PENTECOST Acts 2

o Acts 2:1 NIV

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Ÿ What was it that brought the people all together in one place?

The traditional Jewish celebration known as completion of the grain harvest. Also known as the Festival of Weeks.

o Leviticus 23:15 - 19

15 “ ‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. [16] Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. [17] From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord. [18] Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings---a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. [19] Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering.

Ÿ Leviticus describes the festival of weeks.

Ÿ This bread was a leavened. A yeast risen bread.

Ÿ This varied from the unleavened bread used for the passover celebrations which was part of the Old Testament law. Using leavened bread was now a symbol of the new life in Christ, thus setting people free from the Old Testament law.

Ÿ This required the offering of 2 loaves of BREAD made from the harvested grain.

Ÿ Significance to the day of Pentecost is that Jesus is the "first fruits" and He was offered as the celebration of the harvest.

Verse 19 describes the sacrifice of the male goat as a sin offering and two lambs. as a fellowship offering.

Ÿ Jesus not only fulfilled the requirement of the first fruit offering but also the requirement of the perfect male goat sacrifice as an offering for our sin.

Ÿ He also represented the lambs as a fellowship offering.

o Acts 2:2-3 NIV

2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

o Genesis 1:1-2 NIV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

o John 1: 1 thru 3

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in the beginning. [3] 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Ÿ Jesus was responsible for creation.

Ÿ In Acts 2 verse 2 we are witnessing the Spirit in power and strength. The rushing wind is a great example of how the Spirit moves. A great example of the wind blowing in a storm. Unmistakable!!! Something you can't ignore.

Ÿ But who calms the storm?

Ÿ 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Ÿ This was the same Spirit of Jesus present at Pentecost.

Ÿ The tongues of flame are representative of the Old Testament law being destroyed by the Spirit as He moves into us and brings us into the New Testament Church.

Ÿ The Holy Spirit has been active throughout scripture. All the way back to creation.

Ÿ The account of Jesus in the boat with the disciples when a violent wind storm brought about fear of death is another example of the power in Jesus's words.

Ÿ What were Jesus's words in Mark 4 : 39?

"Peace. Be still."

Ÿ We fear because of our sinful nature. And rightly so. But Jesus calms our fears and calms the storm by his own voice. He rests on / in us.

Ÿ The flames of fire represent His destruction of the Old Testament law.

o Acts 2:4 NIV

4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues a as the Spirit enabled them.

Ÿ Now that the law was destroyed, Jesus's Spirit moves into believers and fills them with His power.

o Acts 2:5-12 NIV

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God- fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. [6] When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one

heard their own language being spoken. [7] Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? [8] Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? [9] Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [10] Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome [11] (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs---we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” [12] 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

***

Language was one dialect early on in Genesis. But at the account of the tower of Babel, God created great confusion by His spirit moving on the people and making them speak in different languages or dialects. Quite an experience!!!

Ÿ This separated the people. Just as the people that had gathered for the harvest festival from many nations speaking different languages.

Ÿ But, Jesus message of salvation needed to be given to all. Through the gift of tongues given to the disciples they were able to share the message with all that were gathered for the festival. They heard the Gospel spoken to them in their 0wn native languages.

o Acts 2:13 NIV

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine .”

Ÿ When you don't understand or comprehend what a person is saying it can come across as gibberish or nonsense. Almost as though they were drunk.

o Acts 2:14-28 NIV

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. [15] These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! [16] No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: [17] “ 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. [18] Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. [19] I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. [20] The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. [21] And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' [22] “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. [23] This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. [24] But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. [25] David said about him: “ 'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. [26] Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, [27] because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. [28] 28

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence .’

Ÿ This response by Peter to the confusion and the accusations of drunkenness served two purposes.

1. He took advantage of the opportunity to tell the historical scriptural truth about Jesus.

2. He set an example of the purpose of Pentecost.

Ÿ Remember Jesus's last instruction to the disciples after the resurrection just before He ascended? Go into all the world and preach the gospel.

Ÿ They couldn't do it without the power of Christ.

Ÿ Now they were filled with His Holy Spirit (Pentecost).

Peter's response continues

Ÿ This portion of the response gives the details of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Ÿ He also makes clear the POWER that comes from this indwelling.

Ÿ Jesus defeated Satan through the resurrection and that same power is now available to those that believe and now have the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Ÿ We have NOTHING to fear!!!

o Acts 2:29 - 36

29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. [30] But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. [31] Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. [32] God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. [33] Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. [34] For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ 'The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand [35] 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet .”’

o Acts 2:36-41 NIV

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah .” [37] When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” [38] Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off---for all whom the Lord our God will call.” [40] With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” [41] 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Ÿ The message is powerful and generates results.

Ÿ This draws people together in mind, spirit and heart.

o Acts 2:42-47 NIV

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. [43] Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. [44] All the believers were together and had everything in common. [45] They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. [46] Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, [47] 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

What do we do with all this information?

Ÿ We have the historical scriptural proof of the truth of the Gospel.

Ÿ We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Ÿ We have instructions from Jesus himself.

***************GO INTO THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL *****************

(No fear allowed)

o John 16:33 NIV

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”