Acts 2:15

These are not drunken. Peter appeals to the common sense of his listeners. Were the disciples likely to be drunk on the morning of the Feast of Pentecost, after a night spent in devotion, and when all decent Jews were fasting? Drunkenness belonged to the night (1 Thess. 5:7). It was a mark of extreme grossness for men to “rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink” (Isa. 5:11; cf. Eccl. 10:16, 17). Basing their traditional practice on Ex. 16:8, the Jews ate bread in the morning and flesh in the evening; and no wine was drunk by the Jew of good habits until late in the day.

As ye suppose. The apostle deals tactfully with the unfounded accusation of drunkenness, and assumes they have made a mistake rather than a malicious charge.

Third hour. That is, about 9:00 A.M. For NT reckoning of time see Vol. V, p. 50; see on Matt. 27:45. The third hour was the time of morning prayer.