Written by Paul Lane
The Word
2 When the day of Pentecost [Lit was being fulfilled]had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire [Or being distributed]distributing themselves, and [Lit it]they [Or sat]rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other [Or languages]tongues, as the Spirit was giving them [Or ability to speak out]utterance.
5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own [Or dialect]language. 7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, “[Lit Behold]Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we each hear them in our own [Or dialect]language [Lit in]to which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and [I.e. west coast province of Asia Minor]Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and [Lit the sojourning Romans]visitors from Rome, both Jews and [I.e. Gentile converts to Judaism]proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” 12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of [I.e. new wine]sweet wine.”
Acts 2:1-4 (NASB)
Reflection
We must learn how to be bewildered, amazed and astonished by the right things. When I read this passage, I was impressed with the scene of people encountering something so out of the ordinary that people were perplexed. Though this scene is so unusual, perhaps there are some similar situations in the Old Testament. Think of Moses and the Burning Bush (Exodus 3), when he encountered a flame that did not burn and where the Holy Presence spoke. There was also the scene with Moses and the wind which accompanied the miracle of crossing the Red Sea on dry ground (Exodus 13). These instances are times where it seems that Heaven intersects with our world of flesh and blood and rocks and trees. God invades our ordinary with Heaven’s extraordinary.
The purpose of this invasion isn’t just to show power, but to use it to announce a new phase in the purposes of God. In verse 11 it points out that the people listening to this wonder were hearing “in [their] own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” So this was not just a miracle to show off, but a major event that would be a reference for all future events. As the story in the book of Acts develops, you can see the disciples that Jesus taught go from people seeking to follow a great teacher to people with a heart for God’s kingdom, and this day of the Holy Spirit’s coming was key in their transformation.
Application
Take time to enter into the presence of the Lord and let Him pour His Spirit into you. Spent time in His presence, accepting His love and forgiveness. Think about the unusual nature of the day of Pentecost, and how all the varied languages were spoken but yet could be understood. People could communicate without being separated by languages. And so it is within God’s Kingdom.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I pray that You pour Your Spirit out into my life. Forgive my sins and selfishness. Teach me to forget myself and to trust You always for what I need. Make in my heart an attitude of satisfaction at Your provision. Though my heart might desire lesser things, draw me into a disposition of right desires, and a deep longing for Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
City Life Starter 
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