In answer to the accusation of the priests Peter showed that this demonstration was in direct fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, wherein he foretold that such power would come upon men to fit them for a special work. "Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem," he said, "be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy."

Som svar på præsternes beskyldning beviste Peter, at denne tildragelse stemte fuldstændig sammen med Joels profeti, hvori han forudsagde, at der skulle komme en sådan kraft over mennesker for at dygtiggøre dem til et særligt arbejde. "Jødiske mænd og alle I, som bor her i Jerusalem," sagde han, "det skal I vide, og mærk jer mine ord: disse mænd er ikke berusede, sådan som I mener; det er jo kun den tredje time på dagen. Nej, her opfyldes det, som er talt ved profeten Joel: