Written ~ 06-04-2024
Read Acts Chapter Two
Acts 2
Jesus has ascended to Heaven, right before that He told His disciples to wait until the Holy Spirit came before leaving Jerusalem. That request may have seemed a little ominous because they really had no idea how long they would be waiting.
Acts 2:1…
1 “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.”
The day of Pentecost (originally called the Festival of Harvest – see Exodus 23:16) was ten days following the ascension of Christ. For ten days those believers waited, they met together, they worshiped God and were in constant, unified prayer.
Then the miraculous happened!
Acts 2:2-4…
2 “Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”
Oh my goodness! Oh how I would have loved to have been there that day! To experience the filling of the Holy Spirit in that manner, with such evident display of power! At that particular moment it must have been frightening, but at the same time absolutely glorious! I believe… to be filled with the Holy Spirit in that way was probably necessary so the disciples and the other believers present that day could be witness to something miraculous.
Verses 2:5-12 tell us how people from all around heard the loud noise and how they came running to see what was going on. They were astonished to hear their native languages being spoken by these Galilean people. Confusion and wonder must have swept through the crowd as they tried to make sense of what was happening. There had to be a logical explanation… In the days of this very first church (same as today), believers and followers of Jesus Christ have been ridiculed. Though some people were amazed and perplexed, others formed the opinion that the disciples and the other believers had to be drunk, that could be the only explanation to what they were witnessing. Those who were amazed knew something wonderful and exciting had taken place.
Acts 2:11b-13…
11b “…we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” 12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”
With some folks it’s so easy to dismiss something from God with snide remarks rather than just believe what they are hearing as the truth coming from the mouth of the Almighty God.
When Peter heard the ridiculing he stepped up…
Acts 2:14-15…
14 “Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.”
When Peter stepped forward to speak – all eyes were turned to him. He spoke with a new boldness, a new confidence… He was filled with the Holy Spirit and began preaching the very first Holy Spirit filled sermon. The people gathered around, they listened intently to what he was saying. Peter began by quoting Joel 2:28-32…
Acts 2:16-21…
16 “No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy.
19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below—
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.’”
Peter continued by confirming how God’s plan happened exactly how it was supposed to happen! He and the other disciples were witnesses to everything Jesus had said and when you speak the Word of God it will not return void! No, the Word of God is powerful! And when God says He will do something, you better believe it will be done.
Acts 2:22-24 and 32-33…
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through Him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and His prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed Him to a cross and killed Him. 24 But God released Him from the horrors of death and raised Him back to life, for death could not keep Him in its grip. 32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now He is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as He had promised, gave Him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.”
All those people gathered around were awestruck by the power behind Peter’s words. Wouldn’t you be? Some in the crowd may have heard Jesus speak with boldness, but for many this could’ve been the first time they heard the powerful Words of the Lord spoken with such authority.
Acts 2:36-37…
36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
Have you ever read something or heard a sermon that seriously hit you square between the eyes? You know that message was meant for you, right then, right there. When the Gospel message is preached and your heart and mind are at full attention, what should your response be? Should it be similar to those who were listening to Peter that day? I think… if you are hearing or reading something that is convicting your heart at ANY level, your response needs to be, “What should I do?”
Peter responded to their question. And guess what? His answer is the very same answer today as it was 2000 years ago…
Acts 2:38-40…
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away- all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
And look what happened next!
Acts 2:41…
41 “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.”
This confirms what it says in Isaiah 55:11…
“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
When God’s Word goes out from His mouth… IT SHALL NOT RETURN TO HIM VOID… But it shall accomplish what He wanted it to accomplish! The Message Version (MSG) says it this way… “…the Words that come out of My mouth will not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.”
GOD’S WORD IS POWERFUL! The filling of the Holy Spirit brings this power to every believer.
Can you imagine! From the small gathering of 120 people who waited together for ten days praying and worshiping God, wondering what was going to happen next… to this moment… 3000 people heard the Word of the Lord and believed! 3000 souls were changed from the inside out! 3000 people were added to the church that day!
Acts 2:42-47…
42 “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
I love what happened on that day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has arrived and He is the same now as He was then. He gives us boldness, power and confidence to speak the Name of Jesus. When you are not too sure what to do, or you’re in a time of waiting, call on the Holy Spirit, ask Him to come fill you up with His power and walk in the boldness and confidence He gives you. You may not be too certain what is going to happen next… But I can guarantee with the help of the Holy Spirit you will make it through.
When you have the boldness like Peter to step forward and speak the truth, sure some will not like what you have to say… but keep in mind that there will always be those who are hungry for the Word of God and when they hear it, they will respond.
My prayer is that I will always have the boldness through the Holy Spirit within me to speak the name of Jesus to anyone who will hear. To pray over every circumstance or situation, good or bad, in the name of Jesus! There is power in the Name of Jesus and when fueled with the filling of the Holy Spirit there’s no stopping what God can do!
Praise You LORD!
Praise You God my Father!
And Praise You Holy Spirit!
Fill me up Lord!
~AMEN~