Provides for God’s Mission vv. 1-4
-The Spirit came in power, He came suddenly, He came on His terms and in His own time. He came for a mission. In military terms, Jesus was born in a clandestine obscure area, a manger! He was a Holy Insertion! The Holy Spirit comes as the second wave for the mission, the Holy Replacement in “shock and awe” form! The Holy Spirit is following Jesus’ mission.
What was the purpose of Christ? Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
The Old Testament predicted this coming of the Holy Spirit.
-Joel 2:28 “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.”
Pentecost means fiftieth, for 50 days after Passover
- This holiday is one of the three Jewish holidays when many would make a pilgrimage from other places. It would have several countries represented in Jerusalem at this time. Remember- God’s got a global purpose. God has this thing rigged!
- Pentecost is called the feast of harvest in Exodus 23:16. What a beautiful symbolic significance for the harvest of souls for God’s glory through the message of Christ!
-v.2 Jesus had talked in John 3:8 about the Spirit being like the wind. John 3:8 “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
-v.3 We know that fire in the Old Testament often indicated the presence of God.
-v.4 Tongues meant other languages of those present. We see this again in Cornelius’s house in Acts 10:45-46 and then for those who followed John while in Ephesus, in Acts 19:6.
Proof of God’s Movement vv.5-11
v.7- They did not believe Galileans were smart. When they were speaking other languages, it quickly caused notice. When you fly, Arabic languages make others fearful.
all nations under heaven” would hear the message of Jesus Christ. Remember Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” So the message of the “…mighty works of God” (v.11) heard in their own language, was proof of God’s movement. The movement of God is to draw men to Him, not to draw men to men. It is for God’s glorification, and not self-edification! So let’s be careful of people who say that speaking in tongues is a sign of salvation! I’d say love is the sign of salvation. John and Paul recorded Jesus’ words in the following passages: “By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) and “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:1-3) Jesus also says, as recorded by Paul in 1 Cor. 13: 8-13: “Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
God loves us for eternity; enough to send His son; enough that any hurts, pains, trials- they all pale in comparison to eternity with Christ!
Perplexed by God’s Majesty vv.12-13
–One will either turn toward the majesty of Christ after hearing the gospel message or turn away from Him.
Acts 17:32-34 “32Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.” 33So Paul went out from their midst. 34But some men joined him and believed…”
–They would either follow Christ, be angry with the messenger and put them in prison, or leave. It’s like beating the mail person because they gave us bills! The Lord asks us to evaluate the message of the cross, to count the cost of discipleship. His majesty is worthy of our lives. Our joy can only be fueled and found by Him.