CHAPTER 2

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

On a "light" note, I have quipped several times that the Bible says you can get 12 men in a Honda ("accord")!

More seriously, these disciples (many more than 12) had waited faithfully just as Jesus had instructed!
This was 50 days after our Lord's resurrection, and in relation to prophetic law (See Leviticus 23:15-16 )
It was 10 days after Jesus' ascension (See Acts 1:3)

I don't know about you, but I find it incredible that these disciples waited 10 days exactly as Jesus commanded!
Not only did they wait, but they waited "in one accord!"
They served the Lord in "prayer and supplication" (Acts 1:14).
They also served the Lord in fellowship (bonding with one another).
They also served the Lord in business (electing Matthias to fill the empty apostle position - Acts 1:26). This proves that they ALREADY had the presence of God's Holy Spirit.
It is by His Spirit that Jesus calls us to His purposes of prayer, fellowship, and servantship!

They already had God's Holy Spirit presence, now they were about to receive the promised power.

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.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

The "sound" was from ABOVE.
And, it descended like a "mighty rushing wind."
Then, it "filled all the house."

Take note it was the "sound" that "filled" the place.
There was no actual wind, for a wind carrying such a sound would have caused violent destruction.
The "sound" captured their total attention!

It was not like the strong wind which created tumult with Elijah ( 1Kings 19:11-12).
The wind with Eilijah did capture his attention, and made him ready to hear the "still small voice" of God.
This wind in our Scripture above, prepared the disciples for the next event.

"Cloven tongues" with the appearance of fire came and "sat upon each of them," but they were not burned!
Instead, they were "filled" with God's Holy Spirit giving them the power to "speak with other tongues."
The following verse (vs 5) gives the PURPOSE for this special power.
These were not unintelligible tongues, they were interpretable! (see vs 6)
These were ACTUAL KNOWN LANGUAGES!

Therefore, one can quite understand the amazement which follows!

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. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine.

For the most part, those doing the speaking were "Galilaeans!"
(Eleven out of the original twelve disciples were from Galilee.)
Galilaeans were of mixed nationalities: Aramaean, Ituraean, Phoenician and Greek.
They were held in scorn by most Jewish authorities (See John 1:46 and John 7:41 and John 7:52).

For these who were generally ridiculed and thought uneducated farmers to speak in different languages was an AMAZING THING!
Some even "mocked" them and said they were drunk (see vs 13).

BUT, a tremendous crowd gathered! (See verse 6)

The question most frequently voiced by the multitude was, "What MEANETH this?"

God had prepared His people, and
NOW God had prepared the multitude to LISTEN to what came next!

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

Peter stood up to deliver a SERMON!
And, all the disciples stood up to interpret what Peter said in the languages of those present!

Peter assured them the disciples were not drunk for it was "the third hour" (9am)!

Then Peter delivered a tremendous sermon!

16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

THAT my dear friends is a SHORT sermon!
Yet, THREE THOUSAND people got saved!! (see vs 41)

Peter's introduction was from Scripture concerning the "last days." (See Joel 2:28-32)

The body of Peter's message centered on prophecies from the Old Testament concerning CHRIST, MESSIAH!
(vs 22) Jesus was "approved of God" among the people because He performed "miracles and wonders and signs" which ONLY GOD could perform!
(vs 23) Jesus was "delivered" to earth by the "determinate foreknowledge of God" to spill HOLY blood for UNHOLY people!
AND, Jesus was "delivered" to unholy judgment by the very people who should have recognized and protected Him!
(vs 24) God resurrected Jesus, proving He was stronger than death!
These things the multitude had WITNESSED, and KNEW to be truth.

Also, Peter speaks of David's prophetic statements concerning CHRIST, MESSIAH.
Psalm 16:8-11 speaks of the "Holy One" who will NOT SEE corruption in the grave.
Peter says (vs vss 29-31) that David was NOT speaking of Himself, but of CHRIST, MESSIAH!
And, THIS Jesus, Who came as a descendent of David, God "raised up" from the grave!
David DID see corruption in the grave, but Jesus did NOT!

Jesus was risen by the "right hand" of God, or the hand of POWER!
And, He was given the "promise of the Holy Ghost" of which He had prophesied to His disciples. (See John 14:25-26)

THEREFORE, Peter says, the Holy Spirit - given by Jesus - has "shed forth THIS"!!
And, by "this," Peter was speaking of the powerful translation into meaningful languages so the hearers could understand!

Peter begins his conclusion with the statement that ALL Israel should know that Jesus is both:
"LORD and CHRIST."!!
LORD is translated from the Greek kurios, meaning supreme in authority!
CHRIST is translated from the Greek Christos, meaning MESSIAH!

Jesus is LORD of all, for by HIM were all things made! (See John 1:14 and Hebrews 1:1-3)
It was HE Who came into the garden of Eden and spoke to Adam & Eve. (See Genesis 3:8-19)
It was HE Who appeared to Abram on the plains of Mamre. (See Genesis 17:17 and Genesis 18:1-5)

And Jesus is CHRIST - Messiah, Savior, for He is God in flesh paying Holy blood for unholy man's sins.
Only God can pay an adequate and sufficient payment for man's sins! Jesus is The Son Of God, God appearing in flesh, the visible manifestation of the invisible God. Jesus has always been, and will always be. He is Creator, Savior and Eternal Judge of all mankind. And God came to pay God the eternal atonement for our sins! (See Isaiah 43:3)
(See Isaiah 43:11)
(See also Hosea 13:4)
(See also Titus 2:13)

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

They were "pricked in their heart" because they realized that God had come in flesh, and they had CRUCIFIED Him!
Once having realized it, they immediately questioned, "What shall we DO?"

Might I say that ANY sinner, in order to be saved, must FIRST come to the realization that HE/SHE is responsible for the death of Christ!
And, immediately upon that conviction, we question: "WHAT shall I do?"

The answer is simple: REPENT!
The word in the Greek is metanoeo, pronounced met-an-o-eh'-o, and means literally to turn around!
It also means to consider and think differently; to feel compunction and make a change.

May I utilize and old illustration.
You are traveling down a one-way street to eternal damnation.
Jesus comes along and says, "I accept U-turns!" Therefore you TURN AROUND and start toward Jesus. That "direction" includes a public announcement of surrender to Jesus through baptism. His Holy Spirit enters your soul, and SEALS you onto a NEW DIRECTION of travel - TOWARD Him! (See Ephesians 1:13)

And the "promise" of this wonderful forgiveness from God is available to "ALL" that will turn around!!

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Peter, and those interpreting his words, continued to "testify" and "exhort" for the people to repent and be saved.
Notice that those who "gladly receive his word were baptized."
THREE THOUSAND of them!!
INSTANT MEGACHURCH!

Now, look closely at verse 42.
My friend, when:
1) A person is under conviction by God's Holy Spirit, the Gospel becomes GOOD NEWS!
2) Then, they will "gladly receive" the word of a loving, forgiving and saving God!
3) They will gladly repent and be baptized, making public statement of their surrender to Jesus!
4) And THEN, -- THEN -- they will "CONTINUE STEDFASTLY" in Bible study, fellowship in the church, and prayer!!

Conviction leads to repentance, and repentance leads to TRANSFORMATION! (See 2Corinthians 5:17)

True conversion = CONTINUED PROFESSION!

43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Here are some OTHER results of genuine conversion.

Verse 43 says, "fear came upon EVERY soul."
Not just those who had been saved, but all in Jerusalem!
When God's grace does a wonderful and majestic work such as seeing 3,000 people dedicate themselves wholly to Christ, the surrounding community recognizes the genuine seriousness and purpose of those people!
Sin, all of a sudden, equals SHAME!!

THAT's what we need in this world today!
We need to see Christians getting SERIOUS about Christ!!
THEN, God will work a miracle of His conviction power through His Holy Spirit, and - all of a sudden -
sin will equal SHAME!!!

Another result was the people had a GIVING spirit.
They shared their possessions willingly in order to help the needy.
If the church would do this today, we wouldn't need a government to do it, and waste would no longer be a problem!

Another result was they had "gladness and singleness of heart."
They were glad FOR each other, they were glad WITH each other.
And they all had the same PURPOSES and GOALS in mind!

Because of this, they found "favour with ALL the people," and God "ADDED to the church DAILY!"

OH! That we could see a great REVIVAL in God's people!
THEN, we would see God saving MORE people every day!!