The Wonderful Works Of God

Introduction

Acts 2:1–13 NKJV

When the Day of Pentecost had 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 the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

Anticipation can be a very powerful thing. Reflect back on the thrill of a first date. The preparation and planning that goes into trying to make everything perfect. For us parents there is the joy of a child’s birth. You spend 9 months preparing for and anticipating the arrival of this little one, and then they are here! What joy! For those who are single and not parents anticipation can take the form of the tingling excitement of a longed for day. Going to Disneyland or some other theme park. Starting a new job, a birthday party. We live our lives almost constantly anticipating something. Anticipation comes with a sense of building. It builds and builds and builds until whatever is anticipated takes place. is all about anticipation. Christ promises the Holy Spirit and the disciples await His arrival. As they wait the tension builds and the anticipation grows and grows until finally, the Spirit arrives! That is what we want to look at today. The coming of the Holy Spirit.

There are a lot of topics that come up in these verses. We will cover some of these topics as we go and others we will deal with in stand alone messages. It is possible that there may be something you would like me to cover that I don’t. This brings me to something new we want to implement. Today is a fifth Sunday. There will be another one in July, one in October, and one in December. What I would like to do is have cards in the pews and a box in the back where you can write down questions, comments, corrections, or things you want me to cover and put them in the box. They can be anonymous or you can sign them, whichever you choose. You can also email or text me questions. Then, on the those fifth Sundays, I will get the cards, emails, and texts and go through them answering them on that Sunday.

In many ways Acts chapter 2 is a theologically charged passage. Because that is true, and because we will be dealing with many of those theological issues, there is a danger of losing sight of the big picture. The point of this passage is not tongues, spiritual gifts, or spirit filling. The point of this passage is the coming of the Holy Spirit Who then enables the disciples to preach the gospel! The point of this passage is the birth of the Church through the coming of the Holy Spirit. In my outline of the book of have titled chapter 2 as…

The Enabling Of The Disciples To Preach Ch. 2 The outline shows that there are three ways the disciples are enabled to preach in this chapter. Here in the first thirteen verses we find that they are…

Enabled By The Holy Spirit 2:1-13

I have two desires that I hope to accomplish in the message this morning. First, we need to understand the miracle that takes place here.

We need to understand what the miracle is and why it is performed.

Secondly, we need to be reminded of the message we proclaim.

What is preached by the disciples on the day of Pentecost is the same message we preach today.

As we understand the miracle and are reminded of the message we too will be enabled and empowered to preach.

The Holy Spirit’s enabling takes two forms as we will see, the first is…

As we discuss how the disciples are enabled by the Holy Spirit, we find that the Holy Spirit’s enabling takes two forms in this passage. The first is…

1. Spirit enabled language vv. 1-4

Before we even begin to examine these first four verses it is vitally important that we understand two things, both of which I have included in the title of this point. First, The miracle that we are about to see is a product of the Holy Spirit. I will explain that significance in a moment. For now, just log that away or write it down. The miracle is a product of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, The form the miracle takes is that of languages spoken by the people groups present at this event. Again, I will explain that more fully as we go, so just log it away. What we see in these first four verses are two aspects to the Holy Spirits coming. The first is…

a. The unity that proceeds the Spirit vv. 1-2

As we look at v. 1 we see the Unity declared v. 1. The day of Pentecost has arrived. With Jesus being with the disciples 40 days after His resurrection this means there were 10 days between the ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit. In ch. 1 we were given a glimpse of those ten days during which there was prayer in the upper room, praise and worship in the temple, and the filling of Judas’ position by Matthias. V. 1 declares that as Pentecost arrives they are “all with one accord in one place”. “With one accord” is the Greek word ὁμοθυμαδόν homothymadon meaning with one mind. Literally homo translates as same. The idea is that of unanimity. They are there and of unanimous mind. This highlights that there were no ill feelings about Matthias being chosen over Justus, and also that the prayer, praise, and worship has served to knit these disciples together. It is worth noting that...

There can be no spirit filling where there is division and strife.

The day of Pentecost has arrived. With Jesus being with the disciples 40 days after His resurrection this means there were ten days between the ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

With one accord – ὁμοθυμαδόν homothymadon with one mind. Literal translation: Homo – same. Thymadon – mind. The idea is that of unanimity. They are there and of unanimous mind.

After the declaration of their unity in v. 1 we find in v. 2 the Unity demonstrated v. 2. They are all in a house together, sitting in fellowship and unity. Possibly the same house and room as 1:13. We need to bear in mind that they didn’t know when the Holy Spirit was coming. They are not gathered in unity and fellowship because they know what is about to happen. This was the pattern they had established! There is unity in this body of believers before the Spirit comes! As they are sitting there, a sound is heard. The sound of a rushing mighty wind that comes is heard by all and it fills the whole house. This word “heaven” doesn’t always mean where God dwells. It can just mean the sky. It is not necessarily unusual for wind to come from the sky. But for the sound to fill the whole house they are in… that is unusual. One of things that is not seen in English here is the relationship between the Greek words for wind and Spirit. They share the same root. “Wind” is noA and “Spirit” is numa. It is a little bit of a play on words to show that just as the house is filled with this wind, so the disciples are filled with the Spirit.

There can be no spirit filling where there is division and strife.

ii. Unity demonstrated v. 2

The sound that comes is heard by all and it fills the whole house.

Again we note that unity proceeds the coming of the Holy Spirit. In just a minute we are going to examine the filling of the Spirit. But let me just say that If there is strife and division within the body of Christ, there can be no filling of the Spirit. If we are not filled with the Spirit, there is no power present in our lives and ministries. If there is no power, there is no effectiveness. Our effectiveness as believers is directly tied to our relationships with one another. I want to encourage and challenge you that if there is someone who has something against you today, make it right! Harboring anger and hatred or holding on to slights and injuries cripples the body of Christ! Sin that is not deal with leaves us powerless and ineffective. The first aspect to the Spirit’s coming is the unity that proceeds Him. The second is…

They are all in a house together, sitting in fellowship and unity. The sound that comes is heard by all and it fills the whole house.

This word “heaven” doesn’t always mean where God dwells. It can just mean the sky. It is not necessarily unusual for wind to come from the sky. But for the sound to fill the whole house they are in… that is unusual.

b. The signs that proclaim the Spirit vv. 3-4

There are actually two signs that proclaim the coming of the Holy Spirit in addition to the rushing mighty wind. First, we have The visible sign in v. 3. As the sound of a rushing mighty wind fills the house, these tongues with the appearance of fire come and sit over them. They sat in the sense that they stayed with them. It is not clear from the text whether these tongues of flame were still on them when they went outside. I would tend to think not because no one remarks on it. But we can’t really be dogmatic either way. KJV describes the tongues as “cloven” giving the impression that the tongues of flame were divided tongues, possibly like a snakes. The word literally means to separate, divide or distribute. And seems better translated distributed. A. T. Robertson writes that…

The visible sign v. 3

Word Pictures in the New Testament Acts 2:3

the fire-like appearance presented itself at first, as it were, in a single body, and then suddenly parted in this direction and that; so that a portion of it rested on each of those present” (Hackett). The idea is not that each tongue was cloven, but each separate tongue looked like fire, not real fire, but looking like (ὡσει [hōsei], as if) fire.

Divided – διαμερίζω diamerizō separate; divide; distribute. To be divided – to be or become separated into two groups (in opposition). Present, middle or passive, participle. Were the tongues divided or cloven as KJV has it? Or is the emphasis just that they were each given one and so it was divided in the sense of distribution?

The significance of the wind and fire here is better understood in light of John the Baptist’s prophecy in (S).

Luke 3:16–17 NKJV

John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The wind is representative of the coming of the Spirit and so is the fire.

They hear that something is happening, they see that something is happening, then as they are filled with the Spirit we have The verbal sign in v. 4. Just to warn you, this is all the farther we will get today. We have quite a bit to cover in this verse and even more as we relate the verse to the rest of the section. Unfortunately that will have to wait until May 21. Next week is communion, then Mother’s Day. Anyways, they have the visible sign of the tongues of flame, and the verbal sign here in v. 4. But before we get to that, let’s talk about being “filled with the Holy Spirit”. “Filled” is the Greek word πίμπλημι pimplēmi meaning fill; fill with. To be or become generously supplied with. This word is passive meaning they did nothing to be filled. The Spirit filled as He willed and directed. The coming of the Holy Spirit marks a change in God’s dealings with mankind. These distinctions in how God relates to and deals with men are what we refer to as dispensations. This change in God’s dealings with man was foretold by Christ in (S).

They hear that something is happening, they see that something is happening, then as they are filled with the Spirit we have The verbal sign in v. 4. Just to warn you, this is probably all the farther we will get today. We have quite a bit to cover in this verse and even more as we relate the verse to the rest of the section. Unfortunately that will have to wait until May 21. Next week is communion, then Mother’s Day. Anyways, they have the visible sign of the tongues of flame, and the verbal sign here in v. 4. But before we get to that, let’s talk a little bit about being “filled with the Holy Spirit”. “Filled” is the Greek word πίμπλημι pimplēmi meaning fill; fill with. To be or become generously supplied with. This word is passive meaning they did nothing to be filled. The Spirit filled as He willed and directed. The filling here takes place differently than what we experience today. This is because the coming of the Holy Spirit marks a change in God’s dealings with mankind. These distinctions in how God relates to and deals with men are what we refer to as dispensations. This change in God’s dealings with man was foretold by Christ in (S).

John 14:16–17 NKJV

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

When Jesus spoke these words the Holy Spirit only dwelled with men, not in men. This is why David prayed for God not to take His Holy Spirit from him in . David had witnessed the Holy Spirit being taken from King Saul. When the Holy Spirit fills the disciples at Pentecost, it is the beginning of His indwelling ministry. Howard Marshal helps to make this point clear through his observation.

Acts: An Introduction and Commentary e. The Pouring out of the Spirit (2:1–13)

It is also important to observe that what is here called a ‘filling’ is called a ‘baptizing’ (1:5 and 11:16), a ‘pouring out’ (2:17f.; 10:45), and a ‘receiving’ (10:47).

After the day of Pentecost we have every believer being indwelt by the Spirit the moment they believe. The Apostle Paul refers to the Holy Spirit as the “guarantee” or down payment of our inheritance in ; ; . There are seven present ministries of the Holy Spirit. Restraining, convicting, regenerating, indwelling, baptizing, sealing and filling. If you are interested in the distinctions between these let me know and I can give you some material we used in Sunday School back in 2011. What we want to do this morning is demonstrate that there is a difference between filling and indwelling. The Holy Spirit indwells the disciples here in v. 3. He fills them in v. 4 and it is the filling of the Holy Spirit that enables them to speak in these various languages. We will deal with the languages next time.

ii. The verbal sign v. 4

As we already noted, the disciples do nothing to be filled with the Spirit. As Believers we do not fill ourselves with the Spirit, He fills us. Because He is the “Holy” Spirit He will not fill a vessel that is not also holy. When we trust in Christ His righteousness is credited to us. This is born out many places in Scripture but my personal favorite is (S).

Philippians 3:9 NKJV

and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Filled – πίμπλημι pimplēmi fill; fill with. To be filled (supplied) – to be or become generously supplied with; also in a metaphorical sense. Aorist, passive, indicative, third person, plural. It is passive meaning they did nothing to be filled. The Spirit filled as He willed and directed.

Receiving the righteousness of Christ makes us positionally holy. (S).

1 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

However, practical holiness is something we are commanded to strive for. (S).

1 Peter 1:15–16 NKJV

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Holiness is violated by sin. When that takes place the filling of the Holy Spirit is impossible. The indwelling work of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation. It is unconditional and permanent. The filling ministry of the Holy Spirit is dependent upon the individual believers yieldedness to God. Thus, it is conditional and can be repeated. says (S)…

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

If you are filled or controlled by alcohol, you will not be filled with the Spirit. The Spirit filled believer is one whose life has no barriers to the working of the Holy Spirit in and through them. Scripture identifies two ways we can set up barriers to the filling of the Holy Spirit. We can quench the Spirit. (S).

1 Thessalonians 5:19 NKJV

Do not quench the Spirit.

This means to say no to the Spirit.

We can never become a Spirit-filled Christian if we resist the Spirit, say no to His guidance, and refuse to yield to the Word of God as He brings it home to us.

There must be a constant attitude of yeildedness rather than rebellion. This is not only in connection with the seemingly major issues of God’s plan for our life in the future. It applies to all of the multitude of incidents and decisions that make up each day. Say yes to the Spirit no matter how difficult! We can also grieve the Holy Spirit. (S).

Ephesians 4:30 NKJV

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

We grieve the Holy Spirit when there is unconfessed sin in our lives. Sin is contrary to His nature and person and it severs our fellowship with Him. This is why tells us to confess our sin and why says we have an advocate in the person of Jesus Christ. This side of glory, sin will always be present in our lives. However, we must never be comfortable with it. Instead, We must deal with our sin Biblically through confession and Spirit-empowered obedience. In order to be filled with the Spirit we must heed (S).

Galatians 5:16 NKJV

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Back in . As the disciples are filled with the Spirit they begin to “speak with other tongues”. The filling of the Spirit marks the birth of the Church. Stanley Toussaint puts it this way.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:4

Of course Acts 2:1–4 does not state that Spirit baptism took place at Pentecost. However, 1:5 anticipates it and 11:15–16 refers back to it as having occurred at Pentecost. The church, therefore, came into existence then.

This is what they have been waiting for! What Christ commanded them to stay in Jerusalem for! This is where the church begins! The Spirit has come as promised. He has indwelt them. He has filled them. And to demonstrate the reality of these truths, He has them speak in languages they have never studied! Let me make a few notes on the words used here and then we will be done for this week.

Is there any significance to the fact that “began” is middle?

This is what they have been waiting for! What Christ commanded them to stay in Jerusalem for! This is where the church begins! The Spirit has come as promised. He has indwelt them. He has filled them. And to demonstrate the reality of these truths, He has them speak in languages they have never studied! Let me make a few notes on the words used here and then we will be done for this week.

Other – ἕτερος heteros another; other. Different – unlike in nature, quality, form, or degree. Adjective, dative, plural, feminine. The emphasis here is on them being tongues other than they were normally able to speak.

“Other” is the Greek word ἕτερος heteros meaning another, other, or different. Unlike in nature, quality, form, or degree. The emphasis here is on them being tongues other than they were normally able to speak. “Tongues” is the Greek word γλῶσσα glōssa meaning tongue or language. Here it is used to describe a supernatural tongue or language. It refers to a language one has never studied and a supernatural ability to speak, or be understood, in it. This word is also used to speak of the physical tongue. Vv. 5-13 demonstrate beyond doubt that the tongues spoken of here were known and recognized languages. Furthermore, they are languages spoken by those present who hear the disciples. A. T. Robertson makes this point very clear.

Word Pictures in the New Testament Acts 2:4

Other than their native tongues. Each one began to speak in a language that he had not acquired and yet it was a real language and understood by those from various lands familiar with them. It was not jargon, but intelligible language.

The supernatural ability to speak in these languages is given by the Spirit. Notice that they speak “as the Spirit gave them utterance”. They were not coached, coerced, or taught. They did not spend time working up to it. The Spirit gave the ability and they were immediately able to speak.

Tongues – γλῶσσα glōssa tongue; language. Language (supernatural) tongue – any language but often referring to a language one has never studied and a supernatural ability to speak (or be understood) in it. Noun, dative, plural, feminine. But this word is also used to speak of the physical tongue.

The Holy Spirit comes into our lives at salvation. As we yield to Him in obedience we are filled with the Spirit and enabled to speak, serve, and ministry to the glory of Christ! In three weeks we will learn about the message the disciples preached in these other tongues as well as who was present and how the message was received. Is there anything in your life, in my life, that is preventing the filling of the Spirit? Don’t live with unconfessed sin! Get rid of it! Confess and forsake it! Live in submission to the Spirit that you might be used by God to spread the gospel message.

As the Spirit gave utterance. They were not coached, coerced, or taught. The Spirit gave the ability and they were thus able to speak.

Conclusion

We live in a time where there is much false teaching about the Holy Spirit. There are things being proclaimed that are not Biblically accurate. My prayer is that we have begun to learn the truth of the Holy Spirit today. We will continue to do so in the weeks ahead. The question we must ask whenever we have read the Bible or heard it taught is “How does this passage change my life?” In these first four verses we need to remember that We too have been given the Holy Spirit. We too have been empowered and enabled by Him. We too have been given a message to proclaim! Our ability to preach the message He has given and be effective in our service for Christ is determined by our submission to the Spirit. Any sin, no matter how small, is rebellion against God. Don’t leave here harboring rebellion in your heart. Make it right. If you have never trusted Christ, then you too are harboring rebellion. Place your faith in Jesus Christ and His death burial and resurrection! When we have trusted in Him, it is time to proclaim Him.

How does this passage change my life?

May we be faithful in continually confessing sin that we might live in fellowship with Christ.

We too have been given the Holy Spirit. We too have been empowered and enabled by Him. We too have been given a message to proclaim!

May our fellowship with Christ empower and enable us through the Holy Spirit to serve more effectively.

#172 “Tell Me The Story Of Jesus”

The second form that the Holy Spirit’s enabling takes is that of a…

The second form that the Holy Spirit’s enabling takes is that of a…

POINT 2 as is = 10 min.

2. Spirit empowered message vv. 5-13

An awful lot of commentaries launch into error in v. 4 and in these verses because of their commitment to the kinds of tongues seen in churches today. There are two problems with how they handle the Scripture passages that deal with tongues. 1 - Law of first mention. 2 - Interpret unclear by clear. It is clear here that the tongues spoke by the disciples are real, known, and spoken languages. This understanding must then be applied to all other appearances of tongues. We cannot take the tongues used in Corinth and attempt to reinterpret what we see here. One big thing to always bear in mind is that Paul wrote to the Corinthian church to correct their misunderstanding and abuse of tongues.

a. The message regarded vv. 5-8

i. Regarded with breadth v. 5

Men from every nation

Every nation would be all the known nations at that time. The Greek terms here as well as the description of all who are present in vv. 9-11 seem to support this idea.

ii. Regarded with confusion v. 6

Sound – φωνή phōnē sound; voice. Sound (effect) – the auditory effect produced by a given cause. Noun, genitive, singular, feminine.

The sound spoken of here would be that of the speaking in tongues. It is a different Greek word than used in v. 2.

The sound spoken of here would be that of the speaking in tongues. It is a different Greek word than used in v. 2. In v. 2 ἦχος ēchos is used.

Language – διάλεκτος dialektos language – a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols. Noun, dative, singular, feminine. This word identifies the “tongues” that were spoken. V. 4 speaks of glossa, here the glossa are identified as dialektos.

iii. Regarded as a marvel v. 7

Because they were Galileans.

When God is at work, all we can do is stand in amazement and marvel at His awesome works! I love the meaning of this word “amazed”. Here is the sense of the word, to be or become astounded to such a degree as to nearly lose one’s mental composure. There is such shock and awe at what God is doing that they almost lose their minds! What is so amazing? All those speaking are perceived to be Galileans. Why is that a big deal? Galilee had a bad reputation. The people there were looked down on. This is most clearly seen in two verses in John. , (S).

John 7:41 NKJV

Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee?

John 7:52 NKJV

They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.”

Interestingly enough, both Jonah and Hosea are from Galilee. There was a prejudice about Galilee. The Galileans were fishermen and considered stupid. So to hear them speaking in various languages was a big deal!

God takes people from the wrong side of the tracks, the last people we would choose, and uses them to accomplish incredible things for His glory!

iv. Regarded as personal v. 8

Each in their own language.

It isn’t just that they are Galileans and are speaking other languages. It is that each person is hearing their own birth language spoken!

Our own – ἴδιος idios one’s own. Particular – unique or specific to a person or thing or category. Adjective, dative, singular, feminine. Each language spoken is a particular and unique one.

The hearers know it is not gibberish. It is known, recognizable, spoken languages. The personal nature of the languages being spoken would serve to make the hearers more attentive. This ensures that they hear the gospel message being proclaimed. The Holy Spirit then does His convicting work and, as we will see, many are converted.

b. The message reported vv. 9-11

i. Reporting the nations represented vv. 9-11a

Parthians

Medes

Elamites

Mesopotamia

Judea

Cappadocia

Pontus

Asia

Phrygia

Pamphylia

Egypt

Libya by Cyrene

Rome - visitors who are Jews and proselytes. People who have converted from another religion.

Cretans

Arabs

15 different nations or geographical locations. The reason for stating these is that each person heard their language being spoken. We have at least 15 languages but probably more because there would have been various dialects which is what would be the language of someone’s birth. I believe that when Peter preaches later, the various disciples translated his words.

ii. Reporting the message content v. 11b

The wonderful works of God!

In this verse the speaker again uses glossa. We have just seen stated in vv. 6 and 8 that they all heard their own language. So tongues here is a reference to known, spoken languages.

What is super important here is what they are saying. The message that is being preached is that of “the wonderful works of God”!

Wonderful works – μεγαλεῖος megaleios greatness. Great act – some act that is held in esteem and honor. Adjective, accusative, plural, neuter.

They are speaking of the greatness of God. His great acts. What would this be? Salvation through the death burial and resurrection of Christ! By they way, this is always what the Spirit does. This is made clear in (S).

John 15:26 NKJV

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

Any movement that emphasizes the Holy Spirit above Christ misunderstands the role and function of the Holy Spirit. They do, in fact, blaspheme the Spirit by claiming that He is about His own glorification instead of Christ!

c. The message received vv. 12-13

There are three possible responses to the Word of God. Belief, unbelief, indecision. Indecision is still a form of unbelief so if you wanted you could say there are only two. These responses will be seen throughout the book of Acts. Every time the gospel is preached you have some believing and some not and usually some who want to hear it again later. Here we are told two specific ways the message is recieved.

i. Received with amazement v. 12

They are both amazed and perplexed by this. They have no human explanation for how this could be happening. They ask each other what this means.

BRING UP judgment by men of other tongues?

ii. Received with mockery v. 13

It has always baffled me how you can mock such an obvious miracle. There is no human explanation for the things God does! The miraculous ability to speak a language one has never studied is not something that can be explained apart from God!

This particular mocking is that of disbelief. Who would disbelieve? This serves as a testimony to the hardness and blindness that is present in those who reject the gospel!

New wine is only partially alcoholic. It is wine that has not been fully fermented. So it is alcoholic, but not very. This is a particularly harsh mockery since it suggest that they are not only doing this under the influence of intoxication, but also that they are so pathetic that they are intoxicated by slightly alcoholic wine.

(S).

1 Corinthians 3:5–8 NKJV

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

It is the responsibility of the believer to deliver the message. We plant and water, God brings the increase.

Conclusion

This is the same message we proclaim. We proclaim the wonderful works of God!