March 2020 Messenger Newsletter

"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages."
(Acts 2:21)

Day of Pentecost

Coming of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

The Crowd's Response

Acts 2:5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.
Acts 2:6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
Acts 2:7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
Acts 2:8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
Acts 2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
Acts 2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
Acts 2:11 Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."
Acts 2:12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?"
Acts 2:13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

Peter's Sermon

Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.
Acts 2:15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.
Acts 2:16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
Acts 2:17 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out 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.
Acts 2:18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
Acts 2:19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
Acts 2:20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.
Acts 2:21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

NSRV & Believer's Study Bible (BSB) Notes

[Acts 2:4] The Work of the Holy Spirit (see chart).

The reference says "other" tongues, not "unknown" tongues. Here was a language barrier. Jews visiting from outside Judea may have lost an understanding of Hebrew and Aramaic. If these individuals, who dwelt in Jerusalem temporarily (from Passover in April until Pentecost in May), were to hear the gospel, a linguistic miracle was necessary to make communication possible. The point of the miracle went beyond mere communication, however. If communication was the aim, Koine Greek could have been used, since it was the lingua franca (common language) of the day. The real miracle was that which caused these visitors to "marvel." The fact that the message was in their "own language" (vv. 7, 8) stimulated their interest and gave confirmation to the Jews that God was acting. The Holy Spirit alone effects individual salvation through the New Birth (John 3:8b). His coming upon a people collectively was divine approval of the new work under the Spirit's authority.

[Acts 2:9] The Nations of Pentecost (see map).

In the first Christian century, Jewish communities were located primarily in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, where Greek was the common language. But they also existed as far west as Italy and as far east as Babylonia. In addition to people from the nations shown here, those present on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:9-11) included visitors from Mesopotamia and even farther east, from Parthia, Media, and Elam (present-day Iran).

(vv. 9-11) These three verses at first seem like an insignificant geographical list. However, a line drawn from one of these names to another on a map, in the order recorded, will crisscross the Roman Empire and practically encircle it. Representatives from these areas could have returned to their homes abroad within about three months after Pentecost. Having heard the gospel that day via the miracle of languages, they could have penetrated the entire Roman Empire with the gospel within months after Pentecost. Thus, they likely laid the foundation for evangelism among the Gentiles in many areas of the empire and in some instances even beyond.

[Acts 2:14] Major Sermons in Acts (see chart).

(vv. 14-40) In this section we discover an excellent example of expository preaching and early apostolic proclamation. The heart of the church's early preaching was twofold: (1) proclamation of the gospel, i.e., the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus Christ; and (2) an exhortation to repentance and faith with public confession of this decision by baptism. This pattern is often repeated in the Book of Acts.

[Acts 2:15] The time would be 9:00 a.m. because the Jewish day began at 6:00 a.m.

[Acts 2:17] The eschatalogical prophecies of Joel envisioned a day like Pentecost and the speaking in various languages (Joel 2:28). The key phrase here is "all flesh" (v. 17). These words mean that the Spirit of God would come upon all people without discrimination: young, old, servants, women, and other groups ordinarily omitted. The messianic era has been inaugurated, though its climactic fulfillment is yet in the future.

[Acts 2:19] (vv. 19, 20) This portion of the prophecy of Joel was not fulfilled on Pentecost (apart from some extraordinary metaphorical interpretation). This probably means that toward the end of time this portion, and perhaps other portions of Joel's prophecy, will be fulfilled. This understanding of prophecy is expressive of the twofold truth that: (1) we live in the "now" of messianic blessings, and (2) there is the "yet to be" fullness of messianic blessings to be realized in the return of Christ, the millennial kingdom, and the eternal state.

NSRV & Believer's Study Bible (BSB) Notes

Readings for the week of June 7th
The Holy Trinity
Genesis 1:1-2.4a
Psalm 8
2 Corinthians 3:11-13
Matthew 28:16-20

Sunday Worship Services at 10:00am
Sunday School at 9:00am

Thursday Bible Study (Library) 10:30 am
Holy Communion Service (Sanctuary) Noon