6/2/04

 

Chapter 2, verse 1- “day of Pentecost”- this would be the 50^th day

after Passover- it related to Lev. 23:15-17 and what was called the

“feast of harvest or firstfruits”- Ex.23:16.  It was one of 3 times that male Israelites were to appear before the Lord- Ex.23:14. It was commonly called the “feast of weeks”- Deut.16:9.  By the first century, it was connected with the giving of the Law at Sinai due to a similar time frame- see Ex.19:1.

  “in one accord in one place”- the place was likely the “upper room” of 1:13 and their unity was in obedience to Jesus’ command in 1:4 and their join seeking the Lord- 1:14.

 

Chapter 2, verse 2- If one accepts that the feast observed the giving of the Law at Sinai, then it becomes obvious that this coming of the Holy Spirit-

(a) expresses continuity with the OT =God spoke at Sinai and now speaks thru His Spirit 

(b) yet a difference is clear; the first coming was Law-focused, whereas, under the New Covenant, the focus is on Christ and the Holy Spirit.

    God chooses to use both audio and visual elements to dramatize

this New Covenant work.  Each of 3 items are used:

 

1)  WIND- wind or air – the Hebrew, ruah and the Greek, pneuma may be either wind or spirit.  Ezekiel 37 gave Israel hope for restoration and recovery under powers of the wind/spirit of the LORD.  The “sound” of this wind may connect with the sounds of the giving of the Law at Sinai- Ex.19:16, 19.

  This wind “filled all the house”- perhaps expressing the potency

and availability of God’s Spirit in this new era.

 

2) FIRE- this has been most connected with God’s presence- see

burning bush in Ex.3:2-5 and pillar of fire in Ex.13:21.  Some connect John Baptist’s remarks in Lk.3:16 “baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire” believing Acts 2 fulfills that remark.  However, in the context of Luke 3:16-17, fire seems more judgmental than affirming.

  Observe the phrase “sat upon each of them”- vs.3—this may note the change from God’s Spirit working thru the nation of Israel in the OT to God’s use of individuals in the NT.

 

 

 

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3) TONGUES- the visuall is of a divided tongue “like as of fire” in vs.3 followed by the experience in vs. 4 of being “filled with the Holy Spirit and … to speak with other tongues.”

 While the first two elements have clear representations, “to speak with other tongues” lacks OT illustration (possible exception is

I Sam.10:5-10).  But it is clear that in Acts 2, tongues are actual

languages spoken on earth- see vs.6.

NOTES:

1) Tongues are languages used by nations on earth- 2:6

2) This ability to communicate in various languages serves as a

  sign- Acts 2:7-12, 10:45-46 and I Cor.14:22.

3)  This “sign” (Mark 16:17) gave evidence of the miraculous power

  of the apostles, affirming them as God’s spokesmen- Heb. 2:4 and

  II Cor.12:12.

4)  It also equipped the apostles to quickly communicate the gospel to

  other nations, facilitating the expansion of missionary outreach.

5)  In Acts 2, those who heard and saw this miraculous “equipping”

  were Jews gathered in Jerusalem from many nations- Acts 2:9-11.

  Evangelizing them was important in the initial spread of the gospel

  message to geographical areas away from Jerusalem.

6)  Later, in I Cor.14:21-22, Paul would show that tongues were a

  negative “sign” of Israel’s unbelief, paralleling the unbelief of the 

  generation of Isaiah’s day.  He does this to show the limitations of

  the gift of tongues to believers at Corinth who saw “tongues” as

  a means of self-promotion (pseudo-spiritual superiority).  Note in

  I Cor.14 the word “unknown” is supplied by the translators, but is

  not in the text.  This has led some to suggest the tongues in Acts 2

  and that in I Cor.14 are not identical.