And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 2 marks a pivotal moment in history: the transition from the age of the Mosaic Law to the age of the Church. After Jesus' ascension, His followers, numbering about 120, obediently waited in Jerusalem as He had instructed (Acts 1:4, 9). Their obedience was about to be rewarded in a way that would forever change the world.
The Arrival of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)
The Day of Pentecost, a significant Jewish festival occurring fifty days after Passover, arrived. This day commemorated the wheat harvest and, importantly, the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10). Jerusalem was bustling with Jews from all over the world, many of whom had stayed after Passover to observe this holy day (Acts 2:5).
Suddenly, a sound like a violent rushing wind filled the house where the apostles were gathered (Acts 2:2). This was no ordinary breeze; it was a tangible manifestation of God's power, reminiscent of John 3:8, where the wind is used as a metaphor for the Spirit. Then, something extraordinary happened: tongues resembling flames of fire appeared and rested on each of them (Acts 2:3). These were not literal flames that burned, but a visible sign that the Holy Spirit had come to indwell them, empowering them for the mission ahead.
As a result, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (Acts 2:4). This wasn’t some unintelligible heavenly language, but rather the ability to speak in the native languages of the visitors in Jerusalem (Acts 2:6, 8, 11). This miraculous event underscored the connection between unity and obedience in experiencing the presence, power, and influence of the Holy Spirit.
A Multitude Amazed (Acts 2:5-13)
The sound of the rushing wind and the commotion it caused drew a crowd. Jews from "every nation under heaven" were in Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 2:5). They were bewildered because each one heard the apostles speaking in their own language, declaring the wonders of God (Acts 2:6-11). Imagine the scene: Galileans, who likely knew Aramaic and perhaps some Greek, were now fluently speaking languages they had never studied!
This miraculous gift of tongues served as a sign to the Jews, demonstrating God's power and willingness to overcome the effects of their dispersion (1 Corinthians 14:20-22). It was a fulfillment of Jesus' promise that they would receive power from the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses to the world (Acts 1:8).
The reaction to this supernatural event was mixed. Some were amazed and asked, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:12). Others, unable to comprehend what was happening, mockingly suggested, "They are full of new wine" (Acts 2:13).
Peter's Sermon: Proclaiming the Gospel (Acts 2:14-36)
Peter, now emboldened by the Holy Spirit, stood up with the eleven other apostles and addressed the crowd (Acts 2:14). He seized this divine opportunity to proclaim the truth about Jesus and what God was doing among them.
First, he refuted the accusation of drunkenness, explaining that it was only nine in the morning (Acts 2:15). He then declared that what they were witnessing was the fulfillment of prophecy, quoting the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32), who foretold of a day when God would pour out His Spirit on all people (Acts 2:16-18). This outpouring of the Spirit signifies the "last days," a time of prophecies, visions, and dreams.
Peter then connected the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 2:22). He reminded the crowd that Jesus was no stranger to them; they had witnessed His miracles, wonders, and signs. Peter then delivered a powerful message, stating that Jesus, though delivered up according to God's determined plan, was crucified by "lawless hands" (Acts 2:23). In this statement, we see the interplay of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. God had a plan, but that didn't absolve those who participated in Jesus' crucifixion of their guilt.
Peter continued, proclaiming that God raised Jesus from the dead, freeing Him from the grips of death (Acts 2:24). He quoted David from Psalm 16:8-11, explaining that David was not speaking of himself but of the Messiah, who would not be abandoned to the grave (Acts 2:25-31). Peter boldly declared, "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it" (Acts 2:32). The transformation of the disciples, from frightened followers to courageous proclaimers of the resurrection, testified to the truth of their message.
Peter concluded by emphasizing that Jesus, exalted to the right hand of God, had poured out the promised Holy Spirit, which they were now witnessing (Acts 2:33). He quoted Psalm 110:1, highlighting that God had made Jesus both Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:34-36).
Repentance and Salvation (Acts 2:37-41)
Peter's words pierced the hearts of the listeners. Convicted of their sin, they cried out, "Brothers, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Peter's response was clear: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
It's crucial to understand that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, repentance and baptism are outward expressions of that faith. To repent is to turn away from sin and turn towards God. To be baptized in the name of Jesus is to publicly declare one's faith in Him.
Peter urged them to "save yourselves from this corrupt generation" (Acts 2:40). His call to repentance and faith resulted in a monumental event: about three thousand people were baptized and added to their number that day (Acts 2:41). The Church was born!
The Early Church Community (Acts 2:42-47)
The fledgling church was characterized by four key activities (Acts 2:42):
- Apostles' Teaching: They devoted themselves to learning from the apostles, who were teaching them about Jesus and God's plan. Spiritual growth depends on understanding and obeying God's Word.
- Fellowship: They shared their lives with one another, supporting and encouraging each other in their faith. Christianity is not meant to be lived in isolation.
- Breaking of Bread and Prayer: They regularly worshiped together, remembering Jesus' sacrifice through communion and communicating with God through prayer.
- Sharing: They shared possessions and took care of those in need. This wasn't necessarily a mandate for communism, but a demonstration of their love and unity in Christ.
As a result of their devotion, awe filled everyone, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (Acts 2:43). The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). The early church's public love, devotion, joy, ministry, and testimony convinced unbelievers to trust in Jesus Christ.
Acts 2 is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the importance of unity, obedience, and bold proclamation of the Gospel. It lays the foundation for the church's mission to be witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 2 marks a pivotal moment in history: the transition from the age of the Mosaic Law to the age of the Church. After Jesus' ascension, His followers, numbering about 120, obediently waited in Jerusalem as He had instructed (Acts 1:4, 9). Their obedience was about to be rewarded in a way that would forever change the world.
The Arrival of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)
The Day of Pentecost, a significant Jewish festival occurring fifty days after Passover, arrived. This day commemorated the wheat harvest and, importantly, the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10). Jerusalem was bustling with Jews from all over the world, many of whom had stayed after Passover to observe this holy day (Acts 2:5).
Suddenly, a sound like a violent rushing wind filled the house where the apostles were gathered (Acts 2:2). This was no ordinary breeze; it was a tangible manifestation of God's power, reminiscent of John 3:8, where the wind is used as a metaphor for the Spirit. Then, something extraordinary happened: tongues resembling flames of fire appeared and rested on each of them (Acts 2:3). These were not literal flames that burned, but a visible sign that the Holy Spirit had come to indwell them, empowering them for the mission ahead.
As a result, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (Acts 2:4). This wasn’t some unintelligible heavenly language, but rather the ability to speak in the native languages of the visitors in Jerusalem (Acts 2:6, 8, 11). This miraculous event underscored the connection between unity and obedience in experiencing the presence, power, and influence of the Holy Spirit.
A Multitude Amazed (Acts 2:5-13)
The sound of the rushing wind and the commotion it caused drew a crowd. Jews from "every nation under heaven" were in Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 2:5). They were bewildered because each one heard the apostles speaking in their own language, declaring the wonders of God (Acts 2:6-11). Imagine the scene: Galileans, who likely knew Aramaic and perhaps some Greek, were now fluently speaking languages they had never studied!
This miraculous gift of tongues served as a sign to the Jews, demonstrating God's power and willingness to overcome the effects of their dispersion (1 Corinthians 14:20-22). It was a fulfillment of Jesus' promise that they would receive power from the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses to the world (Acts 1:8).
The reaction to this supernatural event was mixed. Some were amazed and asked, "What does this mean?" (Acts 2:12). Others, unable to comprehend what was happening, mockingly suggested, "They are full of new wine" (Acts 2:13).
Peter's Sermon: Proclaiming the Gospel (Acts 2:14-36)
Peter, now emboldened by the Holy Spirit, stood up with the eleven other apostles and addressed the crowd (Acts 2:14). He seized this divine opportunity to proclaim the truth about Jesus and what God was doing among them.
First, he refuted the accusation of drunkenness, explaining that it was only nine in the morning (Acts 2:15). He then declared that what they were witnessing was the fulfillment of prophecy, quoting the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32), who foretold of a day when God would pour out His Spirit on all people (Acts 2:16-18). This outpouring of the Spirit signifies the "last days," a time of prophecies, visions, and dreams.
Peter then connected the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 2:22). He reminded the crowd that Jesus was no stranger to them; they had witnessed His miracles, wonders, and signs. Peter then delivered a powerful message, stating that Jesus, though delivered up according to God's determined plan, was crucified by "lawless hands" (Acts 2:23). In this statement, we see the interplay of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. God had a plan, but that didn't absolve those who participated in Jesus' crucifixion of their guilt.
Peter continued, proclaiming that God raised Jesus from the dead, freeing Him from the grips of death (Acts 2:24). He quoted David from Psalm 16:8-11, explaining that David was not speaking of himself but of the Messiah, who would not be abandoned to the grave (Acts 2:25-31). Peter boldly declared, "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it" (Acts 2:32). The transformation of the disciples, from frightened followers to courageous proclaimers of the resurrection, testified to the truth of their message.
Peter concluded by emphasizing that Jesus, exalted to the right hand of God, had poured out the promised Holy Spirit, which they were now witnessing (Acts 2:33). He quoted Psalm 110:1, highlighting that God had made Jesus both Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:34-36).
Repentance and Salvation (Acts 2:37-41)
Peter's words pierced the hearts of the listeners. Convicted of their sin, they cried out, "Brothers, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Peter's response was clear: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
It's crucial to understand that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, repentance and baptism are outward expressions of that faith. To repent is to turn away from sin and turn towards God. To be baptized in the name of Jesus is to publicly declare one's faith in Him.
Peter urged them to "save yourselves from this corrupt generation" (Acts 2:40). His call to repentance and faith resulted in a monumental event: about three thousand people were baptized and added to their number that day (Acts 2:41). The Church was born!
The Early Church Community (Acts 2:42-47)
The fledgling church was characterized by four key activities (Acts 2:42):
- Apostles' Teaching: They devoted themselves to learning from the apostles, who were teaching them about Jesus and God's plan. Spiritual growth depends on understanding and obeying God's Word.
- Fellowship: They shared their lives with one another, supporting and encouraging each other in their faith. Christianity is not meant to be lived in isolation.
- Breaking of Bread and Prayer: They regularly worshiped together, remembering Jesus' sacrifice through communion and communicating with God through prayer.
- Sharing: They shared possessions and took care of those in need. This wasn't necessarily a mandate for communism, but a demonstration of their love and unity in Christ.
As a result of their devotion, awe filled everyone, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (Acts 2:43). The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). The early church's public love, devotion, joy, ministry, and testimony convinced unbelievers to trust in Jesus Christ.
Acts 2 is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and the importance of unity, obedience, and bold proclamation of the Gospel. It lays the foundation for the church's mission to be witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).