Welcome back to our two-part study from the book
of Acts in which records the historical events of
the first century church – specifically the "Day of Pentecost" – when those who believed were "added to the church" and whose true belief led
them to eternal salvation in Jesus Christ.
Acts: Pentecost & The Holy Spirit
As we approach an often controversial passage of Scripture found in the book of Acts chapter 2, I would like to share several thoughts with you that may help each of us to better understand what actually happen on that awesome "Day of Pentecost" almost 2,000 years ago.
"Pentecost" is one of the seven Jewish feast days that God gave the Jewish people – the last of the four spring feasts. It was the day that the promise of Jesus Christ was fulfilled as He indeed said it would be, as the Holy Spirit – "the Helper" – would come to the new converts of Christ:
Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come – John 16:7-13
These believers of "The Way" would later become known as "Christians" at the city of Antioch:
In view of these verses, I would like for you to consider several thoughts I have gleaned in my study of this portion of scripture. We see on this particular "Day of Pentecost" there were Jews from "every nation under heaven" gathered in Jerusalem:Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch – Acts 11:25-26
And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven – Acts 2:5Pentecost was a "pilgrim feast day" and the Jews were required to come to Jerusalem to observe this important "feast." By the way, this means that all twelve tribes were present in Jerusalem at this time. NOTE: There were no "ten lost tribes" as some skeptics have improperly taught!
Also, please notice that on the "Day of Pentecost" there was no such thing as people speaking in unknown "tongues" or "languages." The following passages give us a list of all the actual languages spoken that day:
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God – Acts 2:6-11
We notice in verse 11 that they were hearing in the native languages of the peoples gathered there
that day – they heard them “speak in our tongues." That phrase is
interpreted later where Peter – the preacher on the "Day of
Pentecost" – gave the Jews gathered in Jerusalem, the complete "gospel"
message – the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know — Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it – Acts 2:22-24
Please note: These "tongues" spoken on the "Day of
Pentecost" were not the unintelligible, babbling utterances that are quite evident in many churches today. In fact, these efforts of "speaking in
tongues" – unintelligible utterances – are commonly practiced in pagan rituals and false religions such as Hinduism. This unbiblical practice is nothing new.
On this wonderful day, we learn that
"about three thousand souls", were saved during this true move of the Holy Spirit:
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls – Acts 2:41
There is one more controversial
item that I would like to address in which Peter references
in this chapter pertaining to the Old Testament Prophet Joel and his prophecy:
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls – Joel 2:29-32
In context, Peter was not
saying that Joel's prophecy was being fulfilled on that "Day of
Pentecost." This prophecy is speaking of the Jews during "those days"
when the remaining believers from Israel who have survived the wrath of
God during the Great Tribulation period will have come to the truth of
Jesus Christ as their Messiah – yet future.
It's also interesting
to note that nowhere in Joel's prophecy does it call for "speaking in
tongues" as is claimed through many teachings today. However, we do see that "wonders
in heaven above And signs in the earth
beneath" will happen during the time of the Great Tribulation:
I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord – Acts 2:19-20
None of those "signs" happened
on the "Day of Pentecost." In fact, we find that these "signs" and "wonders" will actually take place on earth as detailed by the Apostle John in the book of Revelation! However, what did happen on that wonderful "Day of Pentecost" was that "whoever
calls on the name of the Lord" did get saved:
One other thought about Joel's prophecy expounded upon by Peter in the book of Acts:And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved – Acts 2:21
For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved – Acts 2:15-21
These passages could not
have been fulfilled on that "Day of Pentecost" because the ancient
Jewish prophet Joel said that this prophecy would be fulfilled during the
"great and awesome day of the Lord". That period known as "the last days" does not begin until after the Rapture of the Church and takes place
during the Seven Year Tribulation Period leading up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
That's what Joel's prophecy is describing – clearly a prophecy yet to be fulfilled.
The "Day of
Pentecost" in Acts 2 was a great day for me as a Gentile! It marked the
beginning of the "Church Age" also known as the Dispensation of Grace:
…praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved – Acts 2:47
From that day when "the Lord added to the church" until the event of the Rapture, both Gentiles and Jews who come to a saving knowledge of Jesus
Christ as their Lord and Savior are made part of the "body of Christ"… The Church… His bride!
Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
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"Dedicated to the Never Ending Search for the Creator's calling within You" (TM)
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