“Pentecost”
Acts 2:1-4
3-17-2024 AM
Arriving now in chapter 2 we find ourselves in “Pentecost.”
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Pentecost - The word “Pentecost” is a Greek word signifying the 50th part of a thing, or the 50th in order.
The Feast of Pentecost occurred 50 days after the first day of the Feast of the Passover.
Was fully come - This does not mean that the day is ended but rather that the day has arrived 50 days after “The Passover.”
They were all - Probably not only the apostles, but also the 120 people mentioned in Acts 1:15
With one accord - homothumadon (hom-oth-oo-mad-on’ )
A compound of two (2) words - with one accord, with one mind
1) With one mind, with one accord, with one passion
Strong’s “A unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness of the Christian community. Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to "rush along" and "in unison".
The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonize in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ’s church.”
In one place – Where was this gathering? We do not know, but we do know when they gathered there were others who observed them.
We know from verse 2 that they were in a house and were sitting.
A short thought as to what the “Day Of Pentecost Is NOT.”
1. It is not the birthday of the New Testament Church, for if it were then the four (4) Gospels belong in the Old Testament.
2. It is not the ushering in of “Speaking in tongues” that would be passed on from generation to generation.
This has been distorted these last centuries.
Pentecost what it is:
It is the promise fulfilled from Jesus before He ascended into Heaven.
The Work Of The Holy Spirit
Acts 1:7-8
John 14:16-26
Luke 24:49 “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you,.... By which is meant the promise of the Spirit, called the promise of the Father, because he was promised by the Father to be sent, and poured on the saints in the times of the Messiah, because Christ promised to pray the Father for him, and to send Him from Him.
until ye be endued with power from on high; - the Spirit of God is a spirit of might, and of power, as well as of knowledge, of understanding, of counsel, of love, and of a sound mind; whereby they were to be fortified, and inspired with courage and greatness of soul, so as to look their greatest adversaries in the face with boldness, and freely, and without fear, speak unto them the Gospel message.
Isaiah 44:3-4 “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.”
Acts 2:2 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”
Although they were waiting for the Holy Spirit, it seems that there was a surprise when it happened.
Ever had expectation of something or someone and discovered that it was nothing like you thought?
That I believe is what is happening with the people gathered together.
Sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind - we might think that the wind had taken over and they were falling around like they were in a tornado, but that is not what is described here.
Imagine the sound of a mighty wind yet no wind is felt.
It filled all the house where they were sitting - The house was overtaken by the sound.
Acts 2:3 “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”
Cloven tongues like as of fire -
We are seeing a picture being delivered to us so that we might understand.
We read the Bible literally until we are instructed to use our imagination “like as of fire.”
We are reading and now our imagination is telling us that the moving of the Holy Spirit was “like” a fire that was not just one flame but “cloven.”
cloven - Divided, separated, cut in pieces, to distribute.
In this verse we can see the Omnipresent which is only available
To God.
It sat upon each of them - The appearance of fire, or flame, has always been regarded as a most striking emblem of the Divinity.
Moses saw the burning bush and latter the people of Israel followed the “pillar of fire by night.”
But here we see that this flame was no longer to be viewed from a distance but they would know and feel the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that has never been permanent as described in John.
Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The results of this encounter is that they were “filled with the Holy Ghost”
What does that mean?
1. Salvation was already available to all, so this was not salvation.
2. Filling was receiving to the point of overflowing so that they/we can accomplish what we could otherwise be unable to accomplish.
They were entirely under his sacred influence and power.
“And began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Tongues - In other languages than their native tongue.
This was not gibberish or nonsense but a language that was understood as described in verse 6 “Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.”
In this instance the gift looks like it was in the ear or hearing and not the speaking.
Conclusion:
As we close this time together I must ask the right question.
It is not do you have the gift of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues?
The real question is; are you saved?
Because when you are saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit enters into our lives.
He makes a home in us and we begin to do what we could not do on our own.
