Public Evidence: Pentecost

Introduction:

Jesus did not say what form the “empowerment” would take.

We learned this morning about the fulfillment of the promise of the Spirit.

Sound from heaven came to be (suddenly).

It filled the whole house were they were staying.

Divided tongues were seen by them similar of fire.

Why the shift to the singular in part 2? We would anticipate for it to read: And they sat upon each one of them, but the number shifts to singular. So, does Luke substitute the appearance, which is expressed in the singular, “fire,” for the whole reference to the “tongues.”?

All were filled with the Holy Spirit.

They began to speak with other languages.

This accorded to the Spirit giving them to be speaking.

Pentecost: Lev. 23:15-21.

John the Baptist’s message: Lk. 3:16

The City’s Reaction

Luke tells of pious individuals from every nation residing in Jerusalem.

Presumably, this would have individuals who also attended Passover and remained for this festival.

This description of them becomes important because they, no doubt, would have been knowledgeable about the scriptures and thus about God.

They were not “lewd men of the baser sort” for example.

According to Acts 2:6, when they heard the sound of the brethren speaking, they gathered and were confused.

Luke explains the reason for their confusion or dismay.

They were hearing in them speaking in their own dialect.

The terminology shift is very important.

More than likely, Jesus’ followers had progressed through the city and spoken to others.

Their Expression of Astonishment:

They express astonishment because all of them were Galileans.

Whether Jesus’ disciples were exclusively Galilean or not remains open to question.

They understand Jesus’ disciples to consist of a majority of Galileans, it seems.

Galileans had their own accent of Aramaic, but these individuals did not expect them to speak in specific dialects.

The pious individuals are apparently aware that something out of the ordinary is taking place.

They do not expect these Galileans to be familiar with the regional dialects spoken by the various people residing in Jerusalem for the Passover and Pentecost festivals.

Twice Luke uses “astounded” as the verb for them:

Acts 2:7

Acts 2:12.

Luke’s recitation of the people present moves from East to West.

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites are located in what is today Iran.

Residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia.

Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia signifies the majority of Asia Minor.

Libya under the jurisdiction of Cyrene?

This was where Simon, who carried Jesus’ cross, lived.

Temporary residents from Rome, both Jews and converts, along with people from Crete and Arabia round out the roll.

They were hearing the Galileans speak in their own languages the “great things of God.”

This is an OT expression used to refer to those occasions when God had done “wondrous works” on behalf of His people.

They now ask the question: what does this mean?

Finally, we should note Luke’s switch between “tongues” and “dialects.”

By tongues, he does not mean a heavenly language.

He means a spoken language of a specific place or region.

A reversal of Babel?

Gen. 11.

God’s Wondrous Works: Examples

1. Exodus 3:20 “And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.”

2. Exodus 15:11 “Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

3. Deuteronomy 26:8 “And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders.”

4. 1 Chronicles 16:9 “Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.”

5. 1 Chronicles 16:12 “Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.”

6. 1 Chronicles 16:24 “Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.”