Day 902: For the whole world - Acts 2 vs 1 - 13

1-2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3-4 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5-6 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

7-10 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? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians – 11 we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12-13 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” Acts 2:1-13 English Standard Version

'Pentecost' is the Greek name for an Old Testament festival called 'the Feast of Weeks', and refers to the fifty days elapsed since the Passover. At Passover there was a feast called 'The Feast of First-fruits'. The Feast of Weeks celebrated the end of the grain harvest. It may be significant that the apostle Paul used a harvest picture when he said: “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20) As it turned out, this particular Day of Pentecost was going to be the start of the gospel harvest that would follow.

In the same way as when Jesus came into the world at the incarnation, so this day of Pentecost was also a unique event. Jesus had told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Father. And so that there would be no mistaking that the promise had now arrived, the Spirit's arrival was accompanied by the sound of a rushing wind and the appearance of what looked like tongues of fire resting on each of them. There was also the sign of the disciples speaking ‘other tongues’. This has led to much debate among Christians, but for now, I'll just note that the same Greek word is used for the ‘tongues’ which the disciple spoke in, as for when the people said: “How is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?” What would you say is significant about verses 5 & 6?

It struck me that the same God who had confused the language used by the people building the tower of Babel, causing them to eventually form many nations with unique languages, chose a day when, in Jerusalem, there were “devout men from every nation under heaven.” Keep in mind too that among the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples were that they should “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19) So what did those people from so many nations hear in their own language that day? Vs 11.

The disciples must have immediately begun to tell the crowd that gathered of “the mighty works of God.” That, as we will see as the chapter goes on, will have chiefly been all that God had done in and through Jesus Christ – especially His resurrection. It's a lovely description of what the gospel message is all about – i.e the mighty works of the one true God. It's a message of good news for all the nations of the world. It's a message that all who have become disciples of Jesus should should be involved in some way in making it known to all the world, even until Jesus returns. If we can't go, then at least we can give. Yes, we will encounter those who mock our message as the ramblings of someone who's had too much wine! But that mustn't hinder us from proclaiming the mighty works of God to every people group on earth.