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Acts 2:1-13
Ken McIntyre
May 17, 2024
Do you enjoy the anticipation that builds when someone presents you with a gift? It’s all wrapped up, and you have no idea what could be inside. Some love it, some cringe at the thought. You know it’s coming from a place of love, and you’re grateful for that, but what if it’s… lame… what if you have to put on your excited face, but deep down, you’re a little underwhelmed? What if you’re the gift giver and you can tell you missed the mark?
Giving and receiving gifts can be a complicated social event by human standards. But when it comes to the gifts God gives, He never misses. A gift from God is the perfect gift 100% of the time (Matthew 7:7-11).
The disciples of Jesus eagerly awaited such a gift. Following Jesus’ ascension, they were told to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promised Spirit Baptism from God the Father (Acts 1:4).
It probably felt like an eternity of waiting, but eventually, the gift arrived, and it changed how the followers of Jesus lived forever.
The way the gift of the Holy Spirit showed up and was received by the disciples was an experience that was outside the norm and, for some, maybe even out of their comfort zone. But it was a gift from God, and it was certainly good. The best part is that the Holy Spirit is also available to us today.
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[a] 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,[b] 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.”