WHY it matters//
The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was the birth of the New testament Church. As the first believers receive the promised gift of God, they received power and boldness to proclaim the gospel. They knew what they were waiting for was from God. They knew what they were supposed to do afterwards. But as the presence of God came it seems that everyone involved, the believers and the onlookers alike, didn’t expect what they experienced and saw. The way God came was once again mysterious (just as Jesus coming a baby) and was even offensive to some. God doesn’t mind offending our expectations and opinions of how he does what he promises.
WHAT it's talking about//
Acts is considered “part 2” to the book of Luke in the opinion of most scholars. Written by Luke around 64 AD, this book begins with the ascension of Jesus into heaven and then chronicles the life of the early church as the gospel begins to spread throughout the Earth. After Jesus ascended into heaven the believers were told to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. As they are meeting and praying in the upper room the Spirit comes on the believers in power and enables them to speak in languages they didn’t know. Those observing this sight don’t understand what’s happening and many think they are drunk.
Acts 2:1-13 NIV
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome
11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”