Acts 2:5-13 when God shows us

There’s a word from the lord coming from the book of Acts

Acts chapter 2 verses 5-13 and you should find these words as printed

Acts 2:5–13 (NRSV)

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

I want to talk about

What happens when God shows up?

(Acts 2:5–13)

When I was a little boy I would often hear, “Wait until your daddy gets home!” That was never good! I didn’t want daddy to show up! When a teacher shows up in a class room the students straighten up. When a doctor shows up and speaks up the patient listens. Have you ever wondered “What happens when God shows up?”

In the last study we learned about the coming of the Holy Spirit on that small group of believers. One hundred and twenty of them were gathered in the upper room waiting in Jerusalem for the promise of the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus said in Luke 24:49, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” In Acts two when the Day of Pentecost had fully came the Holy Spirit came and endued the believers with power from on high.

Power can be used in at least two ways: it can be unleashed, or it can be harnessed. The energy in ten gallons of gas can be released explosively by dropping a lighted match into the can. Or it can be channeled through a car engine in a controlled burn and used to transport a person three hundred and fifty miles. Explosions can be spectacular, but controlled burns have lasting effect; they have staying power. The Holy Spirit works both ways. At Pentecost, He exploded on the scene; His presence was like “tongues of fire.” Thousands were affected by one burst of God’s power. But He also works through the church—the institution God began to tap the Holy Spirit’s power for the long haul. Through worship, fellowship, discipleship, unity, and service, Christians are provided with staying power. When God shows up things begin to happen!

Luke declared that when God shows up there will be opportunity for the people of God, obedience to the word of God, and opposition to the work of God. Christians are to do the work of God in the power of the Spirit of God for the glory of God. Has God showed up here? Do we expect the Lord Jesus? Are we allowing Him His rightful place? Do we really want God to work? This text shows us some facts about what happens when God shows up.

I. The place on the map (v. 5)

A. The designation of the place (v. 5a)

“And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews,”

Dwell: katoikeo, kat-oy-keh’-o; to house permanently, i.e. reside (literal or figurative) dwell (-er), inhabitant. Luke gives a designation of the place where the power of God came and the people to whom the power of God came upon. It all started in Jerusalem. Today Jerusalem is still in the news! It seems many world events and nations are focused on Jerusalem. There is coming a day that the Lord Jesus is coming back to Jerusalem to rule and reign during the Millennial Reign. God make good on His promise to send His Spirit to His people in this place.

There’s the designation of the place; we also note:

B. The description of the people (5b, 9–11a)

“Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs”

Luke tells us that there were Jews which were devout men. Devout: eulabes, yoo-lab-ace’; taking well (carefully), i.e. circumspect (religiously, pious) devout. These men were thoroughly religious. Luke describes the scene and the people in the place where God showed up. Luke lists fifteen different groups of people from different places.

• Parthians: people from modern day Iran

• Medes: people that were partners with the Persians during Daniel’s time and were now were part of the Parthian Empire.

• Elamites: people from southwestern Iran.

• Mesopotamia: This word means “between two rivers” which indicated where these people lived. They dwelled between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers.

• Judea: People of the nation of Israel

• Cappadocia, Pontius, Asia, Phyrgia, Pamphylia: These were all regions in Asia Minor where many churches were planted later. (EX: Epehsus, Colossae, Laodicea, Smyrna, Philadelphia, Sardis, Thessalonica)

• Egypt: Many Jews lived in Egypt and especially in the city of Alexandria

• Libya: This was west of Egypt on the African coast.

• Rome: Jews dwelt in Rome until their expulsion by the Emperor Claudius. (Acts 18:2)

• Cretans: From the Isle of Crete off the southern coast of Greece. Titus was sent to the church in Crete to set things in order and help establish the work of God in Crete.

• Arabs: Jews living in Arabia scattered abroad.

There were Jews from fifteen different places speaking more than a dozen languages and dialects. God’s power is not limited! At the Tower of Babel God had the power to confuse the people and change their languages so that they would not work together. At Pentecost God showed that He had the power to communicate His message through His people to many peoples in different languages. In verse 5 we’ve noticed the place on the map.

In verse 6 we note:

II. The proclamation by the missionaries (v. 6)

A. The multitude congregated (v. 6a)

“And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together,”

When the sound of the Spirit came the seeking souls came together. People are always curious! Curiosity got to them. They wanted to know what was going on! When we hear an ambulance or see a wreck on the road way we want to know what is going on. If there’s a disturbance at the neighbor’s house we want to know what is going on! When something or someone gets our attention we try to find out what’s going on! When the Holy Spirit came there was a might sound of a mighty wind. The multitude came together! They were assembled together to find out what was going on!

Sound Occurred: (KJV: Noised abroad) ginomai, ghin’-om-ahee; to cause to be (“gen”-erate), i.e. (reflexive) to become (come into being), be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, x soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned. There was also a mighty sound of the faithful witnesses of God proclaiming the word of God. Multitude: plethos, play’-thos; a fullness, i.e. a large number, throng, populace:- bundle, company, multitude. The multitude congregated and we also note:

B. The multitude were confounded (v. 6b)

“and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.”

Confused: (KJV: Confounded) sugcheo, soong- kheh’-o; to throw (an assembly) into disorder, to perplex (the mind):- confound, confuse, stir up, be in an uproar. We know that God is not the author of confusion, but when His Spirit came in power on His people and they began to speak in other languages it did confuse the multitude. But God would clear this matter up through the preaching of His servant the Apostle Peter.

Luke tells us the reason they were confused. They were confused because everyone heard them speak in his own language. These devout Jews were in the city of Jerusalem at Pentecost to celebrate. This Pentecost was like no other Pentecost before. They had come to celebrate and wound up confounded by the mighty works of God. God empowered His saints to speak His word in languages that they did not know so that those in the city could hear the word of God clearly. When God shows up there will be a proclamation by His missionaries. We are to be on mission with Jesus in this world sharing His word with a lost and dying world. After the proclamation of the missionaries we notice

III. The problem with the messengers (vv. 7–8)

A. They had a problem with where they hailed (v. 7a)

“Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?”

The Bible says they were confused and all of them were amazed and marveled. They could not believe what they were hearing and who they were hearing it from. They were probably saying to themselves, “There’s no way these people can speak these fluid language.”

Galilee was not an international center for languages! They didn’t have private or public schools that taught multiple languages. Galileans were not the most respected people group.

David Jeremiah said, “The crowds were most amazed at the fact that the speakers were ‘Galileans’ who were considered to be the uneducated, country bumpkins of their day compared to the educated people from other regions.”

*God used ordinary people to do extraordinary things.* The multitude had a problem with where the believer’s hailed. They could not comprehend how they could hear Galileans speaking in their own languages. They had a problem with the messengers! They had a problem with where they hailed. We also see:

B. They had a problem with what they heard (v. 8)

“And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?”

The Bible tells us that the multitude were confused, amazed, and marveled at what was happening and what they were hearing. They heard these people from Galilee speaking in their own languages. It was impossible in their minds to reconcile what they were hearing with who they were hearing it from. It still is amazing that when God shows up and saves a lost hell bound sinner and cleanses that man or woman from all their sins and gives them new life from within, how they began to speak in a new language.

Testimony: I used to use filthy language. I would cuss with the rest of the world. I didn’t mind hearing it and I didn’t mind speaking it. But when Jesus saved me he gave me a new mind and a new mouth. I don’t let filthy, ungodly language come out of my mouth. I don’t cuss because it dishonors the Lord and disgraces the Lord!

One of the testimonies of my friends who knew me before I was saved is that after I had gotten saved I didn’t talk the way I use to talk. I spoke with a different language. The multitude had gathered together when God showed up and they were amazed and the work of God through His people. Are the people in this world today amazed at His work through His people? What is God doing through us that we could not possibly do in our own strength, with our own wisdom, and with our own resources? When God shows up there is the proclamation by the missionaries, there was the problem with the messengers, and we also see:

IV. The power of their message (v. 11b)

“we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

The Bible tells us about the powerful message that was spoken by the people of God that day when the Holy Spirit came upon them. The people testified of what they heard and who they heard it from. The message WOWED the people!

I heard about this pastor who announced at the close of the sermon that a meeting with the board would follow. All the audience, except the board and one stranger, went out. The pastor hemmed, and said, “Brother, I guess you misunderstood. This is a meeting of the board.” The stranger said, “Yes, go right ahead. I was never so bored in all my life.”

Wonderful works: (NASB: Mighty deeds) megaleios, meg-al-i’-os; magnificent, i.e. (neuter plural as noun) a conspicuous favor, or (subject) perfection, great things, wonderful works. What wonderful works of God did they proclaim?

• Creation. (Genesis 1:1–2)

• Provision: (Genesis: Joseph in Egypt during the famine.

• Rescue: (Exodus) Moses, 10 Plagues on Egypt, parting of the Red Sea

• Protection: God’s protection on Individuals and on the nation.

• Salvation: Victory in Jesus! The old rugged cross, the glorious resurrection, the awesome ascension, and the soon return of the King of Kings.

Henry Martyn said, “The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions and the nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we must become.” There message was intentional and pointed. They spoke the specific things God had done! They lifted up the Lord Jesus and Who He is and what He has done! Brian Harbour wrote, “The real miracle was not the tongues but the power of God which transformed those apostles into bold emissaries of a resurrected Christ and enabled them to effectively communicate the gospel.” When we get filled with the Holy Spirit of God we will boldly speak about Jesus and the wonderful works of God. AMEN! When God shows up there will be proclamation by the missionaries, a problem with the messengers, the power of their message, and we also learn:

V. Their perplexity about the meaning (v. 12)

“So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”

Unbelievers will be awed at the work of God through His people when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. They will not understand it all and they will be amazed and perplexed by it all.

Perplexed: (KJV: were in doubt) diaporeo, dee-ap-or-eh’-o; to be thoroughly nonplussed (be in) doubt, be (much) perplexed. “What could this mean?” was their question! They wanted to get to the bottom of this! They couldn’t understand it and were amazed and perplexed by it! God does not leave them without a clear word! In the coming studies we will see that Peter powerfully preaches and clearly explains what has happened and what they are to do! When God shows up there will be proclamation by the missionaries, the problem with the messengers, the power of their message, the perplexity about the meaning, and lastly we note:

VI. The persistence in their mocking (v. 13)

“Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

We notice that some people will always mock at what they do not understand!

Mocking: chleuazo, khlyoo- ad’-zo; to throw out the lip, i.e. jeer at, mock. When God shows up in power some will still not believe. Some will mock at the people of God and at the word of God! Times have changed but people have not! They mocked the believers and came up with their own explanation. Listen to their explanation: “They are full of new wine.” They were saying that the believers were drunk on wine! That explanation would not satisfy the multitude. When a person is drunk on wine they cannot even speak clearly, let alone effectively and in another language! When a person is drunk they cannot even speak their own language properly.

Why did these other mock? 1 Corinthians 2:14–16 says, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” These folks think with a un-renewed and unregenerate mind that cannot accept the things of God! John MacArthur said, “They tried to explain away the miracle of speaking in languages as a drunken frolic. Tragically, their skepticism was to harden into full fledged opposition toward the message and the messengers. However, no amount of opposition could stop the work of God that began at Pentecost.” Do you believe the report about Jesus Christ? Have you been saved by the power of God? Have you received the Spirit of God? When God shows up there will be a display of His power to change lives and there will be a bold proclamation of His message in this world! Are you allowing the Lord Jesus to use you? Would you surrender yourself to the Lord Jesus and ask Him to use you and to make you useable?