32 Acts 2:14-21 Call on the name of the Lord to be Saved

Some say that because this passage is quoting Joel 2 where everyone calls on the name of YHWH to be saved, and in
Acts 2:21 it says call on the name of the Lord to be saved; then because in the NT Jesus is Lord they say that by
logical progression YHWH is Jesus.
On the face of it this might seem like a valid argument, however I will show that this interpretation is an incorrect
conclusion and that these passages combined do NOT show Jesus to be God.
Whether you agree or disagree, in part or in whole, big or small, please email me any feedback to help improve this
study. I would also appreciate any help with its logic, grammar, typos, editing etc.
Before analyzing and comparing the two passages in question, and the relationship of Christ with God, I am going to
provide some evidence that has to be taken into account when interpreting our passage
Index
Part 1 Joel 2:27- 3:1
Part 2 Psalm 16:8-11
Part 3 Acts 2:14-21
Part 4 Acts 2:22-29
Part 5 Acts 2:30-37

Part 1 Joel 2:27-3:1

I have underlined the parts of the passage that are quoted in Acts
Joel 2:27 You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God and there is none
else. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD
(H3068/YHWH) comes.
32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD (H3068/YHWH) shall be saved.
For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD (H3068/YHWH) has said,
and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD (H3068/YHWH) calls.
3:1 For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
Vs27 The LORD God is speaking using the singular "I."
Vs28 God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh causing them to do miraculous things.
Vs28 Most of this verse is quoted in Acts 2:17, not exactly but very close
Vs29 This verse is quoted virtually word for word in Acts 2:18
Vs30 This verse is again quoted, not exactly but very close in Acts 2:19
Vs31 Before the great and awesome day of the LORD/YHWH comes. Quoted very closely in Acts 2:20
Vs32 This is quoted word for word in Acts 2:21. LORD in the OT is Lord in the NT. Mount Zion indicates Israel.
Vs32 Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD/YHWH will be saved
Summary:
These are the verses from Joel 2:27-3:1 that are quoted in Acts 2
The key passage is part of 2:31 everyone who calls on the name of the LORD/H3068/YHWH shall be saved.

Part 2 Psalm 16:8-11

The words that are underlined are those that Peter quotes in Acts

Psalm 16:8-11 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are
pleasures forevermore.
Vs8 is quoted in Acts 2:25, not word for word but fairly close.
Vs9 is quoted in Acts 2:26
Vs10 is quoted in Acts 2:27
Vs11 is partially quoted in Acts 2:28
Summary:
These are the verses from Psalm 16:8-11 concerning King David, that are quoted in Acts 2.

Part 3 Acts 2:14-21

Acts 2:14-21 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: Men of Judea and all
who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall
prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of
smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and
magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord (G2962/Kyrios) shall be saved.
Vs14 Peter is talking to the crowd
Vs16 Peter tells them he is about to quote Joel the prophet. Most quotes are either word for word or very close.
Vs17 quoting Joel 2:28
Vs18 quoting Joel 2:29
Vs19 quoting Joel 2:30
Vs20 quoting Joel 2:31
Vs21 quoting Joel 2:32
Only the first part of Joel 2:32 is quoted
Joel 2:32 everyone who calls on the name of the LORD (H3068/YHWH) shall be saved
Acts 2:21 everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord (G2962/Kurios) shall be saved.
There is no direct Greek translation for the Hebrew term H3068/YHWH, it becomes G2962/Kurios.
YHWH in Joel and Kurios in Acts both refer to YHWH God.
As shown in this in depth analysis 37D Who is LORD, who is Lord linked here Kurios is applied at different times to
various people, God, and Jesus in the NT. There is nothing about Jesus being made Kurios that makes him YHWH or
God, just as there is nothing about people being called Kurios that makes them YHWH or God.
Summary:
Acts 2:14-21 is a quote, which is not quite word for word, from Joel 2 by Luke who has called YHWH God by the
Greek term Kurios in vs21.
So far the people are told to call on the name of the Lord, which in this context refers to the LORD/YHWH God.
So far Jesus has not been mentioned, that is coming.

Part 4 Acts 2:22-28

The words that are underlined are those quoted from Psalm 16
Acts 2:22-28 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty
works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by
the hands of lawless men.
24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
25 For David says concerning him, I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not
be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence
29 Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and
his tomb is with us to this day.
Chapter 2:1 begins, "when the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together."
Peter from vs17-21 has been quoting Joel from the OT.
Vs22 Peter ends his quote and then starts speaking to the crowd, the first mention of Jesus in this chapter
Vs22 First being A, Jesus "a man," is attested not by himself but by a second being B, God.
Attest: declare that something exists, be a witness to.
Second being B, "by God," is a witness to first being A, Jesus.
Vs22 God did miracles through Jesus as he had through the prophets Moses, Elijah, then Peter, Paul, Barnabas etc
None of the men did the miracles on their own, without God.
Vs23 First being A, Jesus, was delivered up by Second being B, God. God does not need any being to help him.
Vs23 First being A, Jesus was killed. Second being B, God, is eternal and cannot die.
Vs24 Second being B, God, raised up First being A, Jesus.
Vs25-36 Peter explains the fulfillment of the prophecy that originally applied to David and now to Jesus
VS25 Quoting Psalm 16:8 Where David said the LORD/YHWH God is at David's right hand.
Vs26 Quoting Psalm 16:9 David continues
Vs27 Quoting Psalm 16:10 David continues
Vs28 Quoting Psalm 16:11 David continues, although this is slightly paraphrased.
Vs29 Peter tells them that David died and is buried.
Summary:
Acts 2:22-24 Jesus is now being discussed in relation to God along with miracles, Jesus' death and resurrection.
Acts 2:25-29 David is quoted from Psalm 16. Jesus is compared to David.
David is talking to YHWH God. David saw YHWH God before him, and thanked YHWH God for not abandoning
his soul to Hades or letting him see corruption.
There are some that think that Vs25 is David talking to the Lord Jesus, and without reading the context this could
seem possible. However in context this is not possible because Jesus the one being saved from Hades in vs31 which
is a direct comparison to David being saved from Hades in vs27; therefore Jesus is also being compared to David, not
God, in vs25 as well. It can be no other way.

Part 5 Acts 2:30-37

Acts 2:30-37 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set
one of his descendants on his throne,
31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his
flesh see corruption.

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having

received from the Father the promise of the

Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the
Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right
hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.
36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus
whom you crucified.
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brothers,
what shall we do?
Vs30 Jesus is a descendant of David. God is not a descendant of David otherwise Mary is God's mother.
Vs31 Jesus died, God cannot die. Jesus is compared directly with David as not being abandoned to Hades.
Vs32 God raised Jesus, one being raised another being.
Vs33 God at the left, Jesus at the right
Vs33 Jesus received the promise of the Holy Spirit, God already has everything and needs nothing
Vs34 Psalm 110 quote: One Lord talking to another Lord, God talking to Jesus. This is a pivotal verse where Peter
identifies that the Lord God is talking to the Lord Jesus, one Lord to another, two Lords. This is key to interpreting
vs36 where one Lord (God) makes another, who at that point is not yet Lord, Lord. Now there is two.
One Lord sitting next to another Lord.
Vs36 God made Jesus Lord, God was already Lord and doesn't need making anything.
Vs36 This verse is a deciding factor in a huge amount of theological discussions regarding the identity of Jesus
Christ. These chapter has confirmed that:
A/ Jesus was not Lord before this point therefore he cannot be God who was always Lord.
B/ Jesus was made Lord by another and God doesn't need to be made anything.
C/ If God decided to he could also stop Jesus from being Lord which also confirms Jesus is not God.
D/ Jesus has been compared with David since vs25. Jesus is compared with David, not God.
E/ David, various other people, and Jesus were all made Lord. It is not a name restricted to God.
Vs36 Many interpret this verse as saying YHWH made Jesus YHWH. Nothing about Jesus being made Lord has
made him YHWH God. In fact if Jesus needed to be made YHWH, then there was a point when he wasn't YHWH
which means he can never be YHWH because YHWH has always been YHWH!
Vs37 The people ask for guidance
Summary
In the OT people called on the name of the LORD/YHWH God for help.
At a point God made Jesus Lord/Kurios. (Elsewhere also, Savior and Christ among other things.)
There was a point when Jesus was not Lord, therefore it is not possible that he is God who has always been Lord.
Now we call on the name of the Lord Jesus for help, intercession, and mediation and salvation from LORD/YHWH's
wrath.
They have very different tasks, if they were both YHWH God there would be no salvation only wrath! We have a new
covenant, a new testament, and a new set of directions to live by.
Nothing about calling on the name Jesus, Lord/Kurios, makes him LORD/YHWH God.
For an in depth study go to 37D Who is LORD, who is Lord linked here
It is thirty three pages long, if this is a little to much just read the introduction and index along with the list of
summaries at the end and the final conclusion
Summaries and Final Conclusion

Part 1 These are the verses from Joel 2:27-3:1 that are quoted in Acts 2. The key passage is part of 2:31 everyone
who calls on the name of the LORD/H3068/YHWH shall be saved.
Part 2 These are the verses from Psalm 16:8-11 concerning King David, that are quoted in Acts 2.
Part 3 Acts 2:14-21 is a quote, which is not quite word for word, from Joel 2 by Luke who has called YHWH God
by the Greek term Kurios in vs21.
So far the people are told to call on the name of the Lord, which in this context refers to the
LORD/YHWH God.
So far Jesus has not been mentioned, that is coming.
Part 4 Acts 2:22-24 Jesus is now being discussed in relation to God along with miracles, Jesus' death and
resurrection.
Acts 2:25-29 David is quoted from Psalm 16. Jesus is compared to David.
David is talking to YHWH God. David saw YHWH God before him, and thanked YHWH God for not
abandoning his soul to Hades or letting him see corruption.
There are some that think that Vs25 is David talking to the Lord Jesus, and without reading the context this
could seem possible. However in context this is not possible because Jesus the one being saved from
Hades in
vs31 which is a direct comparison to David being saved from Hades in vs27; therefore Jesus is also being
compared to David, not God, in vs25 as well. It can be no other way.
Part 5 In the OT people called on the name of the LORD/YHWH God for help.
At a point God made Jesus Lord/Kurios. (Elsewhere also, Savior and Christ among other things.)
There was a point when Jesus was not Lord, therefore it is not possible that he is God who has always been
Lord.
Now we call on the name of the Lord Jesus for help, intercession, and mediation and salvation from
LORD/YHWH's wrath.
They have very different tasks, if they were both YHWH God there would be no salvation only wrath! We
have a new covenant, a new testament, and a new set of directions to live by.
Nothing about calling on the name Jesus, Lord/Kurios, makes him LORD/YHWH God.
Final Conclusion.
The OT tells us to call on the name of the LORD/YHWH God.
God as well as people in the OT were called Lord/Adonay and Lord/Adown
The NT tells us to call on the name of the Lord/Kurios God
God as well as people in the NT were called Lord/Kurios
The NT tells us that God made Jesus Lord/Kurios in Acts 2:36
There is a change over point from before to after, there was Lord/Kurios God on his own, and now he has
Lord/Kurios Jesus in position as the mediator, intercessor, savior, and Lord/kurios.
Therefore nothing in the Acts 2 quotation of Joel 2 says that Jesus is God.