The Birth of the Church

Some things to remember

These were exceptional times…not expected that they are normal for us today

Descriptive is not prescriptive, plenty of both in this book

What Is Pentecost?

Also known as the Feast of Weeks

One of the three “Pilgrimage Feasts” when assembly in Jerusalem was commanded

It marked the end of the barley harvest, beginning of the wheat harvest

It came 50 days after the first grain offering of barley was made, the day after the Sabbath of Passover week

Current Jewish tradition celebrates the giving of the Law on this day

The Jews of the “dispersion” would (probably) be coming in from many places

One of those times at which Jerusalem would be swollen with people

Against this background, we have this event

Surprise! We Have Naysayers

Those who can’t stand the thought of miraculous activity

Call this Luke’s attempt to explain the coming of the Spirit with a theological flourish

They argue that it conflicts with the account of John @ 20:19-23, a much less striking event

There is no conflict between the two events

When Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit, that was the baptism

This was different—a filling

The term “baptism of the Holy Spirit” showed up in Acts, not the Gospels

It is well within the Spirit’s power and right to fill different people at different places and times for different purposes

Effect on the Apostles

It would appear that only the TWELVE were effected by the event

Reference in v. 7 to them being Galileans (not a critical piece of information)

Peter stood with the 11 in v. 14

Tongues of fire seemingly dancing upon their heads (think of flames “licking up” the side of a log

They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave the utterance

We have to take that apart for a couple minutes

Underlying word for tongue is glossa

Two understandings of this have come about

Xenoglossia—known language but unknown to the speaker/hearer

Glossolalia —a totally unknown language, ecstatic speech

From the context of this passage, we clearly have Xenoglossia

Clearly a divine process

They were proclaiming the mighty works of God

The godly among the crowd would have been quite happy with that

It’s likely that they all had a working knowledge of Greek and maybe even Aramaic

Something about hearing a message in your “heart language”

Doesn’t say they were preaching the Gospel—but they were setting the stage for Peter to give his first sermon

Effect on the City

Two thoughts among the crowd

Open-mindedness

Closed-mindedness

Open-minded wanted to know the power behind this strange event

What’s behind all this

Closed-minded wanted to dismiss it…they’re just drunk

Effect on the World

This marks the beginning of the Church Universal

Jesus had given some hints “Upon this rock I will build my Church”

Everything else we know about the Church begins on this day and moves forward

Peter taught us about the Church, Paul taught us about the church—but this is the day it started

Everything we do right stems this day;

Effect on Us

Understanding the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as opposed to the filling of the Holy Spirit

The concept of the filling dates back to the OT

Genesis 41:38 ESV

And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”

Said of Joseph, after he had interpreted Pharaoh’s dream

We have Saul in 1 Sam 10 10

1 Samuel 10:10 ESV

When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them.

We have Samson...

Judges 14:19 (ESV)

And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town.....

So this is not something new--

Even at a time when the Holy Spirit was not an indwelling force for believers, He still acted to empower

We are Baptized by the Holy Spirit at the moment of our salvation

He becomes the seal that marks us for eternity

But what do we so often do to him?

Box Him in a corner

He will not force you do anything....though He might make you pretty uncomfortable

But when open ourselves to Him, what a change it can be

Don’t expect a tongue of flame on top of your head…but expect to see fruit of the Spirit in your lives

Galatians 5 gives us the marks of a Christian in whose life the Spirit is given free reign

In vv.19 ff we see the works of an unrepentant heart, wherein the flesh rules

In 22-23 we see a Spirit controlled Christian—no tongues of fire, nothing flashy—they may come at certain times to certain people for specific purposes…

Here are the marks

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

We are also given lists of gifts in 1 Cor 12, broken into two general categories: service and works

WITFM

Are you exhibiting the fruit?

Are you displaying the gifts?

Are you aware of your gifts?

Are you cognizant of the Holy Spirit within you?

Which brings up, are you saved?