Acts Chapter 2
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat
upon each of them.
Here we see the beginning of the the assembly of believers some call the church
or congregation that starts the amazing spread of the gospel all over the world.
The Holy Spirit is poured out on the believers present in the place where
they were assembled.
I've heard comments that this was a one time event and it has never happened
again. I wish we would not add to the word of God. No where in the New Testament
or the Old do we see this as a one time only event. It could have happened many
times but no one may have taken the time to write it down and tell us about it.
We assume these things with no proof what so ever. God is not to be boxed up
according to our desires and our thinking. Peter said that this promise is to
all of us who believe even those afar off. No where does it say that this event
was just for the apostles of that day. Some say that we do not need these things
because we now have the written word. No where in the word of God states that
fact either. There will never be a time before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
that we will not need the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
I don't know why the Lord chose the sign of speaking in other languages but He
did. I could venture a guess and this is just my own opinion, not to be taken as
gospel truth. I would guess that it was a sign that the gospel was for every
tongue and nation, not limited to the Jewish nation. I realize its hard for
people who have never spoken in other tongues or languages in a supernatural
manner to understand the reasoning but let us consider this. This is not some
strange weird experience. Maybe you might have witnessed someone who acted
strangely in the flesh but the Holy Spirit is a wonderful gift of God sent to be
with us until Jesus comes again. There is nothing weird or strange about the
person of the Holy Spirit. People who speak in other tongues are not weird
strange people but just as normal as people who do not speak in other tongues.
We are brothers and sisters in Christ if we have received Jesus Christ as savior
and become born again by the same spirit we read about here causing many to
speak in other tongues. Just because we have never spoken in other tongues does
not mean that those who do, are wrong. When we accuse someone of not being of God
because they do things a little differently, it is not right. As long as it is
in the bible then we better be very careful with our accusations lest we hurt a
fellow believer. On other hand the apostle Paul makes it clear that not all
speak with other tongues so we who do should not belittle or think ourselves
higher than or more spiritual than the ones who do not speak in tongues. I don't
believe one gift is greater than another but all should be done in love. I
cringe when I hear people call speaking in tongues one of the lesser gifts of
the spirit. Where do we come up with some of our reasoning? Let us be careful
not to change the word of God and make it say something it does not say. By love
serve one another. Those who shout out loud the praises of God and those who
pray quietly are equal. One is not more spiritual than the other. We know true
believers by their fruits, not by what gifts they may have or how loud they
worship. I love to praise God by speaking in tongues, singing and praising God
but that is not what makes one spiritual. It is how we live on a daily basis and
whether we live by the word of God. I am not saying this to downplay anything
wonderful thing that God gives us but only that we don't judge each other by
these things.
Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every
nation under heaven.
Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were
confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold,
are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and
in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about
Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful
works of God.
Act 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another,
What meaneth this?
They heard people who were not skilled naturally in these languages, speak the
languages of their native lands clearly proclaiming the word of God. We do
see here that speaking in tongues was a method God used to let others of other
languages hear the word of God. If this was the only place where believers spoke
in tongues then we might say that it was only to be used when others are present
that could understand what we speak. However, we see that on two other occasions
in the book of Acts, speaking in tongues occur even though there was not a great
crowd of foreign visitors.
Act 2:13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Whatever they heard, some thought they were drunk so this wasn't an event that
was planned, controlled and natural but was supernatural.
Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said
unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known
unto you, and hearken to my words:
Act 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third
hour of the day.
Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out
of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days
of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
This is fulfillment of Joel's prophesy and there is nothing to indicate that it
was supposed to end or be a one-time event.
The proof of that is the next verse.
Act 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth
beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
that great and notable day of the Lord come:
This part of Joel's prophecy has not yet come to pass. Yet it appears to be all
of the same prophecy. Then this event is on-going until the coming of the Lord.
Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the
Lord shall be saved.
Things will be so bad, sinful, and evil that if one just called on the name of
the Lord it would indicate they were willing to repent and receive Jesus Christ.
This puts the gospel in simple terms, just call upon Him and we can be saved.
Here is the prophecy in Joel
Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit
upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men
shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Joe 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I
pour out my spirit.
Joe 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and
fire, and pillars of smoke.
Joe 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Joe 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the
LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be
deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Act 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved
of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the
midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of
God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Act 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it
was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Act 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my
face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
Act 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also
my flesh shall rest in hope:
Act 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
Act 2:28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of
joy with thy countenance.
Act 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David,
that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
Act 2:30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath
to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise
up Christ to sit on his throne;
Act 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his
soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Psa 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I
shall not be moved.
Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall
rest in hope.
Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer
thine Holy One to see corruption.
This outpouring of the Holy Spirit was made possible by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All this was promised in the Old Testament and is being poured out starting here in the book of Acts but also now as I write. This is for me, this is for you, this is for all that the Lord shall call. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit was also a sign that Jesus was the Christ, that Jesus was the one God sent to save us from sin and give us His Holy Spirit.
Act 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Act 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received
of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye
now see and hear.
Act 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The
LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Act 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Psa 110:1 Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right
hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
There are so many proofs in the Old Testament to bear out the truth of the New
if we would only search diligently for them.
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath
made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said
unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost.
Repenting is part of the gospel and should not be left out. If we want God and
all He has for us, we have to be willing to change. We can't keep on
sinning and live anyway the flesh desires to live.
The reason Peter stressed being baptized in the name of Jesus here was not to
start a certain formula as opposed to being baptized in the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit.
He was speaking to Jews who formerly did not believe in any doctrine except the
law that was given through Moses. They already knew about repentance and
baptism but they had never heard of Jesus before. Now they were instructed
to repent and believe in Jesus for remission of sins. If we are baptized
by someone speaking, "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit"
that is perfectly okay.
Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that
are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
This promise has not ceased. Some interpret the chapter in Corinthians that
speak of some of the gifts ceasing after that which is perfect has come as proof
that the gifts of the spirit has ended. They think that it means the bible as
being the perfect one. However, it could not mean the bible because the
scriptures Jesus and the apostles used were Old Testament. The Old Testament
existed before the day of Pentecost. We see the church world today and we know
certainly that we are not perfect. We still need help. We still need the gifts
of the spirit. That which is perfect is the coming of the Lord. It could not
mean any other thing unless we get the whole world saved, healed and living a
perfect life before Jesus comes. Then and only then would we not need the gifts
of the Spirit.
I would be very careful not to belittle and take lightly any gift that comes
from God. Our attitude should never be, "Do I have to speak in tongues?" Our
attitude should be, "Do I get to speak in tongues?"
Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save
yourselves from this untoward generation.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,
and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Act 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by
the apostles.
Act 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Act 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as
every man had need.
This was a freewill willing thing they did. It was never forced or pressured.
Everyone seemed to love the Lord so much that they didn't care about their
personal possessions. That was great but some have used this to force communism
and socialism on whole societies. If we do that, we have to have a dictator that
robs individual choices and rights. Jesus taught giving but willingly. We must
strive never to get away from that. Force or arm-twisting type of pressure is
never taught in the New Testament.
Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of
heart,
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added
to the church daily such as should be saved.
We must never get away from dependency upon the Holy Spirit. Without Him
we can do nothing.
