A Study In Acts...Chapter 2

The New King James Version Chapter 1

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The New King James Version Chapter 2

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Pentecost

This is the 2nd great festival on the Jewish calendar...The 120 continued in prayer and praise about ten days after the ascension of Jesus, until the Day of Pentecost. This was a harvest festival among the Jews. It was also called the Feast of Weeks (Exod. 34:22; Num. 28:26; Deut. 16:10, 16; 2 Chron. 8:13) as there was a week of weeks (seven weeks) between it and Passover. Pentecost means “fiftieth,” and it was so-called because on the fiftieth day after the waving of the sheaf of firstfruits (Lev. 23:15–16) they waved two loaves for firstfruits (Lev. 23:17).

Horton, S. M. (2001). Acts: A Logion Press Commentary (p. 53). Springfield, MO: Logion Press.

The New King James Version Chapter 23

15 ‘And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD.

Pentecost for us today represents the harvest of the OT prophecies being fulfilled and the first fruits being the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!

Wind and Fire

The New King James Version Chapter 2

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.

There were 3 manifestations...

Audible Manifestations - There was a sound like a mighty rushing wind... The sound of wind would remind them of powerful Old Testament divine manifestations. God spoke to Job out of a storm, probably a windstorm (Job 38:1; 40:6). A mighty east wind dried out the path through the Red Sea, enabling the Israelites to escape from Egypt on dry ground (Exod. 14:21). Wind was also a frequent symbol of the Spirit in the Old Testament (Ezek. 37:9–10, 14, for example). Jesus also referred to wind in speaking of the Spirit (John 3:8).

Horton, S. M. (2001). Acts: A Logion Press Commentary (p. 55). Springfield, MO: Logion Press.

The New King James Version Chapter 38

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

Visual Manifestations - There appeared “what seemed to be tongues of fire”... But fire and light were common symbols of the divine presence, as in the case of the burning bush that Moses saw (Exod. 3:2), and also the Lord’s appearance in fire on Mount Sinai after the people of Israel accepted the old covenant (Exod. 19:18). The Spirit coming in power charred the ropes that bound Samson (Judg. 15:14). The “fire of the Lord” burned up Elijah’s sacrifice and even the stones of the altar and the soil (1 Kings 18:38). Fire is also connected with the Old Testament prophecies of the outpouring of the Spirit in Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, and Zechariah. Tongues also indicated speech—the fiery, powerful, prophetic witness that the Holy Spirit would give.

Horton, S. M. (2001). Acts: A Logion Press Commentary (pp. 55–56). Springfield, MO: Logion Press.

The New King James Version Chapter 3

2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed.

The New King James Version Chapter 19

18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly.

The New King James Version Chapter 15

14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands.

The New King James Version Chapter 18

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

Speech Manifestations - As the 120 believers were being filled they “began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them”...This speaking came “as the Spirit enabled them” (Gk. edidou apophthengesthai autois, “proceeded to give and kept on giving them to speak out loudly and boldly”). That is, they used their tongues, their muscles; they spoke. However, the words did not come from their own minds or thinking. The Spirit gave them what to speak—and they expressed it boldly, loudly, and with obvious anointing and power. This was the one sign of the baptism in the Holy Spirit that was repeated.

Some writers call these tongues “ecstatic” utterance. “Ecstatic,” as the word is used today, implies a state beyond both reason and self-control. It also suggests a trance, or mystic state, that makes it nearly impossible for one to move. This sort of ecstatic state or trance was common among the pagans, but “ecstatic” is really an improper term and does not apply either here or in other passages where speaking in tongues is mentioned. There is no evidence that any believer spoke as if forced to do so. They retained their senses and spoke in willing cooperation with the Holy Spirit.

Horton, S. M. (2001). Acts: A Logion Press Commentary (p. 59). Springfield, MO: Logion Press.

The New King James Version Chapter 10

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”