The Coming of the Holy Spirit

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1–13 (ESV)

2 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.”

COMMENT:  In this passage Luke, the writer of Acts shares many of the immediate details of this marvellous event.  He shares that it is the time of the celebration called “The Day of Pentecost” which was a Jewish celebration that occurred 50 days after Passover and was one of the 3 celebrations throughout the year that the people of Israel were to come to Jerusalem.  The word “Pentecost” means “fiftieth.”  What is beautiful in this story is to see the hand of God at work, working His sovereign plan.  He chose to launch the beginnings of the church, the new covenant, at this event when faithful Jews from almost all parts of the world were present.  Here, after the disciples were praying, God pours out His Holy Spirit on the disciples.  The signs of God working was that at this moment the disciples started talking in different languages that were understandable.  There was a loud sound of rushing wind that caught the attention of those in the area who were visiting from all over the world.  They came to see what was going on and when they came they heard the disciples (whom they were surprise were speaking as they noted they were Galileans!)  God was preparing them for something big, something amazing that would change the known world and has affected us today!  In v. 12 it says, “And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”  The anticipation for the reader is clear, something awesome is going to take place!

APPLICATION:  There are a few reminders that I have learned from this passage.  1) Again, prayer, is so vital and important to our lives.  If we want God to work, if we want God to be glorified, then we must pray.  The disciples did not know what was going to happen, so they did not turn to their television, to their playstation, to the newspaper (or cultural equivalent entertaining themselves to burn time through frivolous means), but they turned to God in prayer.  When I am going through periods of time that I need answers, when I am uncertain of what is next, the reminder again is to pray.  2) When God invades our lives, by His Holy Spirit, our lives change.  The disciples did not know, nor understand how much of a tremendous impact that the Holy Spirit would have on the life of the church from the point and into the future.  Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come (John 14:25-27) and teach them and remind them.  Here the Holy Spirit comes into the life of the church, changes the disciples and changes cultures for all generations to follow!  May God continue to change our culture through His Holy Spirit today as He did at Pentecost!  3)  God used simple people, Galileans.  They were not aristocrats, philosophers, people of nobility, hence the shock among the people in v. 12 to note that they were Galileans.  The reminder for me, is that God uses simple, humble people.  God can use me, and others who are just normal people.  He is the one that picks us up and uses us.  What an awesome God we serve that he would take “the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27).