The Holy Spirit Comes

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave instructions to His disciples.

(Act 1:4) On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

(Act 1:5) For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

He had been with them for three years and after His resurrection, He spent about 40 days before His ascension taking opportunities to reinforce His teaching and to prepare them for what was to come their way.

In this verse He is telling them to stay put until you receive the Holy Spirit.

He had promised them that when He went away, He would send the Spirit to walk with them, to comfort them and to give wisdom and guidance.

Ans as we move to the second chapter, we see that is exactly what they are doing. They are waiting.

(Act 2:1) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Pentecost means fiftieth and it refers to the feast of weeks or the harvest. It was a time of celebration when Jews from all over the world were required to come to Jerusalem and bring the first fruits of the harvest for sacrifice. It was celebrated 50 days after Passover.

The disciples were following the instructions of Jesus to stay put until they receive the Holy Spirit.

They all together in one place, and the King James Bible says they were in one accord, or of the same mind, seeking the same thing.

They had committed to stay together and to pray for the thing Jesus had promised.

So, as we go through this second chapter of Acts, there are three things I want us to look at.

The first is the event of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

The second was Peter’s explanation of what had happened to the crowd.

And third, Peter’s first great sermon.

Verses 2-13 tell of outpouring of the Spirit onto or into the disciples.

(Act 2:2) Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

(Act 2:3) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

(Act 2:4) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

A violent wind, tongues of fire, the ability to speak in other tongues, languages. The people who witnessed this were certainly amazed.

They had never seen or heard anything like this before.

The great crowds from all over the world were gathered and hearing these men, who were Galileans, speaking in a language that they could understand.

Jews from all over, too many countries and regions to mention, they were here listening. And they could understand.

I know that this whole thing about tongues can be divisive, but it is in the Scripture, and it did happen.

The people were amazed.

But as always there are those who are doubters. Some made the accusation that these men are just drunk.

That is where the second point here begins. Peter begins to explain to the crowd what they were witnessing.

(Act 2:14) 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.

(Act 2:15) These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!

(Act 2:16) No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

Understand here that the folks who are in Jerusalem are Jews who practice the faith and are more than likely familiar with Scripture.

Peter begins by telling them that these folks are not drunk, it is only 9 in the morning.

But then he throws out a prophecy. He tells them this what Joel said would happen.

(Joel 2:28) "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

(Joel 2:29) Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

(Joel 2:30) I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

(Joel 2:31) The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

(Joel 2:32) And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.