Taking the Nations

And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in the same place. And suddenly a sound like a violent rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. And divided tongues like 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 languages as the Spirit gave them ability to speak out. Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one was hearing them speaking in his own language. And they were astounded and astonished, saying, “Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how do we hear, each one of us, in our own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and those residing in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya toward Cyrene, and the Romans who were in town, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own languages the great deeds of God!” And all were amazed and greatly perplexed, saying to one another, “What can this mean?”

What does it mean to the Jew?

We are going to see what this episode means to the Jews who were present. Remember the gospel was for the Jew first and then the gentile. Unfortunately, pastor tend to forget that and our use of Old and New tends to divide God’s working. Let’s see some details

Deuteronomy 32:8 ESV

When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.

why are we here? This is the worldview of the Jew and goes through the gospels and the book of Acts… same word in the Septuagint.. This is a worldview that must be understood.

and then we have the languages … people are amazed scared and confused —the root source words are the same

Genesis 11:8–9 LEB

So Yahweh scattered them from there over the face of the whole earth, and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, for there Yahweh confused the language of the whole earth, and there Yahweh scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

This was by intent to connect the events for those who are present and reading who are Jewish… The nations were divided and through the Son they are being reclaimed

look at the missionaries created here to return to their home filled with the Spirit of God to established and reconnect the world to the One True God. they are to go home and infiltrate their nations with the gospel. Read the nations and locate they go from the East to the West and mention the furthest the exiles had gone .. they end at Italy but

acts 2 - Judea

acts 8 - Samaria

the end of the 10 tribes of Israel … the capitol so to speak and then the Ethiopian Eunuch, why? There were Jews in Cush,,

acts 9 Paul’s conversion

Apostle to the Gentiles … fullness of gentiles… Damascus

acts 10

Cornelius

Acts 11-19

other nations and areas

Acts 20

Rome and then to Spain

Taking it Back

this will not be missed if one of the story lines of the OT is understood… Paul is working for the day when all go to Jerusalem .. the fullness of the gentiles .. to be what it should have been..

Acts 20:22–23 ESV

And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

Acts 15:20 LEB

but we should write a letter to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood.

Acts 19:21 LEB

Now when these things were completed, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, it is necessary for me to see Rome also.”

Acts 15:20–28 LEB

but we should write a letter to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. For Moses has those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, because he is read aloud in the synagogues on every Sabbath.” Then it seemed best to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas who was called Barsabbas and Silas, men who were leaders among the brothers—writing this letter to be delivered by them: The apostles and the elders, brothers. To the brothers who are from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Greetings! Because we have heard that some have gone out from among us—to whom we gave no orders—and have thrown you into confusion by words upsetting your minds, it seemed best to us, having reached a unanimous decision, and having chosen men, to send them to you together with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, and they will report the same things by word of mouth. For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things:

Paul thinks that from Rome he will be able to get to Spain...

Territory is important

Think of how Paul writes about

The Darkness

rulers

principalities

powers/authority

powers (one mention of demon — gods they have not known...

thrones

world rulers

Revelation 2:25–28 ESV

Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star.

Psalm 2:1–12 LEB

Why are nations in tumult, and countries plotting in vain? The kings of the earth establish themselves, and the rulers conspire together against Yahweh and his anointed: “Let us tear off their bonds, and cast their cords from us!” He who sits enthroned in the heavens laughs. The Lord derides them. Then he speaks to them in his wrath, and in his fury he terrifies them: “But as for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will tell the decree; Yahweh said to me: “You are my son; today I have begotten you. Ask from me and I will make the nations your heritage, and your possession the ends of the earth. You will break them with an iron rod. Like a potter’s vessel you will shatter them.” So then, O kings, be wise. Be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest he be angry and you perish on the way, for his anger burns quickly. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Numbers 24:17 LEB

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a star will go out from Jacob, and a scepter will rise from Israel; it will crush the foreheads of Moab and destroy all the children of Seth.

Revelation 22:16 LEB

“I, Jesus, sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

Revelation 3:20–21 LEB

Behold, I stand at the door and knock! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, indeed I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also have conquered and have sat down with my Father on his throne.