Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Acts 2:2. Indeed, a few days have passed since the Lord’s ascension. His promise, which is also that of the Father, will be fulfilled (Acts 1:1-5). In the form of “divided tongues, as of fire”, the Holy Spirit, divine person, descends upon the earth and dwells upon the disciples. Immediately its power manifests itself in them: they become able to express themselves in languages they did not know. God thus remedied in grace the curse of Babel and confirmed to all that the divine blessing would extend to the whole earth (Gen. 11:1-9).
The Jewish holiday of Pentecost brought to Jerusalem each year a considerable crowd of Israelites scattered among the nations. This attendance will be the occasion of the first major evangelization meeting. But what subjects of astonishment for this multitude. Everyone can hear in their own language “the magnificent things of God”. And those who speak to them are uneducated “Galileans” (Acts 4:8-14; Jn 7:14-19). This same Spirit will dwell on the earth as long as the Church is there. It is enough to walk in obedience to The Word of God so that He can accomplish His work: that of occupying our hearts with the person of the Lord, and He will accomplish it in His fulness when we have all arrived in glory.
For the Spirit came from heaven at Pentecost, to accomplish what this feast characterizes. Indeed, the Passover, the first of the Jewish holidays, had its fulfillment at the death of Christ. For after the Passover (Lev 23), the priest presented to jehovah, the day after the Sabbath, a wreath of the beginnings of the harvest. And the fulfillment of this type took place at the Resurrection of the Lord, the first fruit of the victory he had just won over the death and power of Satan and the beginnings of the great harvest of the redeemed. Thus, fifty days later, took place the feast of Pentecost, type of gathering of believers, fruits of the work of Christ on the cross.
That is why the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples that day. For once the work of Christ is done, we see that everything fully responds to what the types foreshadowed. For it is in no way necessary to be part of an elite, nor to have done certain studies to be a worker of the Lord. To depend on Him, to submit to the action of His Spirit, these are the only conditions required. May each of us be filled with it!
From a text of the prophet Joel (v.17-21; Joel 3:1-5 jl 3:1-5), Peter demonstrated to the Jews that the power that acts in their midst is of divine origin. When we hear any bible reading, let us never forget that God speaks to us.
Now Peter recalls the wonderful way of Christ here on earth, his death and resurrection announced by several passages of scripture, attested by the apostles. Thus “this Jesus” that the people had crucified, God made him sit at his right hand, designating him as Lord and Christ. What a subject of terror for his murderers, convinced of such a crime! Affected in their consciousness, the listeners have their hearts pierced. How to appease God after such an outrage? In the first place by repentance, answers Peter. This is not a simple regret for having acted wrongly but a judgment that one carries with God on one’s past actions and the abandonment of this ancient conduct; it is already a first manifestation of faith (that is why the apostle does not need to invite them to believe).
3,000 people were converted and baptized as a result of this first preaching. The result of this ineffable gift of the Holy Spirit is told to us. It was not only a moral change, but a power that set aside all the motives that individualized those who had received it, united them as one soul and in one thought. They persevered in the doctrine of the apostles; they were in communion together and with the apostles; they broke the bread, and pended their time in prayer. The feeling of God’s presence was powerful in their midst; and wonders and miracles were performed by the hands of the apostles. The believers were united by the closest ties, they did not talk about their individual rights, but they shared with each other and according to the need of each, what they possessed. Every day they were in the temple, a place where all of Israel performed its religious services in public, and they had their own separate service among themselves – breaking bread daily in their homes. They ate with joy and simplicity of heart, praising God and drawing upon them the favor of the people who surrounded them.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Sudden events:
Ec 9:12 Man also does not know his time, like the fish which are caught in the fatal net, and the birds which are trapped; like them, the sons of man are entwined at the time of misfortune, when he suddenly falls upon them. Ml 3.1 Behold, I will send my messenger; He will prepare the way in front of me. And suddenly the Lord you seek will enter his temple; And the messenger of the covenant that you desire, behold, he comes, Says the Lord of hosts. Mt 24:27 For as lightning departs from the East and shows itself as far as the West, so will be the advent of the Son of man. Mk 13:36 fear that he will find you asleep when he suddenly arrives. Lk 2:13 And suddenly he joined the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying; Acts 2:2 Suddenly a sound like that of an impetuous wind came from the sky, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts 9:3 As he was on his way, and as he approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven shines around him.
- Day of Pentecost:
Acts 2:1 On the day of Pentecost, they were all together in the same place. Acts 20:16 Paul had resolved to pass before Ephesus without stopping there, so as not to waste time in Asia; for he was hasty to be, if possible, in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. 1 Cor 16:8 I will nevertheless remain in Ephesus until Pentecost;
- The Spiritual Power:
-gives men the power to repel sin: Mi 3:8 But I am filled with strength, with the spirit of Jehovah, I am filled with righteousness and vigor, To make Jacob know his crime, And Israel his sin.
-stronger than physical strength: Za 4:6 Then he resumed and said to me: This is the word that Jehovah addresses to Zerubbabel: It is neither by power nor by force, but it is by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
-Jesus, the supreme example: Lk 4:14 Jesus, clothed in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and his fame spread throughout the surrounding land.
-accompanies the baptism of the Holy Spirit: Acts 1:8 But you will receive a power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
-allows men to speak with authority: Acts 4:33 The apostles gave with great force testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace rested on them all.
-allows to accomplish great miracles of healing: Acts 19:11-12 And God made extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 to the point that cloths or handkerchiefs were applied to the sick that had touched his body, and diseases left them, and evil spirits came out.
- Fire as a symbol of God’s presence and power:
Dt 4:36 From heaven he has made his voice heard to thee to instruct you; and on earth he has made you see his great fire, and you have heard his words from the midst of fire. 1 R 19:12 And after the earthquake, a fire: jehovah was not in the fire. And after the fire, a soft and light whisper. Ps 50.3 He comes, our God, he does not remain in silence; In front of him is an all-consuming fire, Around him a violent storm. Ps 97.3 The fire walks before him, and ignites around his opponents. Es 66:15 For behold, the Lord arrives in a fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; He converts his anger into a blaze, and his threats into flames of fire. Acts 2:3 Tongues, like tongues of fire, appeared to them, separated from each other, and landed upon each of them. Acts 7:30 Forty years later, an angel appeared to him, in the desert of the mountain of Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. Heu 12:29 with piety and fear, for our God is also an all-consuming fire.
- Believers of the early Church baptized in the Holy Spirit:
-Simeon: Lk 2:25 And behold, there was in Jerusalem a man called Simeon. This man was righteous and pious, he was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
– the believers on the day of Pentecost: Acts 2:3 Tongues, like tongues of fire, appeared to them, separated from each other, and landed on each of them.
-the Christians of Samaria: Acts 8:17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
-Cornelius and his friends: Acts 10:44 As Peter was still uttering these words, the Holy Spirit descended upon all those who listened to the word.
-the Christians of Ephesus: Acts 19:6-7 When Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 They were in all about twelve men.
From all of the above, we note that the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples that day. For once the work of Christ is done, we see that everything fully responds to what the types foreshadowed. Indeed, it is in no way necessary to be part of an elite, nor to have done certain studies to be a worker of the Lord. To depend on Him, to submit to the action of His Spirit, these are the only conditions required. May each of us be filled with it. Our prayers support you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow about “the impact of Peter’s second address after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.