Acts 2:1-21
Acts 2:1-21 Pentecost, Filled with the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:1-21
Recap
After the crucifixion Jesus appeared to the apostles for 40 days and then ascended.
The apostles were told to wait in Jerusalem until they received the baptism (immersion) of the Holy Spirit.
Peter explains to 120 disciples that Judas fell away but that it was always prophesied to be such
The goal being to strengthen their faith through the fulfillment of prophesy
Scripture
Acts 2 (NKJV) 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and [one] sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
He tells us that it was Pentecost
These dates aren’t random
Remember Jesus was crucified on Passover (because Jesus is the Passover lamb)
He rose from the grave on the Feast of First Fruits (because Jesus is the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep, 1 Cor 15:20)
Then Jesus was with the apostles for 40 days
And now they are all together on Pentecost
Pentecost is the greek word meaning 50th
On the Jewish calendar it was the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) and occurred on the 50th day from First Fruits
It was one of 3 annual pilgrimage feasts that Jewish men were commanded to appear before the Lord (Deut 16:16)
He says were all together in one accord and one place
What is the significance of the fact that they were all together in one accord and one place? They ALL were being obedient and waiting as Jesus commanded
And the result of their obedience was the filling of the Holy Spirit
Hes described this same instance in two ways:
Baptism of the Holy Spirit - which means to fully immerse in the Spirit.
Filling of the Holy Spirit
I can’t explain what is going on here other than both of these speak of totality
To be baptized or immersed is to be fully enveloped by
To be filled is to be completely filled
Some see these as two separate things, I see these as two ways of explaining the same thing
Complete transformation.
Upon the filling of the Spirit they began to speak in other tongues
The word tongues is the word “glossah” which literally means a physical tongue
But it also means a known language.
The result of their surrender and obedience was the filling of the Spirit which resulted in them being able to speak in a known language they had never learned.
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 “And how [is it that] we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 “Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes (gentiles who converted to Judaism), 11 “Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”
He says there were dwelling in Jerusalem devout men - it was Shavuot, the pilgrimage feast that day
They were devout men in that they were observing the required pilgrimage traveling from all over the world to Jerusalem
There is no better time or place for God to reveal Himself through the Holy Spirit then on this day
These devout men hear the loud noise of the Spirit filling the apostles and they hear the apostles speaking in their own languages
Notice what it is they were speaking - the wonderful works of God
They were praising God in a known language
What is the direction of speech? It is from us upwards
In Acts 10 we see the family of Cornelius exercising the gift of tongues
Acts 10:44-46 (NKJV) 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
What is the direction of speech? It is from us upwards
Be careful about the exercise of “tongues” in a manner from God downward
12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
They were all amazed
That means they recognized that it was a miracle
These devout men see this miracle and hear what is being said and it peaks their attention
This is the purpose of all miracles - to testify to the truth of who Jesus is and His power
13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
But others mocked and said they were merely drunk
Despite seeing the miracle, they explained it away
We need to be careful of explaining away the miracles we see God do
We read in Hebrews:
Hebrews 3:12-15 (NKJV) 12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
The miracle of the Holy Spirit here pricks the heart of these men
And some respond in amazement, perplexed or curious as to what this could mean.
We see their heart opened ready for an explanation
But some rationalize it away, they harden their heart in unbelief to the drawing of the Holy Spirit
To which the author of Hebrews warns: today… don’t harden your heart.
He warns of hardening our hearts because we have the capacity to do so
God can draw us to Him by many means, but here He uses a miracle
We aren’t entitled for the Father to draw us to Him at all - let alone repeatedly
So if God is drawing you to Him
By a miracle
By conviction
By circumstance
Don’t take it for granted and rationalize it away - to do so is to tread on dangerous ground
We have no promise He will continue to draw us
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 “For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is [only] the third hour of the day. 16 “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass [That] whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.’
Peter begins to explain to the detractors - these men aren’t drunk
He quotes Joel 2 from the OT that prophesied that God said this would happen when He poured out His Spirit
God had worked a miracle in their midst drawing these men to Him
But some had begun to explain it away
So Peter points these devout men to scripture and the fulfillment of prophesy
The Spirit of God is drawing these men through a miraculous work
They resist, so the Spirit works through Peter to continue to draw them by explaining what is happening
And He bids them to turn from their unbelief, and call on the name of the Lord
This is a pattern Paul establishes as well in 1 Thessalonians:
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (NKJV) 19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test all things;
hold fast what is good.
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