The Beginnings of the Church

Acts 2:1–13 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Introduction

Acts 2:1–13 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts), 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.” 12 They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.”

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.

3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them.

4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven.

6 When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

7 They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

8 How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language?

9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts), 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.”

12 They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

13 But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.

The mircle at pentecost occured on the festival known in Late Judaism as Pentecost. which was to be celebrated on the day after the seventh sabeth and hence on the 15th day after the passover. It was originally the festival of the firstfruits of the grain harvest and it was called the feast of weeks because it came after a period of seven weeks of harvesting that begain with the offering of the first barley sheaf during the pasover celebration and ended with the wheat harvest. by the time of the first Christian century , however it was considered the aniversery of the giving of the law. at mount sini and a time for anuel renewal of the Mosaic covenent. and therfore it was looked upon as one of the three great pilgrim festivals of Judasim.

No one could have failed to have been impressed by the fact that it was on the jewish festival of penticost that the spirit came so dramadicly upon the early believers in Jeruslem. This was the significance that is emphisized here

The mission of the christian Church is dependent upon the comming of the holy spirit.

“one place” refers to the fact that the apposles were assembled in the temple courts. the the term house was custemarily used in reference to the temple. in addition where else would every jew in jeruselem be on this festive day of pilgrimage and celebration

v2

There is nothing nesesarily visible about the holy spirit, but through Gods provedence he often accompinies his spirits working by visible or addible signs. The reason for this is to asure people of His presence, and usually within the appreciation-though not always the expectation of his own.

The sound like a violont wind showed all that were present understood the presence of God’s spirit among them. in a way that was more intimate, personal, and powerful than they had ever experienced before

Introduction

Introduction

v3

First century Jews understood fire as a symbol of divine presence.

-The burning bush

The piller of fire that guarded Isrel by night through wilderness

the consuming fire in mount sini

the fire that hovered over the wilderness tabernacle

v4

THis event This event fulfills Proophecies of and

Isaiah 32:15 CSB

until the Spirit from on high is poured out on us. Then the desert will become an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest.

Joel 2:28–32 CSB

After this I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions. I will even pour out my Spirit on the male and female slaves in those days. I will display wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for there will be an escape for those on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, as the Lord promised, among the survivors the Lord calls.

Therfore, This event indicates that the last days have arrived. Through scripture when we read of the “last days” we often equate it with right before the rapture, when in fact “the last days” refer to the entirety of the Church age.

v5

v6

The Decending of the Spirit v1-4

Acts 2:1–4 CSB

When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts

The mircle at Penticost occured during a festival known as the feast of weeks, due to the fact that it came after seven weeks of harvesting

It was the festival of the first fruits of the grain harvest. and was selebrated the day after the seventh sabeth and therefore it was 15 days after pasover.

By this point however, it was considered the aniversery of the giving of the Law at mount sini.

During this festival sacrifices were offered it was a time for anuel renewal of the covenent that had been givin to Noah and to Moses. and was one of the great pilgrim festivals of Judisim.

No one could have been un-impressed ny the fact that it was on this Jewish festival of penticost that the spirit came so dramaticly upon early belivers. in Jeruslum. This great significance is shown throughout this passage,

THe term “one place” refers to the fact that the apposles were assembled in the temple courts. the the term house was custemarily used in reference to the temple. in addition where else would every jew in jeruselem be on this festive day of pilgrimage and celebration.

It is vitel to note here that Iseril and the church are distict, and that the mission of the church is dependent on the comming of the holy Spirit. The official bginning of Christ’s Church is marked here

Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.

Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.

There is nothing nesesarily visible about the holy spirit, however, in scripture he often shows the working of the spirit through visible signs. to asure people of his presence. The wind is not litteral but “sounded like” with the puropse to attract attention.

As one reads this testemony it is told in such a picturesce detainl that it must have come from one who was present in the occurence.

The suddenness and strength, of the sound strike with deepest awe the whole company, and thus complete their preparation for the heavenly gift.

of the sound strike with deepest awe the whole company, and thus complete their preparation for the heavenly gift. The sound of a violent wind showed that all that were present understood the presence of God’s spirit among them. In addition it was like nothing they had experienced before and was more powerful and intemente

The sound of a violent wind showed that all that were present understood the presence of God’s spirit among them. In addition it was like nothing they had experienced before and was more powerful and intemente

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them

First Century Jews would have understood fire as a symbol of the divine presence, There are four occurences they would point to:

The burning Bush

Exodus 2:3–5 CSB

But when she could no longer hide him, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with asphalt and pitch. She placed the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. Then his sister stood at a distance in order to see what would happen to him. Pharaoh’s daughter went down to bathe at the Nile while her servant girls walked along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds, sent her slave girl, took it,

The piller of Fire

Exodus 13:21 CSB

The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night.

The consuming fire on mount Sini

Exodus 24:17 CSB

The appearance of the Lord’s glory to the Israelites was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop.

The fire that hovered over the wilderness tabernacle

Exodus 40:38 CSB

For the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel throughout all the stages of their journey.

The tounges weres a tounge shaped flame-like appearance rising from a jointed center and resting on each of the compony.

This is a butiful visable symbol of the burning energy of the spirit now decending in all his plenitude upon the church, and about through every tounge and every natinality of men.

The puropse is to indicate every believer to witness the power of the spirit.

It is importent to understand that just like the wind this is simply an analogy.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

Theese outword signs were used to illistrate the inward invisibale reality of the presents of the Holy spirit.

Luke uses the word fill here to discribe the experence. This word is used through scripture when people are givin internal empowerment of the spirit to fit them for God’s service

Each believer is in God’s services

“they begain to speak in tounges as the spirit enabled them”

This was real living languages not some strange un-understood rambeling. There are two opinions that exist here:

1 Corinthians 14:1–25 ESV

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

1. uneligbel sounds

2. languages not priviously learned

Obviously again it is simply languages not priviously learned.

This event has created quite a bit of debate ofer the nature of speaking in tounges and other languages.

Do tounges exist today, and if not why not?

No

The puropse of tounges was to amaze the listeners and was a sign for the jewish aduidence of the divine nature of the message being proclaimed. Today we have the Bible and therefore tounges are no longer nesesary.

v7

The Question v5-8

v8

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

5 Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language?

v9

There were Jewish men out of every nation dwelling in Jeruselum because of the temporary visit due to the feast.

The crowd was confused because they could not understand how galations could speak in there own language. The wording here of confusion can be equated with that at the tower of babel

v10

The Suprize 9-13

v11

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts), 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.” 12 They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.”

v12

Luke gives a list of the natinalities represented. He begins with the countries of the east Roman emppire in the area known as Persia or Iran, and then moves westword to Mesopotania, modern Iraq and Judia. Next come verious provences and areas in Asia Minor (Modern Terky and then Egypt and the area imediately westword followed by rome.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.” 12 They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.”

He then gave a general statement which applied to all the people in mind,

v13

After giving the natinalities he gave general statements which applied to all those presnt.

there was a considerable Jewish population in each of theese areas, and the presence of jews often led to the conversion of gentile proselytes.

The list he gave was odd, but the idea potrayes that people from all over the world were present and they would return to there own contries as witneses

The crowds were at a loss to know what was going on. some were explaining the speaking in tounges as a resault of drunkeness which would have been natural

Application

1. Are you using the gifts that God has given you

2. Are you going to your areas of responsibility with the gospel?

3.

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