Ruach (Pheuma)

Rushing Wind

English Standard Version Chapter 2

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind

English Standard Version Chapter 1

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

One of the first things we are told in the Bible is that the Spirit was present. It hovered above the waters. The Greek word for wind, which the Spirit was likened to, is Pneuma. The Hebrew word for the Spirit is Ruach. Say that and let the word roll of your tongue.

The day of Pentecost was a day of celebration. It was called the Feast of Weeks when the wheat harvest was celebrated by a one day festival. It makes me wonder if this opening statement was recognized after the fact. What I mean by that is this, have you ever realized something after it has happened? When I was a young man we had a night of storms. I remember lying in bed and listening to the rain and wind. The next day when I awoke we found that the neighbor’s house had been hit by a tornado. Now, when I tell that story I tell it as though I knew when that tornado hit because I heard the wind. The truth is I heard the wind but did not know what it meant until after the fact.

How do we quench the Spirit? Look at the passage between 5 and 13, 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 2:5–13.

After the lengthy conversation naming all the people and the different regions represented we find in verse 13 that some people thought they were drunk. We can explain away the Spirit if we choose to. Peter boldly claims and defends his brothers in Christ. 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 2:14–15. Why do you suppose we have to defend the gospel?