The Day of Pentecost (CL)

Acts 2:1-21

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 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.

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.”

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. ¹⁶ But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams;

¹⁸ even on my male servants and female servants

in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

¹⁹ And I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

²⁰ the sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

²¹ And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

The Spirit of God rushes into their location. He shows himself in tongues of fire over the disciples. He opens the mouths of disciples. The Holy Spirit places a proclamation upon their lips. God uses them as his voice box to an entire City. God speaks to each person in their own language.

It is not clear from this text what exactly the disciples were saying. It is clear that each person heard their message in their own language. Luke feels free to explain all the different languages and people groups that might have been there. It should be made clear that all these people are in need of hearing the Word of God and truth proclaimed. Likewise, we all need to hear the Word of God.

The Holy Spirit opens their mouths to speak to these people. They speak a clear truth to these people. They speak the truth of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, for which most of them were probably present just 50 days earlier. The message they speak must also include the Resurrection of the Son of Man. This would most certainly be cause for people to assume they were intoxicated.

On the other hand, it is this message, which provides Salvation. Jesus Christ has died and is risen for the life and salvation of all people. The message may seem so out of place, but it is spoken by the Holy Spirit to bring us eternal life.

NTA: Acts 2:1-12