Acts 2:1-15
Acts 2:1-15
January 26, 2020
Acts 2
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.1
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 2:1–15). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Have you ever had something promised to you, only to have that promise go unfulfilled or worse yet, outright broken?
It is more than frustrating. At times, it’s heartbreaking.
There is a Gaelic proverb that states “There is no greater fraud than a
promise not kept.”
Actress Shirley MacLaine is known for her new age spiritual beliefs, but despite that her statement about promises seems to resonate with many. She stated years ago, “It’s useless to hold a person to anything he says while he’s in love, drunk, or running for office.”
The disappointment that is experienced with an expectation is not met, or a promise is broken can be devastating.
Years ago a waitress in Panama City sued the restaurant where she worked. The restaurant was having a beer sales contest for its wait staff and the winner was to receive a new Toyota. She won the contest and was so excited. They blindfolded her and escorted her out to the parking lot where she imagined her new car would be parked. When the blindfold was removed, rather than a new Toyota car in the lot, she saw a small, green toy alien from the Star Wars movies sitting in the space. She had not won a Toyota, but a Toy Yoda. It was hilarious...but not to her.
The restaurant’s manager claimed the entire contest was an April Fool’s joke. Then lawyers got involved.
The Toy Yoda incident is minor and yet, newsworthy. However, there are some who struggle to trust others today due to broken promises. Whether it was a parent saying “See you soon” as they walked out the door, never to come back or a spouse who suddenly revealed that those vows that stated “’Til death do us part” were just words that didn’t mean
anything and what he really meant was “’Til I get tired of you and want a new start.”
Devastating and sinful.
Perhaps this was one of the reasons that the men’s ministry started by Bill McCartney decades ago made such an immediate impact. A ministry called “Promise Keepers” was counter-cultural and went to the heart of many wounds for some. It was a challenge to, well, do something most do not do – keep promises.
Broken promises by broken people break people. This is why it is so difficult for some to truly believe God means what he says. It’s hard for some to believe the truth of His word. It’s that “I’ve been hurt before and don’t want to be hurt again so I’ll lower expectations and just not believe everything I hear” mode that many have fallen into. And, I can’t blame them, or you.
But here’s something really, truly counter-cultural. In fact, it’s a solid reality that has been proven throughout the ages. God, unlike man, keeps his promises every time, all the time, one hundred percent of the time.
That’s what we see happening here in Acts 2 at this feast of Pentecost. It is the fulfillment of promises by God his children. Promises made centuries prior, shared in synagogues and among family members for years, and echoed by Christ himself during his ministry on earth.
In chapter one of Acts, right before Christ ascended into heaven, he instructed the disciples to wait in the city of Jerusalem.
Acts 1:4-5
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said,
“you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 2
So they waited. Jesus ascended into heaven. Angels appeared and told them to do as he said and get off the mountain where they were standing, staring into the sky.
“Wait” – perhaps one of the most difficult commands to follow. But they waited.
Then, it happened.
1. PROMISE KEPT – The promise given by Jesus was kept. The promise that the Holy Spirit would come and baptize them soon. They did not understand what this meant or how it would be manifested, but when it occurred, there was no doubt it was the fulfillment of the promise.
Not just this promise, but others throughout the Bible that prepared the people for this day. A promise made to the prophets.
Joel 2:28-32
28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32 And it shall come to
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 1:4–5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.3
This was the fulfillment of God’s promise. A plan that was in place before the creation of time. This moment where the third person of the Trinity would come upon God’s people and transform them was occurring here at this moment in Jerusalem.
And, it was amazing.
2. PENTECOST COVERING – The Pentecost moment ushered in the age and era of the church. Pentecost is a Jewish festival. It happened every year. In the Old Testament it was called the Feast of the Harvest.
The Holy Spirit entered the room where the disciples were. It was not a covert moment, as the Bible states it was like a mighty wind. It drew the attention of others in the city. Tongues of fire, as it is described lit upon the disciples. This is a strange occurrence and unlike anything they had experienced. The disciples began to speak, but the languages they spoke were other than what they knew.
This was no “heavenly language” or “prayer language” or any semblance of what some today call “speaking in tongues.” This is the biblical and authentic tongues as expressed for God’s purpose. While not a reversal of the Tower of Babel scene in Genesis, it does remind us of that moment when God divided the nations by language. Here, he creates the bridge through language given by His Spirit for the good of the church and his own glory.
While these Galilean disciples of Christ were not uneducated, they were certainly not educated in the languages expressed. They were,
3 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Joe 2:28–32). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
for the most part, blue-collar, hard-working men who followed Christ and abandoned their own plans for the gospel. They were not schooled in the rabbinical ways. They were not educated as Pharisees and Sadducees. Therefore when they began speaking, people took note.
This covering of the Holy Spirit upon his people at Pentecost drew the attention of the many in the city. The “multitude” came to hear what had happened. They then heard from these “unlearned men from Galilee” and were astonished.
3. PERSPECTIVE CLARIFIED – What happened here is amazing and there are numerous teachings in this passage, but one very clear teaching is the clarification of God’s calling to his church and the world.
7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
What does this mean?
It means that the salvation message of the gospel is not reserved for Jews alone. It is not for the learned alone. It is not only for one race, one culture, one nationality, one gender.
Galatians 3:28
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.4
CLOSING
The Holy Spirit has always existed, but at this moment in time the church is commissioned. In the Old Testament it states at times that the Holy Spirit is with his people. In this moment and from hereon, the Holy Spirit is in his people.
The gospel is the good news that life is available through Christ. The good news is Christ. He lived, died, rose again and offers us full and abundant life in him. He promised to never leave nor forsake us – and when we surrender to him as Lord, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into God’s family. The new birth is irrevocable. Salvation is secure in Him. Sealed by the Spirit.
Pentecost is a feast of harvest. Appropriate that this moment occurred here. The message is clear – Salvation is available for all. And the harvest is ripe.
4 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ga 3:28). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
