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posted ago by Q20191776 ago by Q20191776 +53 / -0

Acts 2:1-13

https://www.biblestudytools.com/acts/passage/?q=acts+2:1-13

The Holy Spirit Comes At Pentecost

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia 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!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Study Notes: These will be added throughout the day.

2:1 Held 50 days after Passover, Pentecost was also called the Feast of Weeks. It was one of three major annual feasts (Deuteronomy 16:16), a festival of thanksgiving for the harvested crops. Jesus was crucified at Passover time, and he ascended 40 days after his resurrection. The Holy Spirit came 50 days after the resurrection, 10 days after the ascension. Jews of many nations gathered in Jerusalem for this festival. Thus Peter's speech (2:14ff) was given to an international audience, and it resulted in a worldwide harvest of new believers--the first converts to Christianity.

2:3, 4 This was a fulfillment of John The Baptist's words about the Holy Spirit's baptizing with fire (Luke 3:16), and of the prophet Joel's words about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28, 29).
Why tongues of fire? Tongue symbolizes speech and the communication of the gospel. Fire symbolizes God's purifying presence, which burns away the undesirable elements of our lives and sets our hearts aflame to ignite the lives of others. In Mount Sinai, God confirmed the validity of the Holy Spirit's ministry by sending fire from heaven (Exodus 19:16-18). At Pentecost, God confirmed the validity of the Holy Spirit's ministry by sending fire. At Mount Sinai, fire had come down on one place; at Pentecost, fire came down on many believers, symbolizing that God's presence is now available to all who believe in him.

2:3, 4 God made his presence known to this group of believers in a spectacular way --violent wind, fire, and his Holy Spirit. Would you like God to reveal himself to you in such recognizable ways? He may do so, but be wary of forcing your expectations on God. In 1 Kings 19:10-13, Elijah also needed a message from God. There was a great wind, then an earthquake, and finally a fire. But God's message came in a "gentle whisper." God may use dramatic methods to work in your life --or he may speak in gentle whispers. Wait patiently and always listen.

2:4-11 These people literally spoke in other languages --a miraculous attention-getter for the international crowd gathered in town for the feast. All the nationalities represented recognized their own languages being spoken. But more than miraculous speaking drew people's attention; they saw the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The apostles continued to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit wherever they went.

2:7, 8 Christianity is not limited to any race or group of people. Christ offers salvation to all people without regard to nationality. Visitors in Jerusalem were surprised to hear the apostles and other believers speaking in languages other than their own, the languages of other nationalities, but they need not have been. God works all kinds of miracles to spread the gospel, using many languages as he calls all kinds of people to become his followers. No matter what your race, color, nationality, or language, God speaks to you. Are you listening?

2:9-11 Why are all these places mentioned? This is a list of many lands from which Jews came to the festivals in Jerusalem. These Jews were not living in Palestine because they had been dispersed throughout the world through captivities and persecutions. Very likely, some of the Jews who responded to Peter's message returned to their homelands with God's Good News of salvation. Thus God prepared the way for the spread of the gospel. As you read Acts, you will see how the way was often prepared for Paul and other messengers by people who became believers at Pentecost. The church at Rome, for example, was probably begun by such Jewish believers.


It is amazing to me how we can look back on events and see how certain things had to happen before other things took place. I firmly believe that there is divine order. Allknowing God knows His prerequisites. He knows the gift of the freedom to choose that He gave to us. And so, we are instructed to wait sometimes, just as the disciples were to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. How marvelous it is that God equips us with His Holy Spirit of Truth! How divine it is that He does this for all nations! We dig and watch for the truth; we are not idle. Then we share it here on GAW for the whole world to see and amplify. I love the many ways God works!

Almighty Allknowing God, thank You for Your Son who came and taught His own, and for Your Holy Spirit of Truth that He sent to be with us now and forever. Thank You for the truth that is coming out. Help us to have the patience to learn what to do with these truths. Help us see clearly Your divine order and prerequisites as You reveal them to us. Then thank You for equipping and empowering us to be able to live in truth. In Jesus' holy name, Amen.

A Song: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VDhWLf6MC0c

Have a blessed day.