ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
Verta Giddings
Sand Lake, Michigan
Acts chapter 2 – God’s Gift of The Holy Spirit
Acts 1:8 – “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me…”.
Acts 2:1-4 – The day of Pentecost was fully come (this feast was 50 days after the resurrection). Since Jesus walked the earth 40 days after He raised, they waited 10 days for this special day to come. The 120 were all waiting together for the Promise of the Father. They were all in one accord, which means agreement, of the “same mind, unanimous.” They didn’t really understand what would take place, but they just believed and obeyed. Suddenly the Holy Spirit came. Look at the three manifestations that day:
There was a sound from heaven like a mighty rushing wind. Must have sounded like a tornado. This filled all the house where they were sitting. They could feel this.
) There appeared unto them cloven (divided) tongues like as of fire. They could see these. It sat upon each of them. Fire is powerful, fire is cleansing, it burns up chaff. These were tongue shaped, flame-like in appearance.
They began to speak with other tongues (languages) as the Spirit had them speak. These people didn’t know other languages, just their own. This was of the Lord, supernatural.
This great event is called “The Baptism of the Holy Ghost” (I Cor. 12:13). This is sometimes called, “The birthday of the church.” The Lord was doing a new thing. There was an immediate response.
Acts 2:4-7 shows this brought amazement! How come? “These men are just Galilaens,” they said, “and they don’t know all these languages.” Jews were there to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost from all these different countries. The ones from away from that area, knew the languages of the countries where they were born, and recognized them when they were spoken by those filled that day.
Acts 2:12-13 tells us that all were amazed and in doubt. Some seemed to want to know when they said, “What meaneth this?’ Others figured this group was drunk.
Peter answered that last thought right away, by saying, “these are not drunken as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day” – 9 o’clock in the morning. Then he went on to tell them that this was spoken by the Prophet Joel many years before. He quoted Joel 2:28-32. Peter began to preach Jesus to them. He told them that Jesus of Nazareth was approved of God among them by miracles and wonders and signs. He came right out and told them they had crucified the Son of God. He further told them that the fact of their being filled with the Holy Ghost was a direct proof that Jesus had been raised from the dead – Acts 2:32-33. Why? Because Jesus had said that when He went away, He would send the Holy Ghost. They would have to know that these 120 were living proof that the Holy Ghost had come. Conclusion – He must have gone to heaven in order to send the Holy Ghost.
Imagine Peter, who had denied Jesus three times, was now able to stand up and tell those people that they were so very wrong, and that they had crucified Jesus who is both Lord and Christ! Acts. 2:36.
We will ask if this message touched their hearts? The answer is, “yes” – V. 37. Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and they would have their sins remitted (forgiven) – V. 38. Not only that, but they, too, would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. He said that this promise was to them, to their children, to those afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Do you know that means YOU?
3,000 People were saved that day. After that the believers continued to meet for fellowship. Wonders and signs were done by the apostles. They shared what they had with each other. They praised God, and people kept being saved daily. Wasn’t that a wonderful way for the Lord to start His church? He said He would build His church, and sure enough He started it then and there, and He is still in the building process – Mt. 16:18.
Chapter 3 – next issue.
