Acts 2 (1)
By Ron Thomas
We have considered some pertinent points in Acts 1, now we want to consider some pertinent points in chapter 2 (which will be covered in 2 bulletin articles).
Jesus told His disciples (apostles) to stay in Jerusalem until they received power from on High, that is, the gift of the Holy Spirit, which would guide them into all truth, bringing to their remembrance all things Jesus previously taught them. That day has now arrived, and the Jews recognized and celebrated it as the Day of Pentecost (50 days after the Passover celebration), or a celebration of their harvest. This was a significant event in the lives of the Jewish community. “At no other feast would there have been representatives of so many nations” (Ellicott).
On this day, as the apostles were assembled, the Holy Spirit came upon them in the house they were sitting in (2:4; not the Temple). The noise of this got the attention of others around the home, perhaps even in the confines of the house / neighbor environment. What they heard was a confusing noise, something they did not understand, made more complicated with the many Jewish representatives from other nations hearing these men speaking languages not their own.
As is not unusual, when there are some who do not understand, mockery follows. With the apostles speaking in dialects not of the Hebrew tongue (“tongues” means “language” in this context), people talked. When the wonderful works of God are spoken loudly and accurately, the devout listened; here is what they heard from Peter: 1) the words of the prophet Joel were fulfilled on this day, 2) Jesus, who once lived in their midst, was the reason for the prophetic words of Joel’s being fulfilled, 3) Jesus being the reason for the season (if you will), Peter said to those in Jerusalem they killed the Lord’s chosen, the Messiah, 4) crucifying the Lord’s anointed was in foretold with the prophetic words of David, 5) Jesus is both “Lord and Christ”.
This did not fail to get the attention of a lot of people. Consequently, emotionally moved by the message, they asked Peter and the others what they needed to do to rid themselves of the guilt of killing the Lord’s Messiah. Peter’s answer was simple: submit yourselves to Him in repentance and identify with Jesus through baptism. This would result in receiving God’s seal, His Holy Spirit.
Briefly, this is what this means/entails. Repentance: those who heard the Holy Spirit’s message must change their minds about how they live life. Those who identify with Jesus do so with a penitent heart, believing His message, trusting Him, and moving forward away from Judaism (and all other ideologies) when they are baptized (immersed) into the death, burial, and resurrection of life. Not doing that, they would not have identified with Jesus, thus, they would not have been saved by the blood of Christ, for in God’s command to be immersed, it was there He made sure the blood of Christ encountered their sins, washing them away.
Holiness begins with Jesus, and a restored soul will make it his life also.
- Ron Thomas preaches for the Church of Christ at Rio Grande in Bidwell, OH. He may be contacted at etsop95@gmail.com. Visit the congregation’s website at: https://www.churchofchristatriogrande.com |
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