1 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, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[ a ] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:1-4 (ESV) 中文

Together waiting

We saw in a previous post that the disciples are obedient to Jesus’ command to get together and wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. This would power their discipleship and evangelism to the whole world (Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8) – just as He powers ours. They have replaced Judas Iscariott with Matthais and continue to wait.

What is Pentecost?

Pentecost is the Greek name for Jewish festival. “Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) was observed at the time of the grain harvest and the offering of the first fruits, and was one of the three great annual Jewish festivals, along with Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths). Just as Jesus’ sacrifice was the fulfillment of Passover, the coming of the Holy Spirit was the fulfillment of Pentecost.” (AMP notes) All Jews were required to come back to Jerusalem for this event.

Holy Spirit comes

As Jesus promised in Acts 1:4-8, the Holy Spirit comes. Boy, does He come! There’s no denying something amazing and miraculous is happening. What were the signs?

• It happened suddenly. No one had just prayed, “Fill us with the Spirit”, though they likely have been praying during these 10 days from the time Jesus told them to wait. There was no angel to announce His coming.
• A loud sound of wind filled the house. Remember there were about 120 people there (Acts 1:15) so it was a big place so the sound was loud, it sounded like wind. It surely got their attention. In the OT wind often showed God’s power – opening a way for Israel in the Red Sea as they fled Egypt (Exodus 14:21). A wind shook the mountain and shattered rocks with Moses (1 Kings 19:11). I’m reminded of being in the mountains of Nepal in 2015 when the big earthquake suddenly struck. The sound was like a freight train passing right in front of us!
• It came with fire like tongues that rested on them. Fire often indicates purity. The burning of sacrifices in the OT (like when God sent fire in 1 Kings 18:20-40 to consume the sacrifice, the altar of stones and water around the altar Elijah built). In the NT, we see that the enemies of God will be thrown into a lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
• Speaking in tongues. They received a miraculous ability to speak in other tongues they didn’t know but, as we’ll see tomorrow, others around them understood. 

RЯeflection

• This is another one of those events I wish I could have witnessed. How about you?
• Do you have questions about the work of the Holy Spirit? How about being filled with or baptized with the Spirit (Acts 1:8)? Hang around for the next few posts. Or add comments or, contact us.