The day of Pentecost, Pt1

Acts of the Apostles #4: Pentecost power, Pt1      Acts 2:1-12

The day of Pentecost, so named because it came 50 days after the Sabbath that ended the Passover, finally came. It was incidentally, the first day of the week. It finds them as described in v1—the Apostles are specifically in view.

The unity and harmony that has been noted previously still prevails. The suggestion is that they were still waiting on God for the fulfillment of Christ’s promise. Cp 1:14. In answer to such prayer the Spirit came!

I  THE COMING OF THE SPIRIT.

1. Suddenly. These were events that brought real, rapid change. The coming of the Spirit was not unexpected but it was sudden. How much was accomplished in an instant. How greatly the future work of the church was changed in a moment. Cp Luke 18:7-8.
2. The Spirit came from Heaven as wind and fire, v2-3. These two ideas are similar and are to be considered together. The Saviour’s reference to John’s baptism is a key point to help understand the analogies. Cp Matt 3:11-12. The focus is upon the purifying, separating ministry of the Spirit. This is seen to the full in the life and ministry of Christ. The  winnowing/burning effect of the Spirit’s work was seen in their lives and then through their ministry. Where the Holy Spirit comes in power into the life, such consecration and purification is the result.
3. They were filled with the Spirit. The Holy Ghost took over! There was room for nothing else in their lives/experience. Every part of their being, lives, work etc. was now under the rule of the Holy Ghost. They were as a living sacrifice consumed by the fire of the Spirit. Cp Eph 5:18. Such fullness is the duty and need of the Christian. It is a filling that needs repeated (4:8, 31) given our ‘leaky’ condition by nature.

II  THE APOSTLES PREACHED IN TONGUES.

It is striking to see that the first evidence of the fullness of the Spirit was seen in the tongues/speech of these men. Cp James 4:4-8. Here were tongues set on fire from Heaven! Cp Matt 12:37.

1. These tongues were simply languages. The apostles—with the exception of Peter—spoke in foreign languages/‘dialects’, v6, 8. The words of the apostles were intelligible to those who listened. Cp 1Cor 14:6-11, 14-16.
2. This ability was the gift of the Spirit. He gave them the ability so to speak. This was a miracle! They did not need to learn the language—as they could have done—but spoke it instantly. This ability was sometimes seen in a slightly different form—interpretation. This is spoken of as a separate gift, 1Cor 12:30.
3. The reason for this gift, v5, 9-11. It was not merely to show off spiritual ability. There was a very practical reason! Jerusalem was filled with foreigners for the Passover! These were devout/religious persons as far as Levitical protocol was concerned but they needed to hear of Christ. Cp 1:8.
4. The use of the gift, v11. The gift was employed to communicate the wonderful works of God to the vast crowds gathered to the temple. The words these men spoke turned the minds of their audience to consider the greatness of God.

III  THE INITIAL RESPONSES OF THE PEOPLE.

There are two responses recorded here.

1. Amazed wonder, v6-7, 12. There was a sense of amazed consternation! Many were induced to consider and inquire into what the Apostles were saying because of their recognition of a miracle. Such was the impact of the ‘sign’ – it was to impress the unbeliever with his own ignorance of God and disobedience and so induce him to listen to God’s truth. Cp 1Cor 14:21-22.
2. Mockery, v13. Sinful men—even when engaged in religious activity—are ready to despise the means God uses to communicate His truth to their hearts. The mocking spirit led them to slander the apostles, v13 and dismiss their message as drunken ramblings. The work of the Spirit in His servants does not prevent such accusations!