LISTEN
New American Standard Bible:
It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
New Living Translation:
Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. your sons and daughters will prophesy. your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.
New King James Version:
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, your young men shall see visions.
New International Version:
And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Amplified Bible:
It shall come about after this that I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind;
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Context:
The prophet Joel prophesied to the people of Judah about the coming of the Lord and pouring out of his Spirit. Chapter two, verse 28 is quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts.
Observations:
God foretells that he will pour out his Spirit upon everyone (which at that point probably meant Gentiles and Jews alike).
At that point, there was a hierarchy as to who was able to take part in certain devoted activities to the Lord. This prophecy was to say that in the day of the Lord’s Spirit being manifested, even young people would prophesy, even old men would dream dreams and even young men would see visions.
Application:
This verse is a reminder to us that God does what he says. Just as he foretold through Joel, so the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, and it remains with us today.
