The Holy Spirit on Pentecost
The Holy Spirit on Pentecost
The Day of Pentecost – This was a specific event to mark the receipt and the beginning of what God had promised to do, “pour out his Spirit on all people”. Pentecost (in Greek fiftieth) is the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week (Lev. 23:15-16); it is also called the feast of Weeks, the Feast of harvest and the day of first-fruits (Numbers 28: 26). God rightly chose this day to be the first fruits of what Jesus had died for. This event inaugurates the beginning of a reconciled relationship of all peoples with the Father God.
Let’s keep in mind that the Holy Spirit of God is not new in all of creation. The Old Testament is covered of instances where the Holy Spirit was in operation and dwelt on many such as Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah and host of the prophets of God in order to accomplish various tasks. Even in the New Testament we also see the Holy Spirit in operation in the lives of many such as Mary the mother of Jesus, Zachariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist (who was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb) and of course Jesus Christ.
The issue at hand in the event of the “Day of Pentecost” is the fulfillment of “the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about” Acts 1:4. Nothing like it has ever taken place in all of creation. What happened at Pentecost? What does it mean and how does that change the world and my life as a believer in Jesus Christ?
Acts 2: 1-13
1When the day of Pentecost came; they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" 13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine.[b]"
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. The moment we have been waiting for has now arrived and we can’t believe it. I can imagine the disciples looking at each other and asking what is going on. It is assumed that the disciples were in some room in the temple courts. This will be confirmed by the crowd that heard the same sound like a “violent wind” that came running to the location. I don’t think this is too hard for us to imagine and believe. We are in the tornado and heavy rain season and we are now experiencing such sounds of strong winds.
2. The next physical observable event was “what seemed like tongues of fire that separated and rested on each of them”. It was the same source and same fire signifying the unity of the Spirit (One Spirit, One Lord, One baptism).
3. The next thing we are told is that “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit”. This is the exact fulfillment of the words of Jesus, “You will be baptized (filled with) the Holy Spirit” Acts 1:5. When something that is empty (say a bottle or cup) is filled, it takes over the available space and volume. Being filled with the Spirit means the spirit of man is now under complete control of the Spirit of God. I don’t know about you but I want to be filled of the Spirit of God at all times. I have had enough of myself.
4. Note that the most significant of what happened was that “the Spirit rested on each of them” and “all were filled with the Holy Spirit”. Let’s us not miss this. The promise of the Father is to have His Spirit “poured out on all people”. No one was left out. Let us establish who the “all” is. I believe it is the 120 that were mentioned in Acts 1:15 (“a group numbering about a hundred and twenty”). It included the disciples and the women (there is now no Jew nor Gentile; male or female but all are one in Christ).
5. They all “began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them”. On this day of Pentecost the disciples spoke in other tongues. The Spirit of God which had full control enabled them to speak languages they had not learned nor spoke previously. When you are under total control, the Holy Spirit’s words become the words you speak.
6. Keep in mind that speaking in tongues had already been spoken about by Jesus to take place as one of the signs and not the only sign that will follow those who believe in Christ (Mark 16:17). There will be two other instances in Acts, when the people who received the Holy Spirit spoke in other tongues (Acts 10:46 and 19:6). Speaking in other tongues is not therefore, the evidence nor the proof that one believes and is saved in Christ and is filled with the Holy Spirit. The most important thing is that one first believes in Christ as Savior and is filled with Holy Spirit of God i.e. God has complete control my spirit.
7. The other tongues spoken were actual languages spoken by people who were present from all parts of the region including Egypt, Rome and Arab nations. “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” We may debate about whether tongues are for today or not (you be the judge), but we can agree that it was real and did take place. Sometime ago in Washington DC, in our congregation (which was multi-national), an American (who had never been to China nor speak Chinese) spoke in tongues and it happened to be in Mandarin. Following her, a Chinese lady who understood and spoke Mandarin gave the exact interpretation.
8. We often get carried away by emphasizing who spoke and did not speak in tongues. The emphasis in this passage was actually on the hearers of the tongues that were spoken. In other words, speaking other tongues must benefit the hearers and cause them to hear and experience the wonderful works of God. Like any “sign” it must point us to God and not to self. The key phrase is that the “Spirit enabled them” to speak.
We have just outlined what happened on Pentecost. Those who gathered had asked the question, “What does this mean? Some however made fun of them (the disciples) and said, ‘They have had too much wine’” The mocking still goes on even till this day. We would hear Apostle Peter explain it all as we continue our study. For now, I thank God that His Spirit has been “poured out on all people” including you and me. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit or full of self? Does God have complete control of your spirit? For most of us, our speech and what comes out of our mouths must change to reflect a spirit filled with God’s Spirit and to edify the hearers. Lord, please have total control of us. Amen. Encourage someone today by your speech.
The Day of Pentecost – This was a specific event to mark the receipt and the beginning of what God had promised to do, “pour out his Spirit on all people”. Pentecost (in Greek fiftieth) is the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week (Lev. 23:15-16); it is also called the feast of Weeks, the Feast of harvest and the day of first-fruits (Numbers 28: 26). God rightly chose this day to be the first fruits of what Jesus had died for. This event inaugurates the beginning of a reconciled relationship of all peoples with the Father God.
Let’s keep in mind that the Holy Spirit of God is not new in all of creation. The Old Testament is covered of instances where the Holy Spirit was in operation and dwelt on many such as Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah and host of the prophets of God in order to accomplish various tasks. Even in the New Testament we also see the Holy Spirit in operation in the lives of many such as Mary the mother of Jesus, Zachariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist (who was filled with the Holy Spirit in the womb) and of course Jesus Christ.
The issue at hand in the event of the “Day of Pentecost” is the fulfillment of “the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about” Acts 1:4. Nothing like it has ever taken place in all of creation. What happened at Pentecost? What does it mean and how does that change the world and my life as a believer in Jesus Christ?
Acts 2: 1-13
1When the day of Pentecost came; they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" 13Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine.[b]"
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. The moment we have been waiting for has now arrived and we can’t believe it. I can imagine the disciples looking at each other and asking what is going on. It is assumed that the disciples were in some room in the temple courts. This will be confirmed by the crowd that heard the same sound like a “violent wind” that came running to the location. I don’t think this is too hard for us to imagine and believe. We are in the tornado and heavy rain season and we are now experiencing such sounds of strong winds.
2. The next physical observable event was “what seemed like tongues of fire that separated and rested on each of them”. It was the same source and same fire signifying the unity of the Spirit (One Spirit, One Lord, One baptism).
3. The next thing we are told is that “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit”. This is the exact fulfillment of the words of Jesus, “You will be baptized (filled with) the Holy Spirit” Acts 1:5. When something that is empty (say a bottle or cup) is filled, it takes over the available space and volume. Being filled with the Spirit means the spirit of man is now under complete control of the Spirit of God. I don’t know about you but I want to be filled of the Spirit of God at all times. I have had enough of myself.
4. Note that the most significant of what happened was that “the Spirit rested on each of them” and “all were filled with the Holy Spirit”. Let’s us not miss this. The promise of the Father is to have His Spirit “poured out on all people”. No one was left out. Let us establish who the “all” is. I believe it is the 120 that were mentioned in Acts 1:15 (“a group numbering about a hundred and twenty”). It included the disciples and the women (there is now no Jew nor Gentile; male or female but all are one in Christ).
5. They all “began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them”. On this day of Pentecost the disciples spoke in other tongues. The Spirit of God which had full control enabled them to speak languages they had not learned nor spoke previously. When you are under total control, the Holy Spirit’s words become the words you speak.
6. Keep in mind that speaking in tongues had already been spoken about by Jesus to take place as one of the signs and not the only sign that will follow those who believe in Christ (Mark 16:17). There will be two other instances in Acts, when the people who received the Holy Spirit spoke in other tongues (Acts 10:46 and 19:6). Speaking in other tongues is not therefore, the evidence nor the proof that one believes and is saved in Christ and is filled with the Holy Spirit. The most important thing is that one first believes in Christ as Savior and is filled with Holy Spirit of God i.e. God has complete control my spirit.
7. The other tongues spoken were actual languages spoken by people who were present from all parts of the region including Egypt, Rome and Arab nations. “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” We may debate about whether tongues are for today or not (you be the judge), but we can agree that it was real and did take place. Sometime ago in Washington DC, in our congregation (which was multi-national), an American (who had never been to China nor speak Chinese) spoke in tongues and it happened to be in Mandarin. Following her, a Chinese lady who understood and spoke Mandarin gave the exact interpretation.
8. We often get carried away by emphasizing who spoke and did not speak in tongues. The emphasis in this passage was actually on the hearers of the tongues that were spoken. In other words, speaking other tongues must benefit the hearers and cause them to hear and experience the wonderful works of God. Like any “sign” it must point us to God and not to self. The key phrase is that the “Spirit enabled them” to speak.
We have just outlined what happened on Pentecost. Those who gathered had asked the question, “What does this mean? Some however made fun of them (the disciples) and said, ‘They have had too much wine’” The mocking still goes on even till this day. We would hear Apostle Peter explain it all as we continue our study. For now, I thank God that His Spirit has been “poured out on all people” including you and me. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit or full of self? Does God have complete control of your spirit? For most of us, our speech and what comes out of our mouths must change to reflect a spirit filled with God’s Spirit and to edify the hearers. Lord, please have total control of us. Amen. Encourage someone today by your speech.
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