Acts 2:3

There appeared unto them. Literally, “there appeared to them.” They had just received an audible intimation of the Spirit’s coming (v. 2); now they had visible evidence of His arrival.

Cloven tongues. Better, “tongues distributing themselves,” or “tongues being distributed.” The Greek conveys a picture of an initial body of fire that divides itself into many small tongues, which then settle on each member of the waiting assembly. The figure of “tongues” is apt in view of the gift of speech the Spirit bestowed on the believers.

Fire. Not that they were actual flames of fire, but “like as of fire,” that is, “resembling fire” (cf. “as of a rushing mighty wind,” v. 2). Divinity and fire are often linked in Scripture (cf. Ex. 3:2; Deut. 5:4; Ps. 50:3; Mal. 3:2), doubtless because of the power, glory, and purifying effects of fire. John the Baptist had promised that Christ would baptize “with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matt. 3:11).

It sat. There are two possible interpretations of this construction. The singular subject “it” can either refer to each one of the individual tongues or look forward to v. 4 and refer to the Holy Spirit. The Greek verb for “sat” indicates a settling down upon, while the tense suggests momentary rather than continuous action. Even though the fiery-appearing tongues remained upon the believers for only a brief time, the effects of the visitation lasted for the lifetime of the faithful Christians who received the Spirit.