The Word Made Fresh
1When the day of Pentecost arrived they were all together, 2and suddenly they heard a sound like a violent wind filling the house where they were sitting. 3What appeared to be tongues of fire rested on each of them, 4and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gave them the ability to speak in other languages.
5There were faithful Jews from all over the world in Jerusalem for Pentecost. 6As they began to hear the wind, they gathered, bewildered because each of them heard the disciples speaking in their own native languages. 7They were completely astonished, and were asking each other, “Aren’t all these who are speaking from Galilee? 8How can we each hear them speak in our own native languages? 9There are Parthians here, and Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, Judeans and Cappadocians, people from Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygians, Pamphylians, Egyptians and Libyans from Cyrene, visitors from Rome, including both Jews and converts, 11Cretans and Arabs, and we hear them all speaking in our own languages, telling us of God’s powerful works.” 12They were amazed and mystified, and wondered aloud, “What is this all about?”
13But some people made fun of them, saying, “They’re full of strong wine.” 14The eleven disciples were there together, and Peter raised his voice and told the naysayers, “You Judeans and natives of Jerusalem, listen to me and know this: 15These people aren’t drunk as you think; it’s only mid-morning. 16What you are witnessing is something the prophet Joel predicted when he wrote,
17‘God says that it will be in the last days
that I will pour my Spirit out upon all who are living –
your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream.
18I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
even upon men and women servants,
and they, too, will prophesy.
19And I will show signs in the sky above,
and on the earth below – blood, fire, and smoke.
20The sun will be darkened and the moon bloodied
before the great and awful day of the LORD arrives.
21Then everyone who calls on the LORD’s name will be saved.’
22“Men of Israel, listen to me: Jesus of Nazareth, whom God proved to you with powerful deeds and wonders and signs that God did through him, as you full well know, 23was handed over to you in keeping with the definite plan foreknown by God, and you crucified him and had him killed at the hands of those who were outside the law. 24But God set him free from the pains of death and has raised him up and made it impossible for him to be held in death’s power. 25David said of him,
“I always saw the LORD before me,
standing at my right hand so that I would not be afraid.
26That is why my heart is filled with gladness,
and my tongue with glad rejoicing,
and my life is lived in hope,
27because I know you will not abandon me in Hades,
or allow your Holy One to be corrupted.
28You have shown me the way of true life,
and you will fill me with gladness in your presence.’
29“Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that our ancestor David died and was buried. His tomb is still here! 30He was a prophet who knew that God had promised that one of his descendants would sit on his throne. 31David foresaw this, and spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah when he said, ‘He was not abandoned in the place of the dead, and his body did not decay.’
32This Jesus God raised again! All of us are witnesses to it! 33And now he has been raised up to the right hand of God, and has received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit and has brought about what you see and hear today. 34David did not ascend into heaven, but he did say, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35and I will make your enemies your footstool.”’
36“So, let all of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Messiah.”
37When the people heard this they were stricken to the heart and said to Peter and the others, “Men, what should we do?”
38Peter said, “Everyone of you should repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39This is promised to you and your children and even to those who are far from here – everyone the LORD our God summons.” 40And he continued to argue and encourage them. “Save yourselves from this crooked generation,” he said.
41Those who welcomed his message were baptized that day – about three thousand of them. 42They took to heart the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, breaking bread and praying together.
43The people were awed by the wonders and signs the apostles were doing. 44The believers banded together and shared everything with one another, 45selling their belongings and goods and passing them around to everyone in need. 46They spent much time together in the temple day by day, sharing their bread with one another and enjoying their meals with gladness and generosity, 47praising God and earning the good will of all the people. And day by day the LORD added those who were being saved to their number.
Commentary
1-4: The day of Pentecost corresponds to the Jewish Shavuot, or Festival of Weeks, the harvest festival which commemorates the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. It is observed for seven weeks, or about 50 days after Passover, so the Greek name Pentecost (Fiftieth) came into use during the Hellenistic period of Israel’s history. Though not as important as Passover, a large number of pilgrims still made their way to Jerusalem for the festival. The disciples were still meeting together, awaiting the baptism of the Holy Spirit (see 1:5). First, they heard the sound of wind growing louder, then strange “tongues” of fire floated through the air around them, and a tongue alighted on each one of them, each fiery tongue conferring on its host the ability to speak in other languages.
6-13: The people in the streets also heard the sound, and gathered in bewilderment, and they all heard the disciples speaking in their own native languages. They were amazed, considering the number of different dialects and languages that are represented, but some were cynical and wondered if there’s a little too much drinking and partying going on.
14-21: Peter had taken over the leadership of the disciples (1:15) when Matthias was selected to replace Judas, and now he is the one who steps forward and addresses the crowds. He tells them it’s too early to be drinking, and offers another, scriptural explanation for what is happening: it is exactly what the prophet Joel said would take place, he tells them, and quotes the appropriate passage (Joel 2:28-32a).
22-28: Pressing on, Peter uses the moment to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus. He says that God handed Jesus over to them, and they in turn handed him over to “those outside the law,” the Romans. He quotes Psalm 16:8-11; the operative word is in verse 27 (Psalm 16:10): “You will not abandon me to Hades.”
29-36: Psalm 16 is traditionally understood to be a psalm of David, so Peter draws a connection between David and the Messiah. David, he says, knew that God had promised to put one of his descendants on the throne, and then makes the leap from “on the throne” to “Messiah.” The one God places on the throne is to be the Messiah, he says, and then boldly declares that Jesus is that one, that he is raised from the dead, and that he is both Lord (ruler) and Messiah.
37-42: Peter’s sermon results in convicting his audience of their sin to the point that they ask him what they should do, and taking a page from John the baptizer’s book he tells them to repent and be baptized. 3000 people do just that.
43-47: The baptism of the Holy Spirit results in the people doing remarkable things; helping those who are in need and enjoying fellowship with one another. This is the first description of the Church and what the Church is all about.
Takeaway
The Church has never been just a place to worship. The Church is the gathering place of those who are followers of Jesus to minister to one another and to others outside the Church who are in need. The purpose of Sunday morning worship is to prepare and strengthen us for the challenges and opportunities that may arise during the week ahead.