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Bible
Questions & Answers Archive
Were They
Drunk on Wine?
Dr. Dr. Max D. Younce
0045 Question
Can you explain how in Acts 2, when those spoke and everyone
understood in their own language, how they could be accused of being
drunk on "new wine"?
Answer
The "new wine’ spoken of here is the Greek "gleukos". Our Lexicon
renders it "new, unfermented wine, from "glukus", sweet, agreeable to
the taste". This is the only place this word appears in the Greek New
Testament.
Three improbabilities: First, that these mockers would think that
getting drunk would enable one to speak about 15 different languages
instantly, without years of study abroad. Second, to think that "new
wine" (gleukos), unfermented, would cause drunkenness. Third, Peter
reminds them it is the third hour, Jewish time, (being 9 a.m. Roman
time, the same as ours). This was the hour of the morning sacrifice and
it was not usual for men to be drunk at this time. I Thessalonians 5:7
says, "...and they that be drunken are drunken in the night."
For these mockers to make such a statement, they were probably
alcoholics themselves. These, no doubt, used the Feast of Pentecost just
as some use Christmas as an excuse to "celebrate" and get drunk. These
men are proof that Proverbs 20:1 is true. "Wine is a MOCKER, strong
drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Wine
had perverted their thinking so much they even thought "new wine"
(unfermented) would make a person drunk. That’s what alcohol will do to
your mind. |