The Spirit Arrives

Introduction

Text Introduction

I invite you to open your Bibles to Acts 2. We’ll be reading verses 1 through 21. Jesus has ascended into Heaven and commanded the apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit. That wait is over. Will your read along in Acts 2:1.

Read Acts 2:1-21

Acts 2:1–21 NKJV

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” 13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for your salvation, that whoever calls on the name of our Lord, Jesus, will be saved! Thank you for your Spirit. That whoever is saved is also filled with your Holy Spirit. We pray today that your Spirit guides and leads our study of your word, and that just as you did on that first Pentecost you continue to move here in our presence today. In Jesus name, Amen.

1. The Promise of the Spirit

Illustration: Psych!

(This illustration comes from Tony Merida)

When I was in middle school not everyone had sophisticated senses of humor. There were two “jokes,” if you can even call them that, which used the same basic technique. Psyche and Not.

Basically, you’d say something, get someone to believe it, then immediately let them know you hadn’t been telling the truth.

Them: Hey, Josh, I like that shirt

Me: Oh, really, thanks, it’s

Them: Psyche!

You could do the same joke but say “not.”

Them: Hey Josh, nice shirt - NOT!

It’s not a very good feeling, being misled and let down. And yet it doesn’t just happen in middle school. It can happen in our families, our jobs. Maybe no one says psyche but that doesn’t make it feel any better when they don’t keep their promises.

But here’s the good news. God does not play psyche. He doesn’t follow up his promises with “not.” Not only does the Bible teach that God is faithful, it also shows us how he is faithful. And that’s exactly what God is doing when he pours out His Spirit at Pentecost. God’s promises are being fulfilled.

Explanation

Verse 1 makes that point in a way that’s easy to miss in English. Most translations saying something about how the day of Pentecost “had come” or “had arrived.” The Greek Word here means to fill completely. Luke is making a play on words full-fillment.

The basic idea is that all fifty days leading up to Pentecost had been filled- the day had arrived.

But it was also the day, the Disciples would be fully filled with the Holy Spirit.

But the big idea is that God is fulfilling his promises. The promises made in the OT and the promises made by Jesus.

Peter explains in verse 17 how the prophet Joel, wrote in the Old Testament about the day that God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh. Fully filling them with the Spirit.

Other prophets such as Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:27), Isaiah (Isaiah 44:3) and Zechariah (Zechariah 12:10) had also promised how God would fill people with His Spirit.

Jesus himself had told the apostles at the Last Supper and then told his followers at his ascension to wait because they would soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit to be filled with power to be His witnesses.

Jesus had made a promise. On that Pentecost God’s promise of the Spirit was fulfilled.

2. The Arrival of the Spirit

Explanation

So what did that look like? Really the first question is what did it sound like?

Sound- Mighty Rushing Wind

It sounded like a mighty rushing wind. This past Friday Caleb and I were at home and a storm came blowing in. Out of nowhere there was thunder, and rain, and the wind rushing around our house.

But for the believers on that Pentecost Sunday, it wasn’t a storm outside the house. It was a sound like a tornado, a blasting of wind within the house.

That’s what it sounded like.

Appearance- Tongues of Fire

And what did it look like? Tongues of fire appeared over them with one on each person.

If you have read through the Bible, this won’t be the first time you’ve seen God associated with fire.

How did God appear to Moses? In a burning bush. (Exodus 3:2)

As God led the people out of Israel how did he guide them by night? In a pillar of fire. (Exodus 13:21)

When Moses went to meet God on the mountain to receive the covenant and the law, how did God appear? He came down upon the mountain like fire. (Exodus 19:18)

When the prophet Ezekiel had a vision of God how did he describe the appearance of Gods glory? Fire, with brightness all around (Ezekiel 1:27)

The Internal- Filled with the Spirt

Those were the external things. But there was one more evidence of the Spirit at work. Not just the sound. Not just the appearance of tongues of fire. The third element of the arrival of the Spirit was the most important and we see it in verse 4.

They were all filled with the Spirit and they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them those words to say.

Do you remember God’s promise. To send his Holy Spirit. Not just to a strong leader like Moses. Not just to a high priest, or a king.

No, to send the Spirt to all of God’s people. And the Spirit had arrived.

3. The Movement of the Spirit

Explanation- All People

And once the Spirit arrived, the Spirit began to move. And by that, I mean move in and through the apostles. The sound of the wind may have drawn attention, but it was not what got people talking. It wasn’t the tongues of fire resting over the apostles’ heads either.

No, it was hearing the apostles proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in their own languages.

And that was a very big deal, because Jerusalem was filled with visitors from all over the known world.

Luke spends three verses describing where they came from. They came from as close as Judea—the very region where Jerusalem was located—to far-off places across Africa, Europe, and Asia.

God is making His mission clear from the very beginning: it is an international mission.

God’s people are not limited to one nation or one ethnicity. The church is called to carry the gospel to all people—or as Revelation puts it, to every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Revelation 5:9).

And as we continue through Acts, we will see the church do exactly that.

And do you know what empowers them along the way? The same thing that empowered them at the beginning—the Holy Spirit.

Illustration: An airplane taking off

The power is the same throughout Acts, but the experience of it does not always feel the same. In these 30 years of ministry there are miraculous moments like Pentecost, but much of the Spirit’s work happens in quieter ways that may not stand out as dramatically.

It reminds me of an airplane taking off.

As you board the plane, you sit there waiting. Then the engines begin to roar. The plane starts moving faster and faster, and suddenly you are pushed back into your seat as it rushes down the runway and lifts into the air. In that moment, when the plane transitions from standing still to rapid acceleration, everything feels dramatic and obvious.

But once the plane reaches cruising altitude, it no longer feels the same. The acceleration is gone. It can even feel like you are sitting still again.

Of course, if you look out the window, you realize you are still moving—very quickly.

That’s how the Holy Spirit works throughout Acts.

At Pentecost, everything is changing in dramatic and visible ways. It is a moment of powerful acceleration. But as Acts continues, the Spirit often works through ordinary faithfulness. Missionaries learn new languages. Churches work through cultural differences. Believers endure suffering. Christians share the gospel from city to city and house to house.

It may not always feel as dramatic as Pentecost, but when you “look out the window”—when you step back and see lives transformed, churches planted, and the gospel spreading—it becomes clear that the Spirit is still moving.

And that is true for us today as well.

The Holy Spirit was not merely a one-time gift given long ago. Every person who places their faith in Jesus Christ is forgiven, given eternal life, and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes the Spirit works in obvious and unmistakable ways. Those moments are exciting. But more often, the Spirit works quietly and steadily—changing hearts, strengthening believers, guiding His people, and continuing the mission of Jesus Christ through His church.

Conclusion

And so, filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter stands up to preach. He preaches that God has kept His promise to send the Holy Spirit. He preaches about Jesus Christ. And he calls the people to turn to Jesus so that they might receive the promised forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Let us end today with Peter’s final exhortation.

Read Acts 2:37-39

Acts 2:37–39 NKJV

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

God’s promise still stands today.

Will you receive that promise through faith in Jesus Christ?

And if you already have, will you join in God’s mission—walking in the power of the Holy Spirit and sharing the good news of Jesus with others?

Acts Reading Plan

Week 2 (May 24–30)

Acts 6–10 – The Holy Spirit continues to guide the expansion of the church beyond Jerusalem. He empowers servants like Stephen, strengthens the church through persecution, and directs the gospel into new regions. The Spirit sovereignly pursues Saul, transforming him into Paul, and then leads Peter to see that the gospel is for all people, breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile.

☐ Day 1 – Acts 6:1–15 + Exodus 18:21–22

☐ Day 2 – Acts 7:1–60 + Deuteronomy 9:6–7

☐ Day 3 – Acts 8:1–40 + Isaiah 53:7–8

☐ Day 4 – Acts 9:1–43 + Jeremiah 1:7–8

☐ Day 5 – Acts 10:1–48 + Genesis 12:2–3

Sermon Notes & Further Study

1. Quotes & Illustrations

Exalting Jesus in Acts

“But here’s the good news: God never plays Psych! God always keeps his promises. He has never overpromised and underdelivered. His Word always proves true.”

Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 22.

The Holy Spirit was present even in the Old Testament days, but his work took a wonderful turn under the new covenant. Paul tells us that after Jesus’s ascension Christ “gave gifts to people” (Eph 4:8). Jesus has blessed his church by putting his Spirit in us—that is, by giving us gifts.

This means we currently live in the age of the Spirit, and we shouldn’t see these events in Acts as something that came and went. Rather, what happened on the day of Pentecost has abiding significance. The Spirit came and stayed. The day of Pentecost was like a mayor installing a great water system in a city. From that point forward, every time a new home is built, households can connect to the water system. In other words, the day of Pentecost was the installation of God’s new source of blessing and power for the benefit of his people.

Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 23.

So, what was God teaching the church with this marvelous sign? The obvious point is that the gospel is for the nations. Thus, the church must spread the gospel to every people, tribe, and to those of every language, for that is God’s redemptive plan (Rev 5:9–10). God’s ultimate community—the citizenry of heaven—consists of a transnational, transtribal, transracial, and translinguistic people.

Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 25.

God didn’t give everyone the same language at Pentecost. Instead, unique languages were preserved as everyone heard the same message. This is important. It tells us that God is glorified in Christ-exalting unity amid blessed diversity.

Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Acts (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 25.

New American Commentary

2:1 The time was the day of Pentecost, which Luke noted with a phrase that is literally translated “when the day of Pentecost was fulfilled.” The “fulfillment” language bears more weight than mere chronology as the fulfillment of the time of the divine promise for the gift of the Spirit (1:4f.). The time of waiting was over.

John B. Polhill, Acts, vol. 26, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 96.

Complete Biblical Library

συμπληρόω sumplēroō verb

Fill completely, become entirely full, complete.

Thoralf Gilbrant, “Συμπληρόω,” in The New Testament Greek-English Dictionary, The Complete Biblical Library (WORDsearch, 1991).

2. Additional Scriptures

In his sermon in Acts 2 Peter quotes Joel 2:28-32. Consider reading this passage and reflecting how Pentecost fulfills this prophecy. See Additional Questions for more info.

3. Additional Questions (Using Logos Study Assistant✨)

How does Pentecost fulfill Joel 2:28-32 and what remains to still be fulfilled?

Peter’s quotation of Joel 2:28–32 at Pentecost identifies that event as a fulfillment of the prophecy[1], yet the connection is more complex than a simple one-to-one correspondence. The Pentecost narrative lacks many details Joel predicted—notably the cosmic signs of darkened sun and moon turning to blood[1]. What Pentecost does share with Joel’s vision is the outpouring of God’s Spirit and salvation for those calling on the Lord’s name, and these two elements form the essential link between the prophecy and the event[1].

The resolution to this apparent discrepancy lies in recognizing a staged fulfillment pattern. Joel’s prophecy experienced preliminary fulfillment at Pentecost, with complete fulfillment reserved for events surrounding Christ’s second advent[1]. The Spirit’s outpouring and salvation of those calling on God’s name at Pentecost preview what will occur at Christ’s return[1]. These events serve as “harbingers and samples” of the final outpouring accompanying the second advent[1]. Pentecost, as the initial day of “The Last Days” that culminates in Christ’s return, participates in the character of those final events and functions as a herald of what must come[1].

What remains unfulfilled encompasses the dramatic cosmic phenomena Joel foresaw. The heavenly signs described in Joel 2:30–31 await fulfillment at Christ’s second advent[1]. Additionally, spiritual blessings including dreams and prophesying, along with restored familial relationships, remain part of the complete eschatological fulfillment[1]. Physical restoration of the land from desolation into fruitfulness and productivity also belongs to the future Day of Yahweh[1]. What Moses prayed for and Pentecost inaugurated will be fully realized in the Day of Yahweh[1]—making Pentecost not the conclusion of Joel’s prophecy but its opening chapter.

[1] Irvin A. Busenitz, Commentary on Joel and Obadiah, Mentor Commentaries (Geanies House, Fearn, Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor, 2003), 46–47, 193–195.

What day of the Week was Pentecost

Pentecost fell on Sunday[1]—the first day of the week. We know this because of how the Jewish calendar calculated the festival’s date.

Pentecost occurred on the fiftieth day after Passover, coming seven weeks after that festival[2]. The calculation method reveals why the day of the week remained constant. When Passover fell on a Friday (beginning at sundown Thursday), the count of fifty started with the following day—a Sabbath—which brought the fiftieth day to another Sabbath[2]. Since the Jewish week runs from Saturday to Friday, counting seven complete weeks from a Saturday always arrives at another Saturday. However, the festival always fell on the first day of the week (Sunday)[1] according to the Levitical instructions.

This apparent discrepancy reflects the specific counting method: the Feast of Weeks was to occur seven full weeks after the Feast of Firstfruits[1]. The Feast of Firstfruits, which initiated the count, fell on the day after Passover’s opening day. When Passover began on a Friday, Firstfruits occurred on Saturday, making the fiftieth day land on Sunday—the first day of the week.

It’s worth noting that Christian observance of Pentecost later shifted the counting to begin from Easter (always a Sunday), which is why modern Christian Pentecost is also always observed on a Sunday[2], though this differs from how the Jewish festival was originally calculated.

[1] Mark F. Rooker, Leviticus, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 3a:287. [2] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1961), 56–57.

4. Bible Translation

I’m choosing the NKJV for preaching because I believe it offers the strongest balance of faithfulness to the historic text of Scripture, clarity for modern readers, and continuity with the church’s worshiping tradition.

At the same time, I deeply value other faithful translations—such as the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NIV—which also serve the church well and can enrich our understanding of God’s Word.

5. Acts Commentary Recommendation's

Acts Commentary Recommendation's

I have found the following commentaries helpful in my study of Acts.

📗 For Personal & Small Group Study

Clear, devotional, and highly accessible.

Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts (Bruce Barton & Grant Osborne)

Holman New Testament Commentary – Acts (Kenneth Gangel)

Exalting Jesus in Acts (Tony Merida)

The Message of Acts (John Stott)

📙 For Teaching & Deeper Study

This is the main “working level” for Sunday School teachers, small group leaders, and sermon preparation. These resources balance readability with serious exegesis and background work.

ESV Expository Commentary – John–Acts (James Hamilton & Brian Vickers)

New American Commentary – Acts (John Polhill)

Pillar New Testament Commentary – Acts (David Peterson)

New International Commentary on the New Testament– Acts (F.F. Bruce)

Acts: A Logion Press Commentary (Stanley M. Horton)

📕 For Advanced / Specialized Study

More technical, highly detailed engagement with rhetoric, structure, and scholarly discussion.

The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Ben Witherington III)

📕 Historic

Classic works from earlier periods that show how the church has historically read and applied Scripture. Often more challenging than modern commentaries, but valuable for perspective and depth.

The Biblical Illustrator – Acts (Joseph Exell)