If you grew up Christian (or at least not Jewish) like I did you may not have realized that Pentecost is actually a Jewish holiday. It was a day that likely commemorated the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai. It took place fifty days after the Passover Sabbath, and people from all over the world came to celebrate it, which is why there were people from so many nations in Jerusalem on this Pentecost when God empowered the church to give the Gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is an amazing display that God gives. There was a loud sound like a great wind, and something like tongues of fire (you can tell in original language that Luke had a hard time describing this) appeared and divided over them. Those who were gathered there were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began speaking in other languages so that the whole crowd could understand in their native tongue.
Peter, as leader of the disciples, speaks up and explains this event as the fulfillment of a prophecy God gave through the prophet Joel, and then states simply that Jesus is the Christ – the promised Messiah who would deliver people from sin – that he was crucified and that he rose from the dead. Many in the crowd may have been there 53 days before when Jesus had been preaching in the temple. His words were already at work in some of these people to create faith and repentance.
Pause on that: That is our “product” as the church: faith and repentance. We will do many other good things, but faith in Jesus which brings us forgiveness of sins, and turns us away from sin and back to God is our main mission.
Notice that in verse 32, Peter states that in regard to Jesus life, death and resurrection, “we all are witnesses.” He just lays it out. “This is what happened. We are witnesses.” The crowd is left to take it or leave it. Thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit works in 3000 that day to take it, and He continued to work so that day by day more were added. Do we see ourselves as witnesses? Can we state what God has done for us in Jesus? Witnessing is not always about debate and arguing. In fact witnessing is usually about simply stating what you saw or heard. What has Jesus shown or taught you?
After they were baptized, all these people continually devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (they learned what Jesus taught – which fulfills the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20), fellowship (the Greek word is koinonia, which means, “sharing.” They shared life, faith, hope, etc.) the breaking of bread (this is a euphemism for receiving the Lord’s Supper), and prayer. The result of this faith life lived day by day together was that they cared for one antoher and served one another, and that external behavior testified to their internal faith.
“And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Salvation is still at work in our lives, and through us in the lives of others. We are witnesses of that salvation. And having been saved we are changed internally and externally by the Holy Spirit’s work through the Word, the influence of fellow Christians, Worship, and Prayer.
God, let that change take place in me, and through my witness in others for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
It is an amazing display that God gives. There was a loud sound like a great wind, and something like tongues of fire (you can tell in original language that Luke had a hard time describing this) appeared and divided over them. Those who were gathered there were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began speaking in other languages so that the whole crowd could understand in their native tongue.
Peter, as leader of the disciples, speaks up and explains this event as the fulfillment of a prophecy God gave through the prophet Joel, and then states simply that Jesus is the Christ – the promised Messiah who would deliver people from sin – that he was crucified and that he rose from the dead. Many in the crowd may have been there 53 days before when Jesus had been preaching in the temple. His words were already at work in some of these people to create faith and repentance.
Pause on that: That is our “product” as the church: faith and repentance. We will do many other good things, but faith in Jesus which brings us forgiveness of sins, and turns us away from sin and back to God is our main mission.
Notice that in verse 32, Peter states that in regard to Jesus life, death and resurrection, “we all are witnesses.” He just lays it out. “This is what happened. We are witnesses.” The crowd is left to take it or leave it. Thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit works in 3000 that day to take it, and He continued to work so that day by day more were added. Do we see ourselves as witnesses? Can we state what God has done for us in Jesus? Witnessing is not always about debate and arguing. In fact witnessing is usually about simply stating what you saw or heard. What has Jesus shown or taught you?
After they were baptized, all these people continually devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (they learned what Jesus taught – which fulfills the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20), fellowship (the Greek word is koinonia, which means, “sharing.” They shared life, faith, hope, etc.) the breaking of bread (this is a euphemism for receiving the Lord’s Supper), and prayer. The result of this faith life lived day by day together was that they cared for one antoher and served one another, and that external behavior testified to their internal faith.
“And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Salvation is still at work in our lives, and through us in the lives of others. We are witnesses of that salvation. And having been saved we are changed internally and externally by the Holy Spirit’s work through the Word, the influence of fellow Christians, Worship, and Prayer.
God, let that change take place in me, and through my witness in others for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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