The Event of Pentecost: Acts 2:1-13
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
First, let it be noted that the first time we see the Spirit work in such power is when the 120 are gathered together in one place. Are we to have our own individual quite times and relationships with God, absolutely, but the Spirit's first appearance was in that of a community who was, "all together in one place."
Second, let us notice that when the Spirit came upon them it came upon them and was accompanied by three supernatural signs. (1) First there was a, "...sound like a mighty rushing wind..." It doesn't say it was a mighty rushing wind, it says it sounded like it. (2) There came "...divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them..." (3) Then after the Holy Spirit appealed to their hearing (sound), their sight (appeared), and touch (rested on) "...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance..." So what was this about?
What was the setting of this event? We know they are in an upper room, but we also know that the timing was, "When the day of Pentecost arrived..." To the Jews Pentecost represented something much like our independence day, but even more significant. We know that Jesus redefined the Passover meal at his last passover meal. So, let's walk through this. This feast had two meanings: agricultural and historical. Originally, it was the middle of the three annual Jewish harvest festivals, and was called the feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, because it took place 50 days (pentekostos means fiftieth) after the passover, which is the exact time of this harvest (Jesus had 40 days of post-resurrection appearances + the disciples waited for 10 days). Then toward the end of the inter-testamental period this feast began also to be observed as the anniversary of the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai to Moses, because this was believed to have happened fifty days after the Exodus from Egypt. Here are further implications: there was a huge harvest as over 3,000 were saved; fulfillment of Old prophets who spoke of two New Covenant Promises, we know that Jewish tradition associated wind, fire, and voices with Mount Sinai which happens to be the phenomena which is described here. Just as Jesus brought new meaning to the Passover meal, so now he is bringing new meaning to the Pentecost...
Third: We see the international implications of this movement, "...there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven..." God was saving those who would, out of necessity, have to GO back to their homes and live among their people after the feast. It's no wonder that the crowd was lost in awe. They said, "...each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?..." Why is this significant? The speakers were called, "Galileans" who had a reputation for being uncultured. According to Longenecker in his book 'Acts' "the Galileans had difficulty pronouncing guttrals and had the habit of swallowing syllables when speaking; so they were looked down upon by the people of Jerusalem as being provincial" we also know this through the hints of scripture. On top of that, Luke gives us sort of a 'table of Nations' comparable with Genesis 10. The blessing of Pentecost was the great reversal of the curse of of Babel. At Babel human languages were confused and the nations were scattered, however in Jerusalem the language barrier was defeated as a sign that the nations would now be gathered together in Christ.
So what is the application for us?
First, there is obvious importance to continually be together in community. I absolutely believe the Spirit can and will come on us, be with us and inspire us on individual levels, but it is obvious from the first showing of the Spirit, that the he works on us as we are 'together' so that we are filled as we 'go out on his missionary work.' So, what does it mean to 'be together.' This is not talking about mindlessly showing up to 'get fed.' Before this chapter we have described how they ALL came together - with tenacity, aggression, expectation, in 'one-accord.' This must be our attitude as well, we are not called to be passive observers but rather expectant participants.
Second, Christ is redefining scripture to them, he is showing how that all of scripture is a picture of, prototype for, or a message that points to HIM! We need to be in the scriptures looking for Jesus! The scriptures are not about us - primarily. The story of David and Goliath is not a parable about how we can fight our giants with our pebble like faith. Rather the story of David is how an unexpectant hero, like Jesus, can defeat what seems to be an overpowering enemy like Goliath setting his bound and scared people free...Let us be consumed with looking for the Gospel of Jesus in the text.
Third, Though we live in a city that speaks our same language, we also mentally put up 'language barriers' - whether it is socio-economic status, ethnicity, hobbies, educational level, etc...Within those language barriers we usually pre-decide 'why' we can't be the advocate Christ calls us to be in their lives, but what we learn from this passage is that there is no language barrier that cannot be broken down by the Holy Spirit, if we are willing to be his vessel.
So the call is this: Let us not forsake together the corporate gathering as humble hungry lovers of God; Let's not be passive about the scriptures nor leave our education of them up to your pastors, but let us know them outside of Sunday so that Jesus can show us more of him through them; and through this diet and lifestyle of corporate worship and individual learning of Scripture let us be filled with the Holy Spirit and look beyond the normal 'language barriers' that we have imagined in our head!
Second, let us notice that when the Spirit came upon them it came upon them and was accompanied by three supernatural signs. (1) First there was a, "...sound like a mighty rushing wind..." It doesn't say it was a mighty rushing wind, it says it sounded like it. (2) There came "...divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them..." (3) Then after the Holy Spirit appealed to their hearing (sound), their sight (appeared), and touch (rested on) "...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance..." So what was this about?
What was the setting of this event? We know they are in an upper room, but we also know that the timing was, "When the day of Pentecost arrived..." To the Jews Pentecost represented something much like our independence day, but even more significant. We know that Jesus redefined the Passover meal at his last passover meal. So, let's walk through this. This feast had two meanings: agricultural and historical. Originally, it was the middle of the three annual Jewish harvest festivals, and was called the feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, because it took place 50 days (pentekostos means fiftieth) after the passover, which is the exact time of this harvest (Jesus had 40 days of post-resurrection appearances + the disciples waited for 10 days). Then toward the end of the inter-testamental period this feast began also to be observed as the anniversary of the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai to Moses, because this was believed to have happened fifty days after the Exodus from Egypt. Here are further implications: there was a huge harvest as over 3,000 were saved; fulfillment of Old prophets who spoke of two New Covenant Promises, we know that Jewish tradition associated wind, fire, and voices with Mount Sinai which happens to be the phenomena which is described here. Just as Jesus brought new meaning to the Passover meal, so now he is bringing new meaning to the Pentecost...
Third: We see the international implications of this movement, "...there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven..." God was saving those who would, out of necessity, have to GO back to their homes and live among their people after the feast. It's no wonder that the crowd was lost in awe. They said, "...each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?..." Why is this significant? The speakers were called, "Galileans" who had a reputation for being uncultured. According to Longenecker in his book 'Acts' "the Galileans had difficulty pronouncing guttrals and had the habit of swallowing syllables when speaking; so they were looked down upon by the people of Jerusalem as being provincial" we also know this through the hints of scripture. On top of that, Luke gives us sort of a 'table of Nations' comparable with Genesis 10. The blessing of Pentecost was the great reversal of the curse of of Babel. At Babel human languages were confused and the nations were scattered, however in Jerusalem the language barrier was defeated as a sign that the nations would now be gathered together in Christ.
So what is the application for us?
First, there is obvious importance to continually be together in community. I absolutely believe the Spirit can and will come on us, be with us and inspire us on individual levels, but it is obvious from the first showing of the Spirit, that the he works on us as we are 'together' so that we are filled as we 'go out on his missionary work.' So, what does it mean to 'be together.' This is not talking about mindlessly showing up to 'get fed.' Before this chapter we have described how they ALL came together - with tenacity, aggression, expectation, in 'one-accord.' This must be our attitude as well, we are not called to be passive observers but rather expectant participants.
Second, Christ is redefining scripture to them, he is showing how that all of scripture is a picture of, prototype for, or a message that points to HIM! We need to be in the scriptures looking for Jesus! The scriptures are not about us - primarily. The story of David and Goliath is not a parable about how we can fight our giants with our pebble like faith. Rather the story of David is how an unexpectant hero, like Jesus, can defeat what seems to be an overpowering enemy like Goliath setting his bound and scared people free...Let us be consumed with looking for the Gospel of Jesus in the text.
Third, Though we live in a city that speaks our same language, we also mentally put up 'language barriers' - whether it is socio-economic status, ethnicity, hobbies, educational level, etc...Within those language barriers we usually pre-decide 'why' we can't be the advocate Christ calls us to be in their lives, but what we learn from this passage is that there is no language barrier that cannot be broken down by the Holy Spirit, if we are willing to be his vessel.
So the call is this: Let us not forsake together the corporate gathering as humble hungry lovers of God; Let's not be passive about the scriptures nor leave our education of them up to your pastors, but let us know them outside of Sunday so that Jesus can show us more of him through them; and through this diet and lifestyle of corporate worship and individual learning of Scripture let us be filled with the Holy Spirit and look beyond the normal 'language barriers' that we have imagined in our head!
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