y dijeron a Pedro y a los otros apstoles: Varones hermanos, ¿qu haremos?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 2:37
Verse 37. When they heard this, they were pricked in their heart] This powerful, intelligent, consecutive, and interesting discourse, supported every where by prophecies and corresponding facts, left them without reply and without excuse; and they plainly saw there was no hope for them, but in the mercy of him whom they had rejected and crucified. What shall we do?] How shall we escape those judgments which we now see hanging over our heads?
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 37. Now when they heard this , etc.] Or him, as the Arabic version; that is, Peter speaking these things, describing the character of Jesus of Nazareth; opening the prophecies concerning him; asserting his resurrection from the dead, and exaltation at the right hand of God; ascribing this wonderful affair, of speaking with divers tongues, to his effusion of the Spirit; and charging them home with the iniquity of crucifying him: they were pricked in their hearts ; the word of God entered into them, and was as a sharp sword in them, which cut and laid open their hearts, and the sin and wickedness of them; they saw themselves guilty of the crime laid to their charge, and were filled with remorse of conscience for it; they felt pain at their hearts, and much uneasiness, and were seized with horror and trembling; they were wounded in their spirits, being hewn and cut down by the prophets and apostles of the Lord, and slain by the words of his mouth; they were as dead men in their own apprehension; and indeed, a prick, a cut, or wound in the heart is mortal: and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do? the persons they before mocked at, they are glad to advise with, what should be done in this their sad and wretched case; what they should do to obtain the favour of God, the forgiveness of their sins, and everlasting salvation. Convinced, awakened sinners, are generally at first upon a covenant of works; are for doing something to atone for their past crimes, to set themselves right in the sight of God, to ingratiate themselves into his favour, and procure the pardon of their sins, and the inheritance of eternal life. And they seem also to be at a loss about the way of salvation, what is to be done to attain it, or how, and by what means it is to be come at; and are almost ready to despair of it, their sin appearing in so dreadful a light, and attended with such aggravating circumstances.
Bezas ancient copy reads, some of them said to Peter, etc. not all that heard, but those that were pricked to the heart.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 37-41 - From the first delivery of that Divine message, it appeared that ther was Divine power going with it; and thousands were brought to the obedience of faith. But neither Peter's words, nor the miracle the witnessed, could have produced such effects, had not the Holy Spiri been given. Sinners, when their eyes are opened, cannot but be pricke to the heart for sin, cannot but feel an inward uneasiness. The apostl exhorted them to repent of their sins, and openly to avow their belie in Jesus as the Messiah, by being baptized in his name. Thus professin their faith in Him, they would receive remission of their sins, an partake of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. To separate from wicked people, is the only way to save ourselves from them. Those wh repent of their sins, and give up themselves to Jesus Christ, mus prove their sincerity by breaking off from the wicked. We must sav ourselves from them; which denotes avoiding them with dread and holy fear. By God's grace three thousand persons accepted the gospe invitation. There can be no doubt that the gift of the Holy Ghost which they all received, and from which no true believer has ever bee shut out, was that Spirit of adoption, that converting, guiding sanctifying grace, which is bestowed upon all the members of the famil of our heavenly Father. Repentance and remission of sins are stil preached to the chief of sinners, in the Redeemer's name; still the Holy Spirit seals the blessing on the believer's heart; still the encouraging promises are to us and our children; and still the blessings are offered to all that are afar off.
Greek Textus Receptus
ακουσαντες 191 5660 V-AAP-NPM δε 1161 CONJ κατενυγησαν 2660 5648 V-2API-3P τη 3588 T-DSF καρδια 2588 N-DSF ειπον 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3P τε 5037 PRT προς 4314 PREP τον 3588 T-ASM πετρον 4074 N-ASM και 2532 CONJ τους 3588 T-APM λοιπους 3062 A-APM αποστολους 652 N-APM τι 5101 I-ASN ποιησομεν 4160 5692 V-FAI-1P ανδρες 435 N-VPM αδελφοι 80 N-VPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
37. They were pricked (katenughsan). Only here in New Testament. The word does not occur in profane Greek. It is found in the Septuagint, as Gen. xxxiv. 7, of the grief of the sons of Jacob at the dishonor of Dinah. See, also, Psalms 109. (Sept. 108) xvi. "broken in heart." The kindred noun katanuxiv occurs Rom. xi. 8, in the sense of slumber (Rev., stupor). Compare Isa. xxix. 10. See, also, Psalms 60 (Sept. 59) iii. oinon katanuxewv, the wine of astonishment (Rev., wine of staggering). The radical idea of the word is given in the simple verb nussw, to prick with a sharp point. So Homer, of the puncture of a spear; of horses dinting the earth with their hoofs, etc. Here, therefore, of the sharp, painful emotion, the sting produced by Peter's words. Cicero, speaking of the oratory of Pericles, says that his speech left stings in the minds of his hearers ("De Oratore," iii., 34.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:37 {They were pricked in their heart} (katenugesan ten kardian). Second aorist indicative of katanussw, a rare verb (LXX) to pierce, to sting sharply, to stun, to smite. Homer used it of horses dinting the earth with their hoofs. The substantive katanuxis occurs in #Ro 11:8. Here only in the N.T. It is followed here by the accusative of the part affected, the heart. {What shall we do?} (ti poieswmen). Deliberative subjunctive first aorist active. The sermon went home, they felt the sting of Peter's words, compunction (compungo). Codex Bezae adds: "Show us."
