Acts 2:37
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Study Note
Study Note
'Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?' The Pentecost crowd's response to Peter's sermon demonstrates the immediate convicting power of the apostolic proclamation of death and resurrection, and the question 'what shall we do?' echoes the Baptist's crowds in Luke 3:10. The word 'pricked' (katanyssō) appears only here in the New Testament and conveys a piercing of conscience rather than mere intellectual assent. Peter's answer — repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit (verse 38) — establishes the pattern of Christian initiation that has shaped sacramental theology across traditions.
Other Translations
Now when they heardthis, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?
And having heard, they were pricked to the heart; they say also to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, `What shall we do, men, brethren?'
Now when these words came to their ears their hearts were troubled, and they said to Peter and the other Apostles, Brothers, what are we to do?
Cross References
But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all …
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and …
And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence …
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, …
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake …
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.