The Book of Acts - Week 2

Acts 2:1-13

First filling of the spirit-the power of the church

As we discussed previously, Luke is the author of Acts.  You might find it interesting that Luke 2 is the birth of Jesus and Acts 2 is the birth of the Holy Spirit.  The Day of Pentecost is upon the disciples and they find themselves gathered together again.

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 them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own 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. " (NIV)

The wind described in verse 2 uses the Greek work "pneuma", which is the same word used for spirit and breath.  Like the Holy Spirit, the wind is invisible, immaterial and powerful. It shows us the power of the Holy Spirit that cannot be contained.

In verse 6, they began speaking in the native languages of those crowded around.  The Spirit enabled them and gave them the words to say, as none of them knew these languages on their own.  Jews were coming into Jerusalem from all over the nation for the feast.  They were amazed to hear their own languages being spoken.  Note that it says "languages" not just random sounds without meaning.

I love the quote at the end of verse 11  "we hear them declaring the wonders of God".  May we all be so bold as to declare the wonders of God!