We began our study group with the promise of the Holy Spirit. This was first promised to the believers in John 14:16 when Jesus said he would ask the Father to send us another (see lesson: the personality of the Holy Spirit) who would be our comforter.
This promise to the believer's was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. We are going to look at this event in Acts chapters 1 and 2. Please read these chapters before beginning this study. (Scripture taken from the Amplified version of the Bible)
Acts 1:13-14 "And when they had entered the city, they mounted the stairs to the upper room where they were staying - Peter and John and James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas, son of James. All of these with their minds in full agreement (or one accord) devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer, waiting together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."
- v.14 the word "one accord" comes from the greek word homothymadon which means "united in togetherness, of same mind". They were thinking like-mindedly. It does not refer to people who all think and feel the same way about everything, but to people who set aside personal feelings and commit themselves to one task. This is the love of God in action!
Acts 2:1 "And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,"
- v.1 Pentecost is one of three major Jewish festivals. It comes from the greek word for fifty. So named because it fell on the fiftieth day after the Sabbath of the Passover. During this harvest celebration the Jews brought to God the first fruits or a tithe of their harvest in thanks, expecting that God would give the rest of the harvest His blessing. This particular Pentecost was the day of firstfruits of Christs church, the beginning of the great harvest of souls...
Acts 2:2 "When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting."
- v.2 "sound" which is the greek word echos, meaning "tone or blast of a trumpet". This sound was needed to attract the multitudes to the small gathering of apostles who were sitting...
Acts 2:3 "And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them."
- v.3 "Tongues" comes from the greek word glossa which means "language". As of fire- the glory of the Lord! After the great crowd gathering sound came the visual manifestation of God. Fire often indicated the presence of God in the Old Testament (ie: Ex. 3 he appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Ex. 13 he guided the Israelites with a pillar of fire). Notice: each one of them got a distribution from Heaven of the Holy Ghost! A permanent anointing or equipping to be a place where God manifests! Glory!
Acts 2:4 "And they were all filled, diffused throughout their souls, with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression."
- v.4 the word "Spirit" is from the greek word pneuma which means "the immaterial part of the inner person that can respond to God". "Utterance" comes from the greek word apophthengomai which means "to speak out or declare with an inference of boldness". The Holy Spirit gave them the ability to speak in a language they had not previously known.
Acts 2:5 "Now there were then residing in Jerusalem Jews, devout and God-fearing men from every country under heaven."
- v.5 The Lord had men from every nation under heaven present in Jerusalem at the time of the outpouring of the Holy Ghost! This was so that this gift could then be taken back to every nation. What an awesome plan!
Acts 2:6-8 "And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together and they were astonished and bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own particular dialect. (7) And they were beside themselves with amazement, saying, are not all these who are talking Galileans? (8) Then how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own dialect to which we were born?"
- The visitors to Jerusalem were astonished because they heard people that were not from their land speaking in their languages. They knew it was a sign from heaven, a supernatural event!
Acts 2:11 "...we all hear them speaking in our native tongues and telling of the mighty works of God!"
Acts 2:12-13 "And all were beside themselves with amazement and were puzzled and bewildered, saying one to another, what can this mean? (13) But others made a joke of it and derisively said, they are simply drunk and full of sweet wine."
Acts 2:14 "But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: You Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be explained to you so that you will know an understand; listen closely to what I have to say."
- v.14 God used Peter to proclaim His message, the same Peter who had denied him in John 18:17, just chapters before! This speaks loudly of God's forgiveness, mercy and His restoring power. Not one of us has messed up so badly that God will not still forgive us, and use us to His glory! In v.41 we see that due to Peter's convicting message and allowing the Holy Spirit work through him, 3,000 were saved that very day!
