[Greek] γλεῦκος (gleukos),[Latin] mustum: sweet wine, new wine, unfermented wine, fresh grape juice, must; Act.2:13
A stone winepress discovered in Hamei Yo’av Israel
Background Information:
Old Testament: This Greek term gleukos refers to several related Hebrew terms in the Old Testament. All make references to intoxication. Job 32:19 makes reference to fermenting wine bursting wineskins. Isaiah 49:26 makes reference with drunkenness from grape juice. Gen 9:21 makes reference to Noah drunk with mine.
Winepress: The winepress was a rock hewn open air system. Grapes were pressed and stomped on by feet in a treading floor. The juice would pour through a channel into a vat, where it would ferment. From the vat, the wine would be collected in jars.
Fermentation: Must is freshly pressed fruit juice (usually grape juice). This unfermented grape juice contains the skins, seeds, and stem of the fruit. Making must is the first step in winemaking. Because of its high glucose content, must is also used as a sweetener. Fermentation occurs when yeast is added. The yeast breaks down the sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide. It is this carbon dioxide gas which may cause a wineskin to burst. Grape juice also contains small amounts of naturally occurring yeast. Left alone, this grape juice will ferment over time. It is this fermented form of grape juice (wine) which may can cause one to be intoxicated.
Scripture:
“But others said, scoffing, ‘Thy have had too much new wine’”. Act. 2:13
This new wine was still in the processing of fermentation, leading to its intoxicating effects.
Conclusion:
Must, glucose
Grape juice, consisting of glucose, is sweet. This helps to explain why grape juice, by itself, will ferment into wine over time. This also provides some insight on why no one should pour new wine in old wineskins. Carbon dioxide gas, produced by the new wine, will burst (split the seams) of the old wineskin. On a larger level, this can refer to the parable pouring new wine in an old wineskin in Lk.5:33-35. This relates to Jesus’ teachings which cannot fit in with traditional Judaism. Jesus’ new ways are better.