Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I understand that the Greek word used in Acts 2:13 (gleukos, which provides the root for the English word "glucose", or sugar) is different from the Greek word (oinos) used to translate Jesus' references to wine (in verses such as Mark 2:22 and Luke 5:37), in which He was apparently referring to more aged wine. In fact, as far as I was able to determine, Acts 2:13 is the only verse where that particular Greek word is used.

I am not a vintner, but my understanding is that the higher sugar content in this "new wine" or "sweet wine" would have increased its intoxicating effect, to which the mockers who were making the comment were referring, since the apostles who were speaking in tongues appeared to them to be drunk.

November 29 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Aurel Gheorghe

Acts 2:13 - But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." According with Strong's Concordance, here the word translated "new wine" is γλεῦκος gleûkos meaning sweet wine, or must (fresh juice) and appears only once in the NT. 

As we know, the freshly squeezed grape juice is sweet and not intoxicating, while the fermented wine is not sweet and depending on alcohol content and quantity consumed causes confusion, incoherent speech and bizarre behavior. 

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit were preaching to the multitudes gathered there in several foreign languages (Acts 2:6-12). Many believed and were baptized; others ridiculed the disciples implying that they were drunk on sweet non-alcoholic wine. This expression wasn't meant to be taken literally, just a cleaver way of insulting the disciples and casting doubts on their message.

December 02 2017 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report