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Figure
1 - The World in the First Century |
A Verse by Verse Study of the Day of
Pentecost
A. The New Testament Christians have now been
mobilized, and primed by the command of their Captain, are only waiting for the
signal that they have can commence the battle for souls as his ambassadors (Eph
6:12).
B. The signal finally came, on the day of Pentecost,
exactly 50 days after the death of the Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ - right on
schedule!
C. From that moment on, Christians have relied on the
empowerment of the Holy Spirit in their lives to do the work that Christ has
called for us to do (John 15:4,5; Eph 5:18)
D. This chapter sets the start of the “Christian
Era.” Christ had brought to a close the era of the Law (John 1:17). The coming
of the Holy Spirit brought in the Christian Era, or “dispensation of Grace”
(2:21).
1.
What Pentecost was to the Jew
a.
The Pentecost Feast (Lev 23:15-21) - one of seven:
a. The Passover Feast - Calvary
b. The Feast of Unleavened Bread - Calvary
c. The Feast of the First Fruits - The
Resurrection
d. The Feast of Pentecost - feast of seven weeks
- Pentecost
e. The Feast of the Trumpets - Rapture and
Second coming
f. The Feast of the Atonement - The
tribulation
g. The Feast of Tabernacles - Millennium
b.
Pente-cost means ‘50’ and represents a feast occurring 50
days after the killing of the Passover lamb.
c.
It coincides with remembering and celebrating the giving of the Law
at mount Sinai (Ex 19:1). Notice how that in the New Testament, it will become a
celebration of the giving of GRACE (John 1:17).
d.
It celebrated the birthday of the nation of Israel (Ex 19:5)
e.
Great signs and wonders announced its arrival (Ex 19:16,18)
f.
Some 3,000 people died at that time (Ex 32:28)
2.
Pentecost’s Importance to the Church
a.
At the Passover (Matt 27) Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was humiliated,
degraded, and put to a criminal’s death. But at Pentecost, Jesus is highly
glorified!
b.
It celebrates the official birthday of “the New Testament Church”
(Cf “the church in the wilderness” Acts 7:38)
c.
Great signs and wonders marked its arrival (Act 2:2,3,17-20)
d.
3,000 souls got SAVED (Acts 2:41)
3.
The particulars of Pentecost
a.
These Christians were still in unity, and waiting for the arrival of the promise
of the Father - expecting the fulfillment (2:1). It is not normal for Christians
to be apart, and busy doing their own things in life, but must set aside the
time to be together (Heb 10:25)!
b.
The sound of the “rushing mighty wind” filled the house (2:2). This
event has only happened ONCE.
c.
The appearance of “cloven (divided) tongues” (like the word
“cleave” or “cut in half”) that looked like fire (2:3). Each
person individually received the ability to speak. This event has only happened
ONCE. This is not a baptism of “fire” (Cf Matt 3:11). This is the arrival of
something that looks like it is on fire because it came from heaven (Cf rev
1:13-15).
d.
The filling of the Holy Ghost caused them to begin to speak with “other
tongues” (2:4) a supernatural sign gift. Somebody is going to start talking
differently now. Turns out to be in ALL the main different languages of the
world! Remember how that God had to “DIVIDE” the languages back at the tower
of Babel in Gen 11? Well, God now overcomes that “confusion” with a special
ability for His people to be able to speak ANY language needed so that the
Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ could be heard and UNDERSTOOD by all!!! Look
at 2:4 where they are given “cloven tongues” and begin to speak in “OTHER
tongues!” What could be clearer? Tongues are languages (2:8; 1 Cor
14:21)!
1.
Every Jew in town heard of what was going on in that little upper room
(2:5-7), and how it had spilled out into the streets - the sound of wind coming
out of the sky and entering into a house couldn’t be contained (like a
helicopter dropping out of the sky and onto the roof of a house). It was not a
secret meeting.
2.
These were Jews that had traveled from every nation to Jerusalem for this
feast - remembrance of the birth of Israel!
3.
All of the people heard these few men speaking in so many different languages.
Very confounding/confusing.
4.
The disciples are doubted to have the ability to know so many languages -
people could tell they sounded like Galilaeans because of their accent. This
tells you that probably, only the ones from GALILEE were speaking in
tongues- the 12 Apostles (1:11)
5.
These disciples spoke with "other,"
not "unknown" tongues to fifteen represented countries and ethnic
regions. These were Jews and proselytes that were part of the "dispersion"
that came back to Jerusalem every year to worship (see the “Ethiopian”
eunuch doing this same thing a couple of years later in Acts 8:26-28).
a.
The Parthians, Medes,
Elamites, Arabians, and
the people from Mesopotamia were Jews
from the Far East that were part of the dispersion of 2 Kings 17.
b.
The Judeans are the local
people that lived in southern Israel
c.
The Capadocians, people of Pontus,
Asians; Phrygians, and Pamphylians
all come from areas of the Northern dispersion.
d.
The Egyptians, and Lybians
were from Africa - the South
e.
The Roman, and Cretian
proselytes represented the Jewish dispersion to the West and Northwest
of Israel.
6.
These are said to represent "every nation under heaven." This
definitely is only a partial list of the nations represented.
7.
The areas listed form a complete circle around the Mediterranean, with
the center being Judæa (see Figure 1).
8.
These were the directions that the good news of Christ would be first
carried by these people as they believed, and then returned “home.” Jesus
had commanded the Christians to go to the “uttermost parts of the earth”
(Acts 1:8; Matt 28:19; Mark 16:15) and here the uttermost had come to them!
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Figure
1 - The World in the First Century |
9.
Everybody heard the "wonderful WORKS of God" (at the cross) in
their own language! God had gone the extra mile! He could have made all listen
in Hebrew or Greek, but God inspired the translation process so that His word
could be HEARD (Rom 10:17) and easily understood by the whole world!!!
Two
important things to notice:
a.
The whole world needed to hear the news of Jesus Christ!
b.
But most importantly, the Jews needed to be convinced that they really
had crucified the Messiah - that they had missed Him. So God gave them
one more “sign” - tongues.
10.
Those who doubted came up with illogical conclusions.
a.
Some said this was “crazy” (this event has no meaning).
b.
Others thought they were drunk with “new wine,” which is only a
derogatory statement. Like saying they were dippy
because of only drinking buttermilk. The world just brands things that they
don't understand as crazy, or immature. That’s how they treat most of history
and the Bible
Note:
Concerning wine. New wine is grape juice, fresh out of the press (Prov
3:9,10), having no alcohol content - it is this kind of wine that Jesus drank
(Matt 26:29). The other kind of wine is referred to as “mixed” wine
(Prov 23:29-30, not just grape juice, but mixed
now with alcohol), and is usually associated with drinking “strong drink”
(high alcohol content).
1.
His Audience - “Ye men of Judæa and everyone dwelling in
Jerusalem” - Dealing directly with the Jews here.
2.
His Rebuke (2:15). The people really believed that these “disciples”
of Jesus were wimps, and that really had gotten drunk on new wine! But thinking
that they were drunk at the third hour of the day (9AM) was just showing their
gullibility. Principle: Learn to have something to say to show just how ignorant
people really are about Christianity (Cf 1 Pet 3:15)
3.
His Message. This is the beginning of the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy
of the “Last Days” (Joel 2:28-32)
a.
The
Last Days - the days leading up to Christ’s return which is the
“Day of the Lord”
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Figure
2 - The Last Days as seen by Joel and Peter |
1)
Peter knows that tongues is only the beginning
2)
There is much more to come - tongues are only the “firstfruits”
of the Spirit (Rom 8:23)
3)
Peter thought that the rest of the prophecy is about to be fulfilled (Cf
Matt 3:1,2; 4:17). But it is up to the response of the Jews!
POINT:
Only the outpouring was fulfilled. The remainder of the prophecy is still yet to
be fulfilled. Peter did not understand that God’s timing can span thousands
of years (Luke 4:14-20 & Isa 61:1,2, Gen 3:15 & Rom 16:28)
b.
The
pouring out of God’s Spirit - on ALL flesh. This event was identified
by the sound of wind, the cloven tongues, and by the various world languages
being spoken miraculously.
POINT:
Yet, the Jews did not as a nation get saved like they are supposed to (Ro 11:26)
- it was the wrong time. So, not even this point is completely fulfilled,
yet.
c.
Every
JEW prophesying and seeing visions and dreams (2:17,18). Not for
everybody. “upon your sons... daughters...
my servants.”
d.
Wonders
and signs from the heavens (2:19,20) - telling us that these events are
associated with the Tribulation (Mt 24:21,29,30)
e.
The
Day of the Lord is coming (2:20). The day of Christ’s return.
Peter knew the tribulation was next on God’s schedule (Joel 2), so he is
readying everyone for its approach
f.
The
time of salvation is NOW (2:21; Ro 10:13; 2 Cor 5:20; 6:1,2). The
means of salvation is no longer associated with the Temple, ceremony, the Law,
and the death of a lamb - but with calling on the once crucified Lamb to save
you!
1.
Hear the words of the Scripture (Cf 7:57,58) as preached!
2.
Recognize who Jesus is (2:22)
a.
He was a real person - with a name, an address (Nazareth). Jesus
had to be all man to effectively live out the perfect life and pay for our sins
(Heb 2:9-12)
b.
He was a supernatural person - proven by God by miracles and signs
right before their very eyes - Messiah, anointed One of God, appointed to do
what only He could do
c.
He was God’s answer to our sin - delivered by the determinate
council (God figured out the only way to pay for sin and still remain holy)
3.
Realize that it was YOU who crucified the Messiah (2:23)
a.
You can’t blame the Roman soldiers
b.
You can’t blame the religious leaders
c.
You can’t blame it on God either. He did not force people to
sin, nor did he fix it so that people HAD to get saved, or HAD to be lost
(election and predestination). God holds PEOPLE responsible for their actions
(Dt 30:19)
d.
You can only blame yourselves. You rejected the only hope for eternity
(Mt 27:22-25). Just accept the responsibility! God brought Christ here, and then
you PEOPLE killed Him!
e.
Realize our sins brought Jesus here to begin with, and it was our sins
that killed Him on the cross (John 1:29; 10:17,18)
f.
Realize also that if Jesus had been born in the 20th century, then He
would have been rejected just the same!!!
4.
Accept the resurrection as final proof (2:24) of His Messiahship
a.
Nobody had to go in to the tomb and raise up Jesus
b.
Nobody had to roll away the stone for Jesus to get out
c.
Jesus laid down His own life, and then He got up again!
d.
All as proof that He is GOD in the flesh (Matt 1:23; 1 Tim 3:16;
Heb 1:8)
e.
And all so that He could remove the pains of death (2:24). Jesus
endured the pains of death (wages of our sin), so that we could be free of them!
5.
Look to the prophecies about all this (2:25-36). David spoke of
Christ’s eternal life that could not end - Even when Jesus’ body was dead,
Jesus lived on (Eph 4:8-10). David knew that the Messiah would be glad to take
our place and give us hope (2:26).
a.
Jesus had to go to hell in our place (2:25-30)
1)
His Spirit went back to the Father
(Lk 23:46; Eccl 3:21)
2)
Christ’s body went to the tomb (Luke 24:1-4)
3)
Christ’s soul went to hell to dump our sins there (Heb 9:28; 1
Pet 2:24), and then He ends up in paradise (Abraham’s bosom, Lk 16:19-26) for the remaining 3
days and nights where He did some preaching (1 Pet 3:19). Notice that it was
Christ’s SOUL that was our offering for sin (Isa 53:10) on the cross!
b.
David knew that where he was going, one day, the Messiah would come and
get him. This was only for those who believed God before the resurrection
(Christ had to be the first one who resurrected, never
to die again, 1Cor 15:20)
c.
David died, and his body was still in the grave (2:29-31). So, evidently,
David’s body did not get resurrected in Mt 27:50-54, so it is yet to
be. But many O.T. saints did resurrect! So the reference is to the fact that David was not
talking about himself, but about the Messiah. So, David was a prophet (2:30,31),
and much of the Psalms are about Jesus!
d.
Peter witnessed Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (2:32).
e.
Peter then points out that the Promise of the Holy Ghost is just “icing
on the cake” as proof that all this is going on just like the Scriptures had
predicted (2:33)!
f.
David is not the one who has ascended bodily to heaven yet, only the Messiah
could do that (2:34,35)
g.
Therefore, let everyone know that Jesus is Lord and Christ - the Promised
One (2:36), and that everyone must repent!
6.
Allow the Gospel message to do the work (2:37-40)
a.
The gospel pricks the heart - cuts (Heb 4:12)
b.
The gospel requires a response - “What
shall we do?”
1)
Believe - must accept it as true, and right
2)
Repent - must see yourself as wicked and wrong
3)
Be baptized- must openly confess Christ (John 12:42,43)
4)
Everyone - no exception - all need to repent (1 Pet 3:9)
5)
All for the remission of sins - forgiveness
a)
Believe and repent to obtain remission
b)
Be baptized because of remission
6)
All so that you too can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost - every
believer was promised the gift. Not dealing with tongues, but with the gift OF
the Holy Ghost Himself!
c.
You are simply believing God’s promise of salvation made to all who
will respond to God’s call to be saved (2:39)
d.
The gospel provokes us to care about eternal things - to save
ourselves from this ungodly
generation (2:40)!
