THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ACTS: CHAPTER 2 (continued)

"Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!'"

Acts 2:5-11

Thousands of Jews from every country in the world were in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. They came from hundreds of miles away to be part of the great Jewish festival. Jews from around the world spoke Hebrew. That was part of their religious training. But they also spoke the native language of the country where they were born and raised. They spoke in Hebrew during religious services and training. They spoke their native language (Egyptian, Greek, etc) in their every day communication. Jews were a bi-lingual people. They would not have been surprised if Christ's disciples were speaking in Hebrew. The surprise came when Galileans spoke in their native languages.

The surprise came from a belief that "Galileans" were not educated people. Many Galileans were peasant farmers and fishermen. Josephus (himself a Galilean) estimated the population at three million at the time of Christ. The Galileans believed deeply in the promise of the Messiah and were staunch followers of Jesus in his early ministry on earth. 11 or the 12 apostles were Galileans. Jesus grew up as a Galilean in the city of Nazareth. Some examples of the way people thought of Galileans are found in John 1:46 and John 7:52.

"Philip found Nathanael and told him, 'We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.' 'Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?' Nathanel asked."

"Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, 'Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?' They replied, 'Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.'"

The Jews on Pentecost heard a "sound." The word is phones . It can mean a "sound, voice, note, noise, roar, or outcry." The literal reads, "when this sound happened." They heard the "sound like the blowing of a violent wind" and the disciples speaking in the native language of each Jew. The multitude came together "in bewilderment" (sunechuthe ). It means "to pour together, commingle, to trouble or confuse, to stir up, confound." (The Latin word confundo , comes from sunechuthe ) The events that surrounded the disciples on Pentecost stirred up the thousands of Jews around them. They had never heard such a thing before and came together in a great crowd. (That's exactly what God had planned to happen.) They were "utterly amazed." That's existanto de kai ethaumazon . existanto , means "to stand out from, be amazed, surprised, astonished, to be beside oneself with wide-open astonishment." ethaumazon , means "marvelled, wondered." It speaks of a continuing wonderment. The Jews were amazed by what they saw and heard and tried to comprehend what was happening before their eyes and ears.

Their spoken reaction to this was a question: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?" It's like someone saying, "This can't be happening!" The Jews immediately recognized the disciples as mostly Galileans. That was probably because of the their clothes and ornaments. The second part of their question was: "Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?" The crowd shouted out the names of the different nations, then said: "we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues?" The crowd knew that the Galileans would not have the training to speak in all of the languages assembled in Jerusalem that day. Each one spoke in Hebrew but they were hearing the Galileans speaking clearly in their own native language. This was a miracle! It was not something the Galileans had planned to do. It wasn't a mass hysteria. It was a miracle. Every person in the crowd hear the disciples declaring the wonders of God in their own tongue.

Luke does not explain whether the disciples spoke in one "miracle" tongue that became a native language to each listener as they heard it or if each disciple spoke in a different earthly tongue so that every listener would hear a disciple speaking in their language. That would have been the potential of 120 languages. What we do know is that everyone in the crowd of thousands gathered around the disciples heard their native tongue and were utterly amazed by it. They had never witnessed such a sight. It was more than their minds could comprehend.

The crowd heard the disciples "declaring the wonders of God." That's ta megaleia tou theou . It means the "great deeds, the mighty, wonderful, magnificent works" of God. Luke doesn't explain what great deeds of God the disciples spoke, but they may have been about God's Great Plan of sending Jesus to earth as the Messiah of Israel. What ever it was, the Jews understood the message as "declaring the wonders of God."

The Jews were "amazed and perplexed" and asked each other, "What does this mean?" "Amazed and perplexed" is existanto de pantes kai dieporounto . We've already seen the definition of existanto . Dieporounto , "perplexed", means "to be at a loss," It is a compound verb from dia ("through") and aporeo ("to be without a way out"). The idea is of someone who goes "through" every possible way of what it might be, but finds no way out. The Jews came up with no explanation about what they were seeing and hearing. They were "perplexed."

There are always a few in a crowd who do little thinking. They just make fun of anything they don't understand. "Some, however, made fun of them and said, 'They have had too much wine.'" This is not a bright, thoughtful view of the event unfolding before them. Everyone heard the Galileans supernaturally speak in the native language of every Jew in the crowd, yet some thought it was the words of drunks. Drunks do not speak in languages they have never learned. The speech of drunks is slurred and unsure. Even so, some of the crowd made fun of the disciples.

Peter and the Crowd

"Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: 'Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' 'Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.' Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him an oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, 'The Lord said to my Lord; 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' 'Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.' When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.' With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.' Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

Acts 2:14-41

Peter stood up and spoke to the crowd because he had the authority to do so. Jesus had made Peter the leader and spokesperson of the Messianic disciples. (John 21:15-19; Acts 1:15) God used Peter to preach the great Pentecostal message. But notice that Peter "stood up with the Eleven." All of the Kingdom Apostles stood in front of the crowd. That was as it should be. The 12 Apostles stood before the 12 tribes of Israel and pronounced the Kingdom Message. The Kingdom message included 12 thrones. Each of the 12 apostles would sit on one of the thrones and would together judge the 12 tribes of Israel. The "Eleven" Apostles were in harmony and support of what Peter preached. They had no division about what was happening. Jesus prepared them for this day. The Spirit of God filled them with cooperation and commitment to what God planned so many years before.

Peter preached what has to be one of the greatest sermons of all times. It is short, to the point and full of Scriptural support. Pastors and teachers: look at how Peter constructs his message. It's insightful for all of us.

1. He first identified himself as being one of them and understanding their needs: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jeruslaem."

2. He promised to meet their immediate need to understand what was happening: "let me explain this to you."

3. He pointed out how important his information was to them: "listen carefully to what I say."

4. He quickly dealt with the misinformation running through the crowd: "These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!"

5. He directed their consideration to the proper source to explain what was happening, God's Word: "No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:"

6. He went to the heart of the explanation by quoting the Words of God, rather than depending on his own words: "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

7. He quickly drew the crowd's attention from Old Testament Prophecy to current events to show them the prophecy was coming true before their eyes: "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."

8. He pulled in more Scriptural evidence for the crowd to consider: "David said about him: 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence."

9. He presented the logic of what had happened in light of David's prophecy: "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him an oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, 'The Lord said to my Lord; 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' 'Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

10. He summarized the message powerfully and drove it home to the crowd in a way that would bring a strong reaction from them: "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

11. He was prepared for their questions and gave them the only answer possible: "When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."

12. He cared deeply for the people and gave all of himself to meet their needs: "With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.'"

13. He and the other Apostles were obedient to Christ's commands and did what was necessary to bring the new believers into the congregation of Kingdom Disciples: "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

The Message

Joel 2:28-32

The devastation Israel experienced was terrible. It destroyed the land and ruined people's lives and hope for a future.

The repentance Joel called Israel to was awesome. He first told the spiritual leaders of Israel to "Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God." That's where Israel's repentance had to begin, with the priests. People follow leaders. Leaders lead and people follow. That's how it works. Spiritual leaders must be the first to see the need for repentance and repent. It must begin in private, but quickly become public: "Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord." What Joel is calling for is a spiritual "house cleaning." Joel did not have in mind a couple of days of revival meetings with some singing, preaching and praying. What Joel wanted was for the pastors, elders, deacons, trustees, teachers, parents and children to fast, weep and mourn publicly before God: "Even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God." Joel gives the leaders and followers of Israel good reason to repent: "for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing--grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God."

Joel didn't suggest that Israel think about it for awhile. He didn't recommend they line up a committee to look at the various aspects of what repentance might mean to the people. He didn't look for ways to make repentance easy for people. Joel told Israel to do it God's way and do it immediately! "Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, 'Spare your people, O Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"

That was the intensity of Joel's original message hundreds of years before the Day of Pentecost. That intensity came from the Spirit of God Who was alive in Joel's prophetic words. The same Spirit brought that same intensity into the heart and mind of Peter on the Day he addressed thousands in Jerusalem.

Peter quoted from the restoration section of Joel. God told Israel that He would be "jealous" for His land and would take "pity" on His people. God promised Israel that He would drive the "northern army" far from them. He told the people He would renew their spiritual and earthly blessings. "And it shall be in the last days," speaks of the time when God will judge the nations and bless Israel. "In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel." (Joel 3:1-2)

In the last days, God would "pour out" His Spirit on all people. Peter told the crowd that "this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel." What the Jews witnessed on the Day of Pentecost was the promised coming of the Holy Spirit to cleanse and bless Israel. It was a time "before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord." What would come from this outpouring? "Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy."

God's Spirit had always been involved in inspiring prophets to speak and write the Words of God (2 Peter 1:20-21). Joel spoke of a time when the Holy Spirit would inspire Israel's "sons and daughters" and their "servants, both men and women," to prophesy, "young men" to see visions, and "old men" to dream dreams. It was a very special time for which Israel waited.

The Jews listening to Peter would not have missed the importance or ramifications of his claim. They knew about God's promise to deliver Israel from its bondage. They knew about the promised Messiah. What they didn't know was that the Man they had delivered to the Romans for torture and crucifixion weeks earlier was God's Son, the Messiah.

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.' Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him an oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, 'The Lord said to my Lord; 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' 'Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

"Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear." Jesus, the Man crucified and buried, had risen from the grave and ascended to the Right Hand of Almighty God, where He received the promised Holy Spirit and poured out what the Jews saw and heard on the Day of Pentecost.

This was quite a wake-up call for many. They were "cut to the heart" and wanted to know what they should do. The Greek is katenugesan . It means "stung, sharp pain." Peter's words hit them hard. It was not an easy message for them to hear. They wanted to know what in the world they could do. "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" "Repent" is metanoesate . It means to "change your mind and life." "And be baptized" is kai baptistheto ekastos humon . The literal translation is, "and let be baptized each of you." Dr. A.T. Robertson wrote, " Peter promised the crowd that they, too, would receive the "gift of the Holy Spirit" if they repented and were baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Repentance is first, followed by baptism in Christ's Name. Those who obeyed would receive forgiveness of their sins and the "gift" of the Holy Spirit.

Please continue this study about The Holy Spirit in Acts.

Taking God's Grace to the World!

"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright ©, 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers."

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