Acts 2 reminds me of Announcements in grade school. Every morning the school Principal began the day by reading important information that we heard from speakers mounted in our individual classrooms. Everyone, in every class heard the same message. Today’s chapter is about harmony. We begin seven Sabbaths after Passover with the apostles “all together in one place”. The Jewish Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, was a celebration of the First Fruits of the Harvest. Luke attempts to describe the indescribable moment that “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit”. He hears a sound “like the blowing of a violent wind” that filled the house, and sees “what seemed to be tongues of fire” separating and coming to rest on each of them. Note the symbolism of wind and fire is used throughout scripture to represent God’s presence. Ironically, people fear the destructive power of both wind and fire, yet when properly used, they have expanded civilization. We read, each began to “speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them”. It is clear from the chapter that “Jews from every nation… heard their own language being spoken”. God spoke a new message to those in Jerusalem celebrating the harvest. What did He say? “We hear them declaring the wonders of God!” The amazed visitors in Jerusalem asked, “What does this mean?” Sometimes God needs to get our attention before we are ready to listen.
Peter stood up with the eleven, and began to speak. Explaining from scripture, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams… And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’”. This man that was ready to quit and go back to fishing, now spoke with a new authority and boldness. “Fellow Israelites… Jesus of Nazareth was a Man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you… and you… put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead”. Men that had been hiding in fear of arrest were now preaching Christ publically to all that would listen.
Peter continued speaking to the Jews gathered, first referencing their patriarch, King David. He pointed out that “David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day”. But David was able to rest in confident hope, because God made him a promise that his descendent would remain on the throne of Israel forever. “Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah… God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it”. In a loud and clear voice Peter declared “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah”. When the people heard this, “they were cut to the heart”. I believe this is the decision point that must take place. We must recognize our own sin. They asked the disciples, “Brothers, what shall we do?” In my personal conversion moment, God revealed all of the innocent people I had harmed in my life. In the sorrow of that realization, I asked for forgiveness and God poured out His Spirit on me. Peter told those gathered, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. We read that “about three thousand were added to their number that day”. Note that this was just the first step. They continued to gather and listen “to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship” and saw “many wonders and signs performed”. And “they continued to meet together…They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts”. Friend, are you ready to hear the unifying message of Salvation?