Acts 2:1-13 – When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
God gave birth to the New Testament Church on the Day of Pentecost. The first Pentecost took place on Mount Sinai when God gave Moses the law. Jesus instructed His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father. Pentecost was one of the three feasts the Jewish male was required to attend each year. It celebrated the early harvest, and it was a time of prayer and preparation for the later harvest that would come in the fall of the year.
We are living in days of harvest. Jesus said in John 4:35, “Do not say, ‘there are still four months and then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” Pentecost was known as the feast of the open heaven. It is a time where God releases provision and empowers us for service.
The church began with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It got loud on that day. There was a windstorm. Acts 2:2 says, “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” The Scripture reading in the Temple was from Ezekiel 1:4 from the NIV says, “I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north, an immense cloud with flashing lightening and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal."
Imagine the scene, thousands of Jewish worshippers leaving the Temple after the morning service and having just read this passage of Scripture. They see and hear the sound from heaven, the windstorm, and the 120 speaking in tongues. Acts 2:6 says, “And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.”
It got loud! Acts 2:6 in the KJV reads, “Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.” May we experience the wind of God’s Spirit, be filled, refilled, and empowered for His service.
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